108-year-old Galwaywoman Sarah passes away at home in Connemara

Thu, Dec 29, 2016

Ireland’s oldest person Sarah Clancy died this week aged 108, bringing to an end a remarkable life that spanned many of the notable dates in history.

Some year for one year, but what’s ahead?

Thu, Dec 29, 2016

It’s been some year for one year — but what about 2017? This week I take a look into my crystal ball and see what’s lying in wait for us.

JANUARY — Celebrities across the globe celebrate on New Year’s Day with “I survived 2016” teeshirts. The Trump inauguration sees the new president sworn in by a trio of Playboy bunnies who he tweets “as better lookers than Supreme Court judges who are losers in the attraction-ness department. Bigly.” Meanwhile in Dublin, President Higgins reveals an addiction to the smell of commemorative wreaths and vows to stay on in office forever… Connacht announce Brian O’Driscoll as their new coach. “This is roysh, like, ya know great, for me, personally, like,” says the new boss. Meanwhile in Mayo, a full month goes by without a crisis in the camp story.

Senator expresses delight at couple reuniting

Thu, Dec 22, 2016

Sinn Féin Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh has said he is delighted that Kleber Silva Medeiros has been reunited with his wife Harriett Bruce.

That was some year

Thu, Dec 22, 2016

What a tumultuous political year it’s been! It began with a sense that despite much turmoil and insurgency across the globe voters would shy away from the radical choices and that something akin to the ‘status quo’ would prevail. It ended with Madonna with no sense of irony berating the President-elect of the USA for engaging in sensationalist acts and rhetoric in order to generate publicity.

Use Christmas to find calm after turbulent year

Thu, Dec 22, 2016

It’s been some year — a whirlwind of emotion, of joy and despair, of utter horror and desperation, of uncertainty and fear, but also a time of pride and happiness.

But in the main we will be glad to see it come to an end. A year that robbed us of many of the stars who entertained us over the decades, a year that showed us that sometime populism is just not good for us. History will tell us if it was a time in which everything as we know it, is ending, and something new and scary is beginning.

Our love and dependence on each other should inform our actions, says President Higgins in annual message

Thu, Dec 22, 2016

Dear friends here in Ireland and around the world, As President of Ireland, Uachtarán na hÉireann, it is my pleasure to send you my warmest wishes for a peaceful, as well as a happy Christmas and New Year.

€94,000 allocated to Galway’s animal welfare organisations

Thu, Dec 22, 2016

The Minister for Gaeltacht Affairs and Natural Resources, Seán Kyne, has welcomed the allocation of €94,000 to animal welfare organisations in Galway.

Latin Mass to be celebrated in Claddagh on Christmas Day

Thu, Dec 22, 2016

On Christmas Day, at 2.30p.m. a traditional Latin Mass will be celebrated in St. Mary’s Church, the Claddagh, Galway.

Common sense must prevail in Greenway development, says Ó Cuív

Thu, Dec 22, 2016

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Regional, Rural, Gaeltacht and Island Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív says the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport’s policy on greenway expansion must be reassessed so that a consistent approach can be adopted.

Deputy Ó Cuív says the current system is not working as it fails to compensate farmers for the use of their land, and fails to guarantee the future of the greenway as farmers can revoke permission at any time.

Try out sea angling in 2017

Thu, Dec 22, 2016

Have you ever thought about casting your line and trying out sea angling? If you have, there is good news this New Year, because the Connacht Provincial Council of the Irish Federation of Sea Anglers are looking for new members.

Govt accepts FF motion on flood prevention and insurance

Thu, Dec 22, 2016

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Flood Relief Eugene Murphy has welcomed the Government’s acceptance of his motion on flood prevention and insurance which he brought forward during Private Members time in the Dáil last week.

Four novels set in Galway available on e-book for first time

Thu, Dec 22, 2016

FOUR novels, including a collection of short stories, all set in Galway during the 1980s and 1990s are this week available as an eBook for the first time.

Mixed reaction to Galway city ring road proposal

Thu, Dec 22, 2016

A lukewarm reaction greeted the Galway City ring road proposal from County Hall on Monday afternoon.

The new ring road which is hoped to ease the city's chronic congestion conundrum, is estimated to cost in the region of €593 million.

A great year for Galway, but we need more of this sort of thing

Thu, Dec 22, 2016

As we come to the end of the year, it’s a good time to remember some of the remarkable accolades our city has received during 2016. Galway was awarded the 2020 European Capital of Culture, as well as the EU’s prestigious European Green Leaf Environmental Award, and was designated European Region of Gastronomy for 2018. The Financial Times FDI magazine ranked Galway City as the number 1 Micro European City of the Future for both the Economic Potential and Business Friendliness categories in 2016/2017: this is a full level or two higher than our rankings in both categories in 2014/2015. Also, NUI Galway has moved up to number 249 in the QS world university rankings. To put that in perspective, the University has risen 235 places over the past nine years from when it was at number 484. NUI Galway is also 48th out of 1,336 educational institutions in Europe in terms of Horizon 2020 funding received, and second overall in Ireland.

Christmas Greetings Galway from the troops of 54th Infantry Group in Golan

Thu, Dec 22, 2016

While you and your family are tucking into your festive dinner in the warmth and comfort of your homes and family circles, worrying about last-minute gifts, and whether or not to put an extra bottle of wine into the fridge, spare a thought for the troops of the 54th Infantry Group who will be at democracy’s outpost as part of the UNDOF mission on the Golan Heights throughout the holiday period.

Christmas Greetings from our troops abroad

Thu, Dec 22, 2016

Cpl Martin Cummins: Happy Christmas to my two little boys, Ruairi and Daniel, to my lovely girlfriend Laura and my mum, dad, brothers and sisters. See you all soon for New Years. Happy Christmas from ‘Mad dog’ Martin in the Golan

'The focus in all my paintings is light'

Thu, Dec 15, 2016

Moods, Memories, and Mayo is the title of a new exhibition of paintings by Paul Guilfoyle which is currently running at the Kenny Gallery and continues until Friday December 23. It is Guilfoyle’s ninth solo show at the Kenny Gallery, a relationship that goes all the way back to 1993 and his debut exhibition, Looking West.

Galway must wait until February before any rent caps are introduced

Thu, Dec 15, 2016

Galway city may be line for a cap on rent increases, such as those planned for Dublin and Cork, but it could be February at the earliest before such caps are introduced - and only after it passes a series of stringent tests.

Gavan commences epic Atlantic row

Thu, Dec 15, 2016

Galway man Gavan Hennigan has begun his biggest adventure to date, a solo row across the Atlantic as part of the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge.

GCC students visit Dáil Éireann as part of campaign to recognise veterans of Jadotville

Thu, Dec 15, 2016

A group of fifth year Galway Community College students visiting Dáil Éireann today plan to meet local TDs in a bid to garner support for their petition asking that medals be awarded to the the officers and NCOs of A Company, 35th Battalion, for their acts of bravery during the 1961 Siege of Jadotville.

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