Fears that merger of Galway city and county councils is a 'fait accompli'

Tue, Dec 06, 2016

A majority of Galway county councillors are opposed to any merger of Galway's two local authorities, but also fear plans to merge the city and county councils are already "a fait accompli" that will be "forced upon us", regardless of their views.

Council to discuss ferry crisis as service shuts down until March

Thu, Dec 01, 2016

The Galway County Council is expected to discuss the ongoing impasse over ferry services to Inis Mór at its budget meeting this morning (Thursday). Councillors are expected to be asked to reduce the passenger levy on the service from 80c to 40c per passenger, and to scrap a €5 passenger fee for permanent residents on the island.

Schoolchildren and politicians protest for return of bus service to Claddagh NS

Thu, Dec 01, 2016

Ceannt Station was brought to a standstill last Friday as hundreds of children, parents, and staff from Claddagh National School loudly protested the cancellation of a decades-old bus service to the school.

May you live in interesting times

Thu, Dec 01, 2016

Do you remember the late 1990s and early 2000s, that hubris filled era of post-Communism, new Labour and Blairism, the Celtic Tiger, and the free reign of unregulated, laissez faire capitalism, in short 'The End of History', and the seeming utter triumph of the Centre-right?

Let’s not kill our islands by making life more difficult

Thu, Dec 01, 2016

An island by its nature is a finite feature of geography. The smaller the island, the more you can see its edges from standing in the highest point. From here you can look down and feel part of this wonder of nature. This piece of rock and soil, this large stepping stone in the pond of the ocean, upon which we feel privileged to trod, upon which we feel safe and liberated. You look down towards its edges and here you find the most comfort. Monarch of all you survey.

You walk along the sands and the rocks and become part of that space where the two meet the water. Here the tide ebbs and flows. It gives and it takes. It brings people in and it brings people away. It keeps you in and it keeps others out. Here, looking down at the edges, you get perspective and you can see the perimeters of the world. Your world. It acts as a microcosm around us. And it is joyful.

Demons, silent screaming and multiple attackers – researchers explore the nightmare that is sleep paralysis

Thu, Dec 01, 2016

The School of Psychology at the National University of Ireland Galway has completed the first phase of a study on the number of people affected by sleep paralysis and unusual sleep experiences. Over 1,100 people in Ireland have shared their experiences, with participants relating the often scary sensations they have experienced while in the awake-like state.

‘Major step forward’ for new emergency department for UHG

Thu, Dec 01, 2016

Funding for the planning and design of the new emergency department for UHG will be provided in the HSE’s Capital Budget for 2017. The HSE National Capital Committee this week approved the capital funding for the much-needed development.

Funding was confirmed yesterday by the Minister for Health, Simon Harris, who also noted that University Hospital Galway registered the third highest volume of ED attendances nationally during the month of October, and ED attendances in Galway rose by one per cent this year to date - albeit there was a drop in the 8am trolley numbers.

Family and friends event in EZ Living Furniture tomorrow night

Thu, Dec 01, 2016

EZ Living Furniture will hold their special Family and Friends night at their flagship store in Terryland Retail Park, Galway tomorrow Friday December 2 from 4pm to 8pm. To celebrate the occasion and thank their loyal customers for the support during the year, they are offering an amazing 50 per cent off all Christmas accessories for one night only.

Scottish First Minister and Irish Climate Action Minister reveal economic impact of Galway Wind Park

Thu, Dec 01, 2016

First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon visited the Irish headquarters of leading energy provider SSE plc this week to unveil a report which shows that Galway Wind Park near Oughterard has already contributed €88.7m to Irish Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Oranmore to Galway rail service may become ghost train unless Irish Rail acts, says Naughton

Thu, Dec 01, 2016

The rail service between Galway and Oranmore is at risk of becoming a ghost train unless Irish Rail includes the station as a stop for all trains on the Galway-Dublin route, according to a local TD.

Fancy yourself as a soap siren?

Thu, Dec 01, 2016

So you want to be a TV star? TG4’s hit TV soap opera Ros na Rún is searching for a talented female actress over 50 to join its cast. The top rated soap is looking for a new star. Fluent Irish is required for the role with a neutral or Connemara accent.

1916 Rising memorial to be unveiled in Mervue

Thu, Dec 01, 2016

A memorial in honour of the leaders of the 1916 Rising, and featuring the Proclamation, will be unveiled in Mervue, between McDonagh Avenue and Clarke Avenue, on Wednesday December 7 at 1pm.

The memorial, which is made from Connemara granite, will have the 1916 Proclamation mounted on it, and a bi-lingual plaque outlining a brief history of Mervue, and the names of the 14 patriots after whom the Mervue avenues were named will be inserted into the stone.

County council proposal that a road or bridge should be named after late Liam Gavin

Thu, Dec 01, 2016

The Galway County Council stood for a minute’s applause for the late director of services transportation, marine, and general services, Liam Gavin at County Hall on Monday.

Oughterard pupil Grace presents prize-winning picture to Scottish First Minister

Thu, Dec 01, 2016

School pupil Grace Hooper from St. Paul’s Secondary School in Oughterard, Co. Galway, presented her prize-winning photo ‘Snow-capped mountains, Connemara’ to First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, and Ireland’s Climate Action Minister Denis Naughten at the Galway Wind Park event held at green energy provider SSE Ireland’s HQ in Dublin on Monday.

Get offline, send a card and save the post office network, says Roscommon/Galway TD Murphy

Thu, Dec 01, 2016

Fianna Fáil TD for Roscommon-Galway Eugene Murphy is urging people to ‘get offline’ and take the time to post a card or letter to a loved one this Christmas season as part of an initiative to safeguard the post office network.

Deputy Murphy hosted a presentation in Leinster House on Tuesday on the plight of the rural post office network which is in danger of collapsing with the threat of closure now hanging over almost 600 post offices throughout the country.

Love Moycullen — village launches novel Christmas campaign

Thu, Dec 01, 2016

Love Moycullen, the community and business group in Moycullen are launching their Christmas 2016 campaign with the message: ‘Moycullen, We’re closer than you think’. With over 40 retailers and service providers, Moycullen is getting ready to spend locally this Christmas and wants to encourage the people of Galway to do the same.

Corncrake talk tomorrow night

Thu, Dec 01, 2016

The Galway Branch of the Irish Wildlife Trust will host a special talk on corncrake conservation by Fergal Ó Cuinneagáin tomorrow Friday Dec 2 at 7pm, in the Western Hotel on Prospect Hill.

Toyota voucher and many other bargains up for grabs at Galway Lions Club Radio Auction

Thu, Dec 01, 2016

The Galway Lions Club Radio Auction will be held on Friday December 9 between 9.00am and noon and will once again be broadcast live on the Keith Finnegan show and will be streamed live on facebook. This new innovation is thanks to two young film students, Kieran Burke and Graham Sheehan, from the Centre for Creative Arts and Media at GMIT.

Exciting news for MADRA as new shop to open in Furbo

Thu, Dec 01, 2016

A new MADRA charity shop is about to open in Furbo. The doors will open at 11am next Saturday December 3 with a special designer day taking place on Sunday.

County council to invite Pope

Thu, Dec 01, 2016

The Galway County Council has agreed to invite Pope Francis to the county at Monday’s monthly meeting.

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