Friday’s vote vital for continuewwd investment in Galway – Kyne

Thu, Feb 25, 2016

Fine Gael TD and General Election candidate, Seán Kyne has stressed the need for continued investment in Galway and the importance of sending representatives to Dublin who are willing and able to fight to secure such investment.

“It is essential that we maintain the momentum of Galway’s recovery which is providing more jobs, making work pay and providing the resources needed for better services and investment for Galway.

Oughterard’s award-winning school holds open day

Thu, Feb 25, 2016

Oughterard’s National School is holding its yearly open day for new pupils on Sunday (2pm to 4pm).

Positive thinking from NUIG students for university Mental Health Week

Thu, Feb 25, 2016

The importance of good mental health, the need to remove any and all stigmas attached to it, and promoting wellness, are the aims of NUI Galway’s Mental Health Week runs from Monday February 29 to Sunday March 6.

Disability inclusion a top priority for Fianna Fail in Government

Thu, Feb 25, 2016

The Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on mental health, disability and special needs and General Election candidate for Galway East Colm Keaveney has said that disability inclusion will be a priority for Fianna Fáil if elected to run the country.

Speaking in the wake of a protest earlier this week by people with disabilities outside the Dáil he accused the Government of sidelining them over the past five years.

Lecture in the Library to focus on Ceannt and Kenny

Thu, Feb 25, 2016

The final two lectures in the ‘Lectures in the Library’ series, curated by the Centre for Irish Studies to commemorate the 1916 Easter Rising, will focus on the contribution of two Galwegians to the Irish revolution.

On Tuesday, 1 March, Dr Verena Commins will explore the role of Éamonn Ceannt, Galway-born signatory of the Proclamation in the Gaelic revival of the early twentieth century. As a player of both uilleann and war pipes, Ceannt was central to the foundation of the Dublin Pipers’ club and their attempts to recuperate the status of these instruments.

Give me the chance to build a new alternative, says O Tuathail

Thu, Feb 25, 2016

After many years abroad it is great to be home and raising my family in Galway. I have always been driven to maximise my impact on society but I never thought I would ever be asking my neighbours for votes. In my career, I’ve worked on major health reform in the English NHS. I’ve built infrastructure all over the world. More recently, I moved home and set up my own software business here in Galway.

Seamount students plan to sell innovative Transition Year project board game

Thu, Feb 25, 2016

Three entrepreneurial students from Seamount College, Kinvara have developed a board game which they are aiming to sell in shops as part of a Transition Year project. The Eco-Nico project highlights the devastating effect of climate change - something that is particularly relevant in south Galway due to the area’s ongoing flooding issues.

Galway’s Insight Centre among institutions to present at Mobile World Congress

Thu, Feb 25, 2016

CityPulse, an international research project exploring the use of smart city applications to improve the quality of life in urban environments, will be among the projects demonstrated at the Mobile World Congress 2016, taking place in Barcelona this week. The Galway-based Insight Centre for Data Analytics is among the institutions spearheading the project.

CityPulse is one of five research projects being demonstrated at the European Commission pavilion during the event, and is the only one focusing on smart cities and the Internet of Things.

Healy Eames calls for better payments system for small farmers

Thu, Feb 25, 2016

There has been a call for the future front loading of farm payments in order to make small farm holdings sustainable.

Irish Cancer Society announces further investment in blood cancer research initiative being led by NUI Galway

Thu, Feb 25, 2016

The Irish Cancer Society has announced a further significant investment in blood cancer research that will benefit more patients across Ireland. The national cancer charity is committing €450,000 over the next five years to support the expansion of Blood Cancer Network Ireland, a new clinical research network for blood cancers, which is being led by NUI Galway.

NUI Galway to launch marine coding challenge for young people

Thu, Feb 25, 2016

An exciting new challenge for young members of Coder Dojos in Galway city and county will be launched this Saturday.

GMIT student wins top physics and instrumentation award from the international society of automation

Thu, Feb 25, 2016

GMIT Science student Aoife Monahan from Tubber, Co Clare, has won a prestigious award from the International Society of Automation (ISA) at the ISA Honours and Awards ceremony held recently in University College Cork. Aoife won ‘Best Final Year Degree Student’ on the GMIT Bachelor of Science degree in Physics & Instrumentation.

I want to become the first Independent female TD for Galway, says Connolly

Thu, Feb 25, 2016

Independent candidate Catherine Connolly is asking voters for the privilege of representing them as the first Independent female TD for Galway West.

Extension of mortgage interest relief to 2020 will help hard pressed families – Connolly

Thu, Feb 25, 2016

Fianna Fáil General Election candidate for Galway West John Connolly has described the party’s proposal to extend mortgage interest relief for owner occupiers to 2020 as a major boost for hard pressed families.

Mortgage interest for home loans is currently available to people who bought their home between 2004 and 2012. 310,400 mortgage holders are in receipt of mortgage interest relief on their home.

MADRA says think responsibly before getting a dog as the number of stray dogs in city and county explodes

Thu, Feb 25, 2016

Galway-based dog rescue charity MADRA has asked that people think long and hard before introducing a dog to their home as the number of stray and surrender dogs continues to rise.

Fianna Fáil claims it will tackle hospital waiting lists

Thu, Feb 25, 2016

Galway West election candidate Councillor Mary Hoade says it is time ‘dignity and decency’ were put to the fore of the Health Service. She is unhappy about the size of the waiting list for scheduled treatments at University Hospital Galway, and claims the issue will be tackled by Fianna Fáil if the party was to return to Government by reactivating the National Treatment Purchase Fund.

Fianna Fáil is also claiming it would convene a special task force to produce a plan to ensure that all scheduled day case/inpatient care is delivered within the internationally recognised target of six months. Councillor Hoade says a sustained focus on waiting lists and waiting times is required. “Up to the end of 2014 the target maximum waiting time for inpatient/day cases was eight months, and for outpatients it was 12 months. Minister Varadkar abandoned this for an 18 month target and despite moving the goal posts he still missed. The Government has since approved a HSE Service Plan for 2016 that leaves hospitals short by €100 million and the situation can only be expected to deteriorate further without a change of Government. Our health service is in crisis and this Government has no real plan to address it. We need a fresh start in health and a new approach that delivers real change and restores dignity for patients. The reality is we can’t risk more of the same.”

Vote — Don’t waste the chance to make a difference

Thu, Feb 25, 2016

So do you know yet? Have you made up your mind if so-and-so deserves your vote? Have you decided if you can trust your candidate to really care or has he/she the look of a chancer about them? Do you feel respected when you hear them talk or do you feel a just a little bit patronised. Do you feel that whether you vote or not will not impact on the result. Or your life? Or the life of those around you? Apart from those who are actively involved and engaged with the parties and candidates, there are many who feel that voting does not matter and so they don’t bother. So there is a dilemma. Do we participate in a politics of cynicism or a politics of hope?

Change never starts from the top down. Change is almost always inititiated from the bottom up. And it can take time. And good candidates. And wise decisions. Popularity should never be a determining factor for the election of a candidate. Were that to be the case, our Dail would be full of hail fellows well met. As it can be. Great characters to have at a party. oO a funeral, but to work on your behalf?

'I wanted to have a feisty female protagonist'

Thu, Feb 25, 2016

Orange Boy Blue is the recently-published debut novel by Galway-based writer Julia Roddy, a lecturer in screenwriting at GMIT. A thoroughly absorbing read, the novel is an across-the-divide love story set in Roddy’s native Belfast. It charts the blossoming of an against-the-odds romance between teenagers - Catholic Ella and Protestant Will, an Orange Order member, which unfolds against the fraught backdrop of The Troubles.

Keaveney demands regional mapping to upgrading phone coverage in the west

Wed, Feb 24, 2016

Ireland is in the "midst of a digital divide" with "thousands of people" throughout the west "without proper mobile phone coverage", a situation which is also impacting negatively on western businesses.

Precedent exists to extend Annaghdown graveyard, Healy-Eames tells department

Mon, Feb 22, 2016

With no burial plots remaining in Annaghdown graveyard, and a lack of funding available to Galway County Council to buy a site for a new burial ground, the current graveyard must be extended.

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