Record-breaking crowds attend 2015 arts festival

Thu, Jul 30, 2015

Record-breaking attendances of 200,000 attended the 38th Galway International Arts Festival's 375 performances, talks, and exhibitions across 26 venues in the city, making this year's festival "the most successful ever" according to the organisers.

Galway Indian Community craft and food fair

Thu, Jul 30, 2015

Stalls displaying the work of Galway and Indian craftspeople, ranging from food to toys to hand made gifts will be on display and for sale at this weekend's Galway Indian Community.

Race week — the turning of the year in Galway

Thu, Jul 30, 2015

Everyone gets a gig during Race Week. For those who want it, and even for those who don’t - there’s always an opportunity to turn a few tricks. A trick here, a trick there. It’s as if the world will end come Sunday and a great opportunity to make money will have been lost. And long may it continue. With the clink clink clink of the hammers taking down the Big Top and the ‘up ya boyo’ of the racing fraternity replacing it,  Race Week is the turning of the year for us here in Galway.  The passing of the year from before the races to after the races. The beginning of the official countdown to the festive season. Before now, you’re not allowed mention it and even now, you’d be loath to even joke that its good news for insomniacs, with just five sleeps ’til Christmas.

Race Week brings out the entrepreneur in us all. Whether it’s lucky pens outside the races, or strumming a guitar in a band  — any band worth its salt never sees a pillow all Race Week. A trick here, a trick there. B and B. Clear the back room, Bridie, get out the auld duvet. Crank up the toaster...Roll them in…for the week…waxing, waxing lyrical, sure you can’t go to the races till you’ve been waxed to within an inch of your life…smooth operators  and shellac, sure if you don’t have nails long enough and sharp enough to turn the pages of the race card, you just not living, dahlin...kerrching. Ten thousand gallons of carrot juice. Sprayers attached to the hoses...line up ladies, close those eyes, it’s tanning time...kerrching...beer garden, beer streets more like -- plastic beakers...no washing up--kerrching. A trick here, a trick there. It’s like 2006 all over again, minus the choppers and the extravagant parties.

Glorious sunshine sees thousands turn out to support successful Galway Bay Swim

Thu, Jul 30, 2015

Thousands of people descended on Salthill on Saturday to support the 10th annual Frances Thornton Memorial Galway Bay Swim in aid of Cancer Care West. The swim, which attracted swimmers from across Ireland, UK, Australia, the US, and Scandinavia, saw some 85 swimmers take to the waters in Co Clare before embarking on the 13km swim across to Blackrock Diving Tower

O’Mahony says Local Enterprise grants providing great support to local businesses

Thu, Jul 30, 2015

Fine Gael’s John O’Mahony has said that grants of €252,542.50 paid from the Local Enterprise Office in 2014 are providing great support to local businesses in Galway.

Cost of maintaining public toilets twice as expensive in the county

Thu, Jul 30, 2015

The cost of maintaining 14 public toilets across Galway county is almost double that of maintaining 15 public facilities in the city. Figures released by Galway County Council reveal the full cost of operating the toilets in 2014 was €298,226, while data released by the city council show the total cost to maintain its public facilities in 2014 amounted to just over €158,000.

Galway woman Aisling Hillary being fancied in some quarters to take the Rose of Tralee crown

Thu, Jul 30, 2015

There has been some interest in the Rose of Tralee betting market in the past week, with reports of substantial support for London Rose, Aisling Hillary.

Fifty jobs announced as market intelligence company expands its Galway operation

Thu, Jul 30, 2015

Market intelligence provider Industrial Info Resources, which officially opened its new 16,500sq ft office in Ballybrit this week, has announced that it will create 50 new jobs in the city.

Wage increase places value on Galway Workers, says Derek Nolan 

Thu, Jul 30, 2015

Galway West TD Derek Nolan has said that the recommended increase to the minimum wage is about making work pay. Speaking about the Low Pay Commission’s recommendation of increasing the minimum wage by 50c to €9.15 per hour, Deputy Nolan said:

Keaveney criticises Government’s ‘shameful’ record on mental health 

Thu, Jul 30, 2015

Fianna Fáil’s spokesperson on mental health, Colm Keaveney, has said the country’s services are at breaking point, suffering from a lack of frontline staff and starved of resources by the Government.

O’Mahony says new local authority homes to benefit elderly and disabled people

Thu, Jul 30, 2015

The provision of 87 new homes in Galway for elderly people and those with intellectual or physical disability will greatly benefit these individuals and their families, according to Fine Gael TD John O’Mahony.

Anti-water charges campaign plunges Government into political crisis, says AAA

Thu, Jul 30, 2015

The Anti-Austerity Alliance has responded to media reports that Irish Water is going to fail the Eurostat test and become part of the State’s balance sheet, attributing it to the massive pressure which the anti-water charges campaign has exerted on the Government, plunging it into political crisis.

Lots to do and see at Coole in August

Thu, Jul 30, 2015

Guided heritage walks and fun art and heritage activities for children are among the free events taking place in Coole this August.

There will be guided walks on Monday August 3 and Sunday August 16 exploring the history and magical landscape of Coole. No booking is needed.

‘Words can barely describe the emotions of the moments when I tell people I have found their family’

Thu, Jul 30, 2015

Ileana Cunniffe, from Attymon in Athenry, is one of more than 1,000 Romanian children adopted by Irish families in the aftermath of the Romanian revolution of 1989. The event spelt the end of the harsh regime of dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, and appeared to promise a brighter future for the people of the country. 

Bumper prizes on offer for winners of three best dressed awards in Galway

Tue, Jul 28, 2015

Glamorous ladies from right across Ireland will be hoping the current spell of dreary weather lifts on Thursday afternoon to reveal some glorious sunshine for the most hotly contested fashion competition in the country.

Fifty jobs announced as market intelligence company expands its Galway operation

Tue, Jul 28, 2015

Market intelligence provider Industrial Info Resources, which officially opened its new 16,500sq ft office in Ballybrit today, has announced that it will create 50 new jobs in the city.

Galway Hospice's future secured after major funding from Government

Mon, Jul 27, 2015

Government funding has been secured for the expansion and development of Galway Hospice, ending years of efforts to address core funding deficits and resource issues at the charity.

'The dream is not over'

Fri, Jul 24, 2015

To describe Liam Moloney as a fanaticial fan of the TV show Countdown is something of an understatement. Liam has been watching the show religiously since he was a youngster and to appear on the programme has been a lifelong dream. Following three applications, he managed to do just that this week and to acquit himself as well as he did during his time on the show has been an experience beyond his wildest dreams.

Report finds Galway could be an international hub for creative industry

Thu, Jul 23, 2015

Galway city and county has significant opportunity to develop its arts and culture sector into a global creative hub, and could make giant strides in areas such as ICT and the local food industry, according to a study published this week.

'Alice In Wonderland was my introduction to surrealism'

Thu, Jul 23, 2015

Cartoonist, painter, poet, novelist, critic, rock musician, punster, polymath, raconteur and wit; Tom Mathews has so many strings to his bow he could open his own archery club.

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