Teddy Bears Lodge crèche celebrates ten years in Lackagh

Thu, Jul 02, 2015

Teddy Bears Lodge crèche, based in Woodlands Estate, Lackagh, is celebrating its 10th birthday on July 4th.

‘I think the world has changed rather than me’

Thu, Jul 02, 2015

The world - or at least the Western world - is a very different place now in July to what it was in May. In the space of around six weeks, Ireland became the first State where same-sex marriage was endorsed by the public through a referendum - kickstarting calls in Germany and Australia for the same; while the United States voted to approve gay marriage following a Supreme Court decision.

Councillor obtains quote five times cheaper than county council for live online streaming of meetings

Wed, Jul 01, 2015

A councillor who was informed by the Galway County Council executive that the introduction of technology to facilitate live online steaming of council meetings would cost at least €10,000 plus VAT, has obtained his own quote from a private contractor based in the city and it is substantially lower.

'I think the world has changed rather than me'

Tue, Jun 30, 2015

The world - or at least the Western world - is a very different place now in July to what it was in May. In the space of around six weeks, Ireland became the first State where same-sex marriage was endorsed by the public through a referendum - kickstarting calls in Germany and Australia for the same; while the United States voted to approve gay marriage following a Supreme Court decision.

No country for old men (First printed January 2014)

Sun, Jun 28, 2015

In theory, home is where we all should feel the safest. It should be a refuge for all of us lucky to have a place to call home. It is the place where you can truly be yourself, far away from the pretence of modern life where, as characters in the great play of life, you learn your lines and your role before you walk out each day to act out your part.

I am often reminded of the image of Padraig Nally, in the months and years before the incident that changed his life, sitting there in the dark of night, listening to the wind coming through the trees that line the road to his house, cocking an ear for any deviation from the norm, his heartbeat quickening at any detection of disturbance in the lonely darkness. His ease returning only when eventually, the dawn arrived to throw a sheath of brightness over the land.

Supermac’s makes submission to OHIM in significant EU Trademark case

Fri, Jun 26, 2015

Supermac’s Managing Director Pat McDonagh travelled to Alicante today to personally deliver to the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM) Supermac’s submission in the objection lodged by McDonald’s against the company. The submission follows McDonald’s objection to Supermac’s application to have their company name trademark registered across the EU.

Call for a reduction in development levies to boost house building

Fri, Jun 26, 2015

A shortage of adequate housing around the county has now seen the situation reach crisis point according to a number of county councillors. Representatives are calling on Galway County Council to reduce the cost of council development levies in order to stimulate construction. It was outlined that the charges are prohibitive to developers and to young couples attempting to build homes in the countryside.

Galway racetrack professionally surveyed to ensure greater accuracy of race distances

Fri, Jun 26, 2015

The team at Ballybrit are known for their forward thinking vision. After all they have managed to transform what began as a small two-day event in 1869 into one of the biggest seven day racing extravaganzas in the world.

Frightened families risking crime to pay off drug debts

Thu, Jun 25, 2015

Drug related intimidation in the city and county is forcing frightened families to risk committing crimes in order to pay off debts run up by loved ones.

Niall Ó Tuathail to run as centre-left Independent in Galway West

Thu, Jun 25, 2015

Niall Ó Tuathail, who this week declared that he will stand as an Independent in Galway West for Election 2016, will host a series of 'town hall' style meetings to build a campaigning movement around his candidacy.

When the Saint goes marching in

Thu, Jun 25, 2015

St Vincent, aka Annie Clark, is one of the hottest acts on the rock circuit at the moment with her last album, 2014’s St Vincent, featuring highly in best-of-the-year lists for Pitchfork, New York Times, NME, and Rolling Stone, while The Guardian named it as its album of the year.

Tommy Holohan to run for AAA in Election 2016

Thu, Jun 25, 2015

Tommy Holohan will stand for the Anti-Austerity Alliance in Galway West at Election 2016. The Claddagh man was selected by a majority of delegates at the recent AAA Galway selection convention.

Councillors warn about the negative effects of any reduction in islands air service

Thu, Jun 25, 2015

Galway county councillors have issued a strong message to the Government that the present level of air service to the Aran Islands must be maintained. Aer Arann has administered the service to the islands since 1970 and currently operates daily flights to Inis Mór, Inis Oirr, and Inis Meáin. All flights which take about 10 minutes from lift-off to touch down, depart and arrive from Connemara Regional Airport. The contract for the service is now up for renewal and there are fears due to a cut from Government to the air service subvention, the service will be reduced.

Galway postmistress to stand in next General Election

Thu, Jun 25, 2015

Seona O’Fegan has become the sixth woman in Galway to declare she will stand as a candidate in Election 2016. She is also the first in a series of community and post office candidates who will contest the upcoming General Election.

Councillors unhappy about the publication of farmers' CAP payments

Thu, Jun 25, 2015

A number of county councillors have expressed unhappiness about a new policy whereby the details of farmers' grants from Europe are being published online. This follows new EU regulations, which required details of all payments made to Common Agriculture Policy beneficiaries in 2014 to be published by member states. Some €1.8 billion was paid to 130,000 farmers and rural enterprises nationwide under CAP schemes last year.

Galway teens sought for Foróige Youth Leadership programme

Thu, Jun 25, 2015

Foróige Galway is running an intensive week long youth leadership seminar in Galway city from Monday July 27 to Friday 31 and the programme is open to all young people around Junior Cert age, with no charge applicable.

A light of hope for our walled-in people

Thu, Jun 25, 2015

He walks the streets of the city with his friends. Down Shop Street. Having the laugh. The fun. And he feels part of it all. And they talk about music and Messi. And for a short while every school day he feels part of this city, a cast member in the show that is Galway. And they listen to buskers. And haul their schoolbags on their backs. And tease each other. But when he gets to the part where he has to go in a different direction, there is a kind of awkwardness that eschews words. They know where he's going back to and he knows where they are headed. He knows because he has seen their homes, he has gone to their streets and been at their houses. Proper homes with doors and rooms. He wishes he could bring them back to where he lives. He wishes that he could be proud of where he lives, but there is nothing to be proud of. His family don't own it, nor did they pick it themselves. And then Mother and Father are always around. But not because they want to be.

So he goes to the one room which is his bedroom, kitchen, sitting room, playground. A place where he shares his space. The scarce space he needs as a child. Space to think. Space to play. And to read books and to learn and to hide for a while when it all gets too much.

Home owners affected by bypass to meet Transport Minister

Tue, Jun 23, 2015

Questions over compensation for home owners in negative equity, whose homes are to be demolished by the new N6 Galway City Transport Project route, will be raised at a meeting in Leinster House next week.

Planning objections expected against proposed bar and restaurant for Clybaun

Mon, Jun 22, 2015

There is significant opposition among a number of residents in Knocknacarra against a proposal to build a new pub and restaurant at a site off the busy Clybaun roundabout. A planning application was lodged regarding this development on May 29 and submissions will be accepted until July 2.

'Important for the economy of the entire city' - call for one way traffic system to be retained

Thu, Jun 18, 2015

Galway's traffic woes are to be compounded by a return to the two way system on Lough Atalia and College Road the chair of the Galway City Business Association has warned. The association is calling for the current one-way system to be retained - at the very least until the end of the summer.

E-paper

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