Become a qualified fitness instructor with Maltings Training

Thu, Aug 06, 2015

Would you like to train as a fitness instructor? To work in a gym or leisure centre? To teach freelance classes? To conduct physical training sessions with teams? To make a positive contribution to the general health and wellbeing of people of all ages? Then become a qualified fitness instructor with Maltings Training.

Upskill with SAGE Line 50 award

Thu, Aug 06, 2015

In recent times many businesses are relying on debt and credit control to maintain cashflow. A working knowledge of a computerised accounts system such as SAGE will prove beneficial in achieving this task, and will also transfer as an employable skill.

Rediscover the sheer joy of running

Thu, Aug 06, 2015

I’ve always loved running. I love looking down and seeing my feet have a race with each other to see which gets somewhere before the other. I love the swishness of being able to balance on two legs and move fast and not fall over. The best part of being a kid is that you can run anywhere, up town, down the street, to the shop. When I was a Mass server, I used to run the mile to the church and run back. I always ran to school. And ran faster coming home. Much faster. I love to run because basically walking never gets me where I want to go fast enough. And if you walk too fast, it’s a look that's just a little too John Inman… And when you get older and enter adulthood, running in the streets is not so cool. Because we become so conscious of what we are doing and what people might think, as if running is an immature thing to do. If a guy is seen running now in town, it’s because there’s more likely a shop security guard running 50 yards behind him. Or a pickpocket 50 yards ahead. At least that’s my experience, your honour.

We’ve relegated the joy of simply running to times when we’re kitted out for it in skinhugging lycra that says plainly “This Man Is Running. It’s Ok. He’s Not Mad. Really. Ok Just a Bit Then.” We squeeze into running gear with luminous stripes and colourful runners to clearly signify that we are running because we want to. That we are conforming. That I am running because this is running gear. For running in. OK?

Peace event to mark anniversary of Nagasaki bombing

Wed, Aug 05, 2015

To mark the 70th anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Nagasaki on August 9 1945, a Peace event to commemorate the 200,000 men, women, and children who perished, will be held in Galway.

Man blown away by waitresses honesty at Galway cafe

Wed, Aug 05, 2015

Staff at one Galway cafe certainly made one man's day yesterday. Two observant waitresses at An Pota Caife on Shop Street recognised the man who had accidentally left his entire disability allowance in the cafe three months ago and returned the money to the flabbergasted customer.

Loughrea boasts biggest drop in county-wide unemployment figures

Wed, Aug 05, 2015

The latest figures released by the Central Statistics Office have revealed that Loughrea has recorded the biggest year-on-year drop in unemployment in County Galway.

The figures show that Loughrea’s unemployment figure has fallen by 15 per cent or 331 people on last year, meaning there are now 1,865 on the Live Register in the area. However, there has been a month-on-month increase in unemployment of 1.3 per cent.

Galway’s housing crisis 'more severe than Dublin' claims councillor

Tue, Aug 04, 2015

With 4,475 applicants on the housing waiting list, Galway now has a "bigger housing crisis" than Dublin and Limerick and the second highest number, in percentage terms, of families and individuals in the State waiting for accommodation.

Charity quits Renua after just three months

Thu, Jul 30, 2015

Three months after joining Renua, Galway county councillor James Charity has sensationally quit Lucinda Creighton's party, accusing it of "U-turns on its water charges policy" and for failing to support him on "issues of local importance".

€30 million a kilometre for N6 an 'obscenity' says Connolly

Thu, Jul 30, 2015

Paying €500 million for the 16.5km N6 Galway outer bypass, which works out at €30 million a kilometre, is an "obscenity", particularly when the road will do little to solve traffic congestion in the city, and when there are "cheaper, cleaner, and more sustainable solutions".

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.

The Local Enterprise Offices are supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.

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.

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