Galwayman named top bodybuilder

Thu, Oct 16, 2014

Galway’s Kevin Russell claimed this year’s 180kg section of the Natural Body Builders Federation National Championships in the Silver Springs Convention Centre in Cork on Saturday.

Get flu jab, urges HSE West public health chief

Thu, Oct 16, 2014

Many people in the at risk groups for flu put themselves in danger of contracting a serious illness or even death by failing to get vaccinated, the HSE West’s director of public health warned this week.

Dr Diarmuid O’Donovan said the flu vaccine is the best defence against the condition - one of the most common acute respiratory illnesses in the world which can affect between 10 and 15 per cent of the population in a year.

JCI Galway wins Best in Ireland Award

Thu, Oct 16, 2014

JCI Galway are celebrating after being awarded the title of Best Branch in Ireland at the JCI Ireland National Convention which was held at the Cork International Airport Hotel.

Support service for children with disabilities faces growing demand

Thu, Oct 16, 2014

Growing demand for services for children with disabilities is putting increased pressure on a Galway organisation which provides this support.

Ó Cuív slams ‘derisory’ Budget tax package for farmers

Thu, Oct 16, 2014

The tax package for farmers in Budget 2015 is “nothing short of derisory”, offering only “minor concessions and a number of renewals of time limited taxes”.

This is the view of Fianna Fáil agriculture spokesperson and Galway West TD Éamon Ó Cuív, who said the package “will not have any significant impact on the vast majority of farmers”.

Concussion brought me to Baboro, says young fan

Thu, Oct 16, 2014

The 18th Baboró International Arts Festival for Children is in full swing with four more days of great shows and exhibitions for you to enjoy, not to mention the spectacular Amococo at the Spanish Arch. Over the last few weeks we’ve been hearing from Baboró enthusiasts about why they’re proud to be Baboró Ambassadors. This week, we hear from James Harrison...

Budget 2015

Thu, Oct 16, 2014

Following Ireland’s exit from the EU/IMF recovery programme and in the context of projected GDP growth of 4.7 per cent for 2014 and 3.9 per cent for 2015, Ministers Noonan and Howlin announced their budgetary measures for 2015 which have been set out below. More detail will be included in the Finance Bill to be published later this month.

Centre for Human Right wins major EU contract for Irish law and social data research

Thu, Oct 16, 2014

The Irish Centre for Human Rights (ICHR), NUI Galway, in close collaboration with project partner the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL), has won a major EU contract for Irish Law and Social Data Research and will become Ireland’s new national focal point for the European Union Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA). This is the first time that the prestigious FRANET-Ireland contract for data collection and research services on fundamental rights issues in Ireland has been awarded to an Irish University-led bid.

FRANET is the FRA’s multidisciplinary research network. It is composed of contractors in each EU Member State who provide relevant data to FRA on fundamental rights issues, to facilitate the Agency’s comparative analyses. This work of the FRA then informs EU policy and initiatives across the EU member States.

Clúid welcomes massive increase in social housing spend

Thu, Oct 16, 2014

Housing agency Clúid has welcomed the €2.2 billion capital investment in social housing announced in the Budget this week.

Galway Indian community to celebrate Diwali

Thu, Oct 16, 2014

Galway’s Indian community will celebrate Diwali - the festival of lights - with a special event in NUI Galway on Saturday October 25, and all Galwegians are welcome.

Local TD calls for reduction in waiting times for insulin pump therapy

Thu, Oct 16, 2014

Eight children with diabetes have been on a waiting list for up to two years to receive insulin pump therapy at the west’s biggest hospital. Others have been waiting from six months to a year.

Tax changes will broaden economic recovery says Connaughton

Thu, Oct 16, 2014

Economic recovery will be “broadened and strengthened”, allowing more people back to work, due to the measures introduced in Budget 2015.

Galway gaming studio launches first app

Thu, Oct 16, 2014

Hay Ewe, the first game from Galway mobile gaming studio Rocket Rainbow, will be available on iOS from today.

This puzzle game has been developed by the Salthill-based company in conjunction with UK publishing veteran Team17, the company behind the hugely successful Worms.

What does this Budget mean for you?

Thu, Oct 16, 2014

These are the main provisions that will affect you.

St Vincent de Paul seeks volunteers in city and county

Thu, Oct 16, 2014

As it prepares to meet growing demands for support from families and individuals this winter, the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) in Galway will hold an information evening to recruit volunteers on Thursday October 23 from 6pm to 8pm in the Menlo Park Hotel, Galway.

Don’t believe the hype - there is genuine hurt in the homes and streets

Thu, Oct 16, 2014

I had a letter the other day from a woman who told me that she and her husband and their sons are just about getting by. They did not splurge out during the Tiger years, that they have paid all their bills and that as a result, they are surviving — but there is not much money to spare. In fact there is nothing to spare when all is said and done by the end of the month.

She said that her sons are bright lads, that they’re never in trouble, they do their studies and she and her husband are very proud of them, but just the other day, one son came home and was very excited about a foreign trip that his school were holding as part of Transition Year. “The trip is costing a lot of money that we just don’t have. My husband and I looked at each other in despair, both of us wondering what are we going to do.

Food for thought from the recent by-elections

Thu, Oct 16, 2014

It was all about by-elections last weekend - two Dáil by-elections being watched closely with a view to gauging the mood music of the electorate; a Seanad by-election generating an inordinate amount of interest as the Government inflicted an unnecessary wound on itself; and two parliamentary by-elections in England which may yet prove to be of some interest this side of the Irish Sea.

Work suspended on ‘problematic’ rent-a-bike sites

Tue, Oct 14, 2014

Work has been stopped at three proposed docking stations for the city’s rental bike scheme, which councillors repeatedly warned would create problems for local residents.

Council to vote on giving approval to Macnas Halloween parade

Mon, Oct 13, 2014

Councillors are expected to give approval to the Macnas Halloween parade, which takes place on Sunday October 26, when they meet in City Hall this afternoon at 4pm.

Protesters and motions to demand scrapping water taxes at today’s council meeting

Mon, Oct 13, 2014

City councillors will be met with demands to abolish the water tax and scrap the controversial quango Irish Water ahead of this afternoon’s meeting of the Galway City Council

E-paper

Read this weeks E-paper. Past editions also available from within this weeks digital copy.