Calls for NCT-style system after rented properties fail inspection

Thu, Jul 31, 2014

With over half of city private rented properties and 82 per cent of county rented properties failing local authority inspections,Threshold Galway is calling for an NCT-style inspection process to place more responsibility on landlords to ensure that their property meets the standards required.

This comes after the latest figures from the Environment Department revealed this week that close to 60 per cent of all private rental premises that were inspected by local authorities around the country last year failed basic minimum requirements. The Enforcement of Requirement for Standards and Rent Books 2013 figures show that four local authorities - county councils in Donegal, Louth, Offaly, and Limerick City Council - saw 100 per cent failure rates while other failures included Ballina Town Council (98 per cent), Fingal County Council (96 per cent), Longford County Council (91 per cent), and Cork County Council (90 per cent).

The Comer brothers — the gift that keeps on giving for Galway FC

Thu, Jul 31, 2014

The billionaire Glenamaddy brothers who are funding Galway FC to the tune of €300,000 over a three year period said this week they plan to extend their sponsorship of the city based League of Ireland side in the future.

NUIG honours racing masters Weld and Bolger

Thu, Jul 31, 2014

NUI Galway conferred honorary degrees on two outstanding members of the Irish horse racing world on Wednesday, Dermot Weld and Jim Bolger.

Feakle Festival to return for August

Thu, Jul 31, 2014

The Feakle Festival, one of Ireland’s most popular traditional music events, will be held from Wednesday August 6 to Monday August 11.

The festival will feature performances from ICE, an ensemble of concertinas, renowned concertina player Dr Tim Collins, Swedish five string banjo aficionado Lena Ullman, Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill, as well as the singing duo Lumiere.

Meningitis B vaccine should be included in national immunisation programme, says charity

Thu, Jul 31, 2014

The first vaccine which protects against meningitis B should be included in the national immunisation programme, a leading meningitis organisation said this week.

The Galway based national charity Act for Meningitis says the vaccine, which protects against the potentially fatal infection, was licensed by the European Commission in January 2013.

Croi leads the way in tackling bogus fundraising

Thu, Jul 31, 2014

Over two years ago, local heart and stroke charity Croi took the proactive step of reviewing its procedures and controls in the use of sponsorship cards so as to minimise the risk of the general public being duped by bogus collectors and fundraisers.

Ed Sheeran spends the weekend at cousin’s wedding in Spiddal

Thu, Jul 31, 2014

Ed Sheeran visited Spiddal last weekend to attend his cousin’s wedding and enjoy a three-day festival to mark the event.

The late Sheila O’Donnellan believed that our literary heritage should be celebrated

Thu, Jul 31, 2014

One of the great moments in the 20 year history of the annual Lady Gregory Autumn Gathering, was the arrival Lady Gregory’s two surviving grandchildren, Anne de Winton, and Catherine Kennedy. They drove up the avenue at speed, let their dog out for a run, and came over to the welcoming crowd grinning broadly.

Charity Moonlight Walk to take place in Oughterard

Thu, Jul 31, 2014

A ‘Moonlight Walk’ to raise funds for a community park in Oughterard, will take place in the village on Saturday August 9.

Galwegian to be commemorated at hunger strike event

Thu, Jul 31, 2014

A County Galway man, Tony D’Arcy, will be among the Republicans commemorated at the National Hunger Strike commemoration in Derrylin, Fermanagh, this Sunday.

Reducing Connemara to one LEADER area a ‘disastrous decision’ - Ó Cuív

Thu, Jul 31, 2014

“A potentially disastrous decision” with “serious implications in relation to employment” in the Aran Islands and Connemara is how changes to the Social Inclusion and LEADER programmes is being described.

Cavan civil servant dies during Connemara mountain climb

Thu, Jul 31, 2014

The funeral took place yesterday of a father of three who died in a tragic accident during a mountaineering climb in Connemara at the weekend.

Galway peace activist demands political prisoner status

Thu, Jul 31, 2014

Controversial Galway peace activist Niall Farrell is demanding political prisoner status when he starts a two week gaol sentence in Limerick Prison tomorrow.

We must do more for the children of our country and our world

Thu, Jul 31, 2014

My heart goes out to the parents and families of the children who are dying in Gaza, Israel, Syria, Iraq, South Sudan, Somalia, and many other war-torn countries. Listening and watching the various news programmes of what happened to the young children in these war situations makes me wonder what life is really all about.

Little Cinema announces sponsorship from Castle Print

Thu, Jul 31, 2014

Little Cinema is a monthly short film showcase set up in Galway in 2010 by three film-maker friends fresh out of college. It showcases films of all genres made by talented local film-makers of all levels from beginners to professionals. It's been dubbed as the 'open mic night for film makers'.

Take the Rocky Road to Dublin for Console

Thu, Jul 31, 2014

Sporting groups, runners and walkers in Galway are being invited to dress like movie character Rocky and join the Great Rocky Run in aid of the national suicide prevention and bereavement charity Console.

Decked out in the grey tracksuit and red headband of underdog hero Rocky Balboa, the innovative relay run organised by Galway’s Monivea Boxing Club sets off on September 13 on a 200km route from Galway to Dublin’s Phoenix Park.

Bumper festival season to give local economy injection of more than €90 million

Thu, Jul 31, 2014

There is plenty of optimism in the air this week as the local economy is in line for an injection of more than €90 million due to the success of the Galway International Arts Festival and the numbers going through the turnstills at the Galway Races so far up on previous years.

So where was I when I left off?

Thu, Jul 31, 2014

Where have I been for the last four months? April 14, my birthday. I'd had manflu for a few weeks and was feeling the effects. That birthday started off at work as any normal Monday would have, but instead of ending it eating cake and cursing the passage of another year, I found myself rushed to hospital by ambulance, spending two days in Casualty at UHG. I'd never been in hospital at any stage of my life; not even at birth, so this was a totally new experience for me. My memory of those few days in Casualty is almost non existent, and with my condition deteriorating at an alarming rate I was brought to the High Dependency Unit in Intensive Care, where I was to spend a decent portion of the next month battling a virus that rendered me critically ill for a considerable amount of time.

At this time, the support for my wife Bernadette, daughter Giselle (5) and extended family and friends was very welcome, and the wishes, cards, and candles lit by many people lifted my spirit and enabled me to fight this serious illness. This I did, with tremendous care administered by the staff in casualty and especially in HDU where my condition fluctuated considerably during my time there. The care I received in HDU was simply outstanding and enabled me to battle the virus and make a complete recovery and put me in better shape than I probably was before all of this happened.

Galway Gaeltacht school a hit with Kodaline cover

Thu, Jul 31, 2014

“Nothing is too much for Gaeilge,” according to the bainisteoir of Gaeltacht school Coláiste Lurgan which has been causing quite a stir with its covers of hits such as Kodaline’s ‘Love Like This’ as Gaeilge on the TG Lurgan YouTube channel.

Barnaderg post office reprieve welcome, but not end of matter says Connaughton

Thu, Jul 31, 2014

“A victory for the local community” is how the keeping open of the Barnaderg Post Office is being described. However there are concerns this only applies for the next 12 months.

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