Barack, come to Galway — says Mayor

Thu, Nov 06, 2008

No sooner had the news emerged from America that Barack Obama had been elected the 44th president of the USA yesterday morning, than the Mayor of Galway Cllr Padraig Conneely had drafted a letter of invitation for the president-elect to offically visit Galway city.

Now, isn’t it high time we had a Traveller Taoiseach

Thu, Nov 06, 2008

There is a great feeling around the world today, that at last the good guys have won out, that the forces of oppression that kept the White House out of the grasp of the non-whites (Condi and Colin Powell excepted) have at last been overtaken in a mass coming together of goodness. And we are all entitled to feel proud of what has been achieved in the US, that yet another barrier has been broken, that like in South Africa, another last bastion of inherent apartheid has been shattered and that the American dream has been taken one step further. And all over the world, those who supported Obama are patting themselves on the back and are rightly proud of what this suave senator has achieved in just a few short years, even if he has been helped by the ineptitude of his opponents, but then as Napoleon said, every battle requires a large amount of luck. And all around the world, (and especially here in Old and New Europe) there is a sort of snobbery that it has taken so long for this supposedly sophisticated democracy to allow access to its top post to a person from a minority culture. When Sarah Palin emerged, the same people laughed at her ordinary-ness and at the fact she had not travelled much beyond her own continent. And so we are thinking that at last America is thinking like the rest of us. But in reality, that is not the case. This election has shown that they are ahead. The victory has been welcomed by the luvvies. And those who proclaim themselves liberal. And we all like to think of ourselves as liberal as nobody wants to think that their mind is anything but free and open to new ideas. But let’s see just how liberal we are here in Ireland. How likely is it that a Traveller will ever emerge as a leader of our Government? You would get long odds on that, especially since many of the basic rights long denied the African-American community are the ones that they have to face life without? For many years, parents were put off schools that catered generously for Travellers. And so denied education, they are denied opportunity and fairness, and so throughout life, they are prohibited from achieving what others can. You can be sure that many of the people who stayed up all night to celebrate the dawning of a new era with the election of Obama would be less than impressed if a convoy of Travellers pitched up on their local football pitch. It always amazes me how concerned people get for the welfare of Travellers when they pitch up on the front lawn. In Ireland, often the word RACISM is misspelt NIMBY. You can also be sure that the people who ring in here with short messages every time we put a person who is non-national in a prominent photograph; that the people who think twice before using a taxi being driven by a person who is not a Caucasian; may too have gone around today with a warm feeling in their hearts about Obama, glad that one form of racism has been tackled, but also enforcing the stereotyping that we create every day. We all play a role in determining and preserving stereotypes — this is done through the business of advertising, through the business of media, but mostly through the business of life. Only when the day comes that we can truly say that every person in this country has the same opportunity to sit in the Taoiseach’s seat in Leinster House or to become President of our own country, will we be really sharing in the principles that Barack Obama and Martin Luther King have both espoused, but who have so far never got the chance to put into practice. Remember, it is not just America that Obama has to change. We all have to play our own part.

Threat of Bulmers bottle prompts security men to pin student to the ground

Thu, Nov 06, 2008

There must be good evidence of wrong-doing before security men can forcibly restrain a person, warned a District Court judge this week after hearing the case of a mature student who had been pinned to the ground outside a city centre pub because of a perceived threat of a Bulmers bottle.

Connolly raises doubts over independence of crypto report

Thu, Nov 06, 2008

The independent review into cryptosporidium outbreak, and the Galway City Council’s handling of the crisis, is to be completed by end of month. However Independent Cllr Catherine Connolly has “serious concerns” about the report’s independence.

Educationcuts march on Saturday

Thu, Nov 06, 2008

A major protest march and rally of parents, management and teachers to highlight what they term the “callous and savage” education cuts by the Government in last month’s Budget will take place on Saturday.

Autism diagnostic centre to open in west next year

Thu, Nov 06, 2008

Plans are in the pipeline to open a diagnostic centre in the west next year for children with autism.

Mission accomplished for the Green Dragon

Thu, Nov 06, 2008

The Green Dragon sailed into Capetown earlier this week having achieved its first objective - a podium finish.

After weeks of freeze-dried, it’s food, glorious food

Thu, Nov 06, 2008

The Green Dragon arrived in Capetown this week to be greeted by some familiar smells of Ireland.

‘My strength stopped me from being raped,’ says city man

Thu, Nov 06, 2008

A Galway city man had his €38,000 damages claim against the Justice Minister dismissed at the Circuit Civil Court on Tuesday.

United back Galway’s youth development programme

Thu, Nov 06, 2008

Galway United and the FAI are both backing the development of young players through the the Galway & District Football League.

Voting genetically – it’s in the blood after all

Thu, Nov 06, 2008

Why do we vote the way we do? Because we are stupid! That’s the verdict from Rick Shenkman who has written a book called Just how stupid are we – the truth about the American voter. The book concentrates on American politics and it does not just concentrate on George W Bush – the favourite bogey man for smart people. Rick Shenkman says that voters are voting in a stupid way always. People should weigh up all the issues and analyse policies and politicians, Shenkman says. Undoubtedly, this wise man would probably come to the same conclusion if he were writing about politics in Europe or Ireland. We would all be collectively stupid.

TV firms sue man for €9.2m over 'no fee' cable

Thu, Nov 06, 2008

A legal action against a Galwayman who allegedly provided TV equipment allowing the public to get free cable channels is to be transferred to the Commercial Court.

Mountain rescue team appeals for help

Thu, Nov 06, 2008

Galway Mountain Rescue Team (GMRT) is appealing to the public to support its annual bucket collection which takes place on Saturday.

Ebay worker declines drugs test offer to avoid conviction

Thu, Nov 06, 2008

An Ebay employee with hopes of one day travelling abroad declined to take a drugs test this week, an ironclad condition which had to be met before a judge would concede to a request of not imposing a conviction.

Galway consultant first in Ireland to use Da Vinci robot to carry out heart op

Thu, Nov 06, 2008

Mr Fabio Bartolozzi, a Galway based hospital consultant - who is the only surgeon in Ireland to perform a cardiothoracic surgery procedure using the da Vinci robotic system - will be in the audience at the Late Late Show on Friday night to discuss it.

City Hall has moral obligation to compensate tenants with token gesture says Cameron

Thu, Nov 06, 2008

Pensioners, unemployed, and people with disabilities who used their own initiative to improve their living conditions without any contribution from the Galway City Council should not be neglected by the same body.

This is the view of Labour Cllr Billy Cameron. He proposed that tenants who had already installed their own central heating prior to the introduction of the council’s installation programme be compensated with a token financial gesture.

Contract signed for the N18 Gort to Crusheen dual carriageway

Thu, Nov 06, 2008

On Tuesday the contract for the N18 Gort to Crusheen Dual Carriageway – Design Build Contract was signed in County Buildings in Prospect Hill.

Brazilian pays €400 for fake driving licence to get insurance, court hears

Thu, Nov 06, 2008

A Brazilian man forked out €400 at a roadside meeting for a fake driving licence and then attempted to use it to get insurance, the Galway District Court heard this week.

Paula Da Conceicoa (39) with an address at Dunsandle, Athenry, Galway, appeared before Judge Gerard Haughton and pleaded guilty to being in possession of a false driving licence and using it to induce a person to accept it as genuine at Hibernian Insurance, Eyre Square, on September 15, 2008.

New website to encourage first time buyers into the market

Thu, Nov 06, 2008

A new website - www.getmoving.ie - will be launched to encourage first time buyers into the housing market by providing them with up-to-date availability and house price comparisons throughout the Galway region.

It’s not all rocket science at the Galway science and tech festival

Thu, Nov 06, 2008

Rocket science and space travel are among the subjects which thousands of youngsters from all over the west will be studying as part of the Galway Science and Technology Festival, which opens next week.

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