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.

The facility is the brainchild of the Action for Life Foundation, a non profit organisation which provides services for children with autism and developmental delay.

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.

But elections are about the voice of the people and American journalist Bob Moser – an experienced guy out in the field – hits the practicalities on the head. He says that that ultimately, electoral politics do not come down to education but to winning votes, whether voters are well informed or not. His book revolves around political attitudes in the American South and how the Republicans have gained influence in these States for a long time past. The Republicans have done this, Moser says, by appealing to Southern whites who were put off “by the Democrats with long hair and liberal views that seemed to favour communist nations, racial integrations rules and opposition to prayer in schools”. And so for years the Democrats have lost out in the Southern states. But both these “experts” – as is often the way with experts - could be well of the mark. For they are forgetting something we always knew down by the seashore, up in the hills, and in the farmland of the west of Ireland. You have your politics in the blood! People were born Fianna Fáil or born Fine Gael – and they voted that way. Off course an odd stray would vote Labour…but you couldn’t account for deviant behaviour like that. The smart people like Rick Shenkman would probably say all that was stupid. Nobody was born to do anything and we should all have been educated into making rational and sensible decisions about voting. That’s where Shenkman shows up his folly. And some very smart guys have been finding this out. People’s brains are fairly well programmed as to how they will slant politically the day they are born; in fact they could be 50 per cent programmed. And is all this stupid talk? Certainly not.

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.

Twenty-one-year-old Adam Symes with an address at 64 Willowbrook Lawns, Celbridge, Kildare, was summoned to appear before Judge Gerard Haughton at Galway District Court last Monday for possession of drugs, namely cannabis, at the Spanish Arch on September 8, 2007.

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.

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.

Man armed with knife threatens another, court hears

Thu, Nov 06, 2008

A young man who while carrying a knife threatened a person sitting in a car in a housing estate driveway was remanded on continuing bail at Galway District Court this week.

Older people urged to tell organisation how to make Galway more age friendly

Thu, Nov 06, 2008

Older people are invited to give their views on how Galway city can become more age-friendly.

Burglar caught red-handed gets six months

Thu, Nov 06, 2008

A burglar who had used up his chances was sentenced to six months at Galway District Court this week while his accomplice received a suspended sentence.

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