Half a million people visited Galway Racecourse this year

Thu, Dec 16, 2021

Galway Racecourse, traditionally home to Ireland’s largest horse racing festival, the iconic ‘Galway Races’ had a busy 2021 despite a challenging year. In accordance with Covid protocols a lot still happened throughout the year at the Ballybrit venue.

The ring road is not a problem, it is a major solution

Thu, Dec 16, 2021

An Bord Pleanala giving the ‘go-ahead for the N6 Galway City Ring Road is a positive decision and a major step forward for Galway.

2021 in review - another challenging year

Thu, Dec 16, 2021

A challenging year politically draws to a close with a sense of déjà vu as Ireland faces another Christmas coronavirus scare and renewed concerns about the efforts to extricate itself from the crisis - even if we are in a better position to do so than 12 months ago.

Renmore Pantomime disappointed as it cancels Cinderella panto

Thu, Dec 16, 2021

Renmore Pantomime Society committee has said that it is with the deepest regret that they would like to inform all patrons, sponsors, partners, vendors, members of the society, and the community of its decision to cancel its upcoming production of Cinderella.

The Committee said they have made this decision based on the current challenges associated with Covid-19, and the additional measures required to ensure the safety of all concerned.

Martin Keaveney pens new novel

Thu, Dec 16, 2021

Martin Keaveney has returned with a new novel just in time for Christmas. Tommy O’Toole is a talented adolescent from a village at the centre of isolated bog swamps known as the ‘Mackon Country’. He lives in a mobile home with his father Joe who dreams of completing a half-built house in the field nearby.

Minister of State Naughton announces €108m in funding for Irish Airports

Thu, Dec 16, 2021

Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Hildegarde Naughton yesterday announced the provision of almost €108 million in direct Exchequer supports to the airports of Dublin, Cork, Shannon, Ireland West (Knock), Kerry and Donegal.

Eliminating discrimination, promoting equality and protecting human rights in Galway city

Thu, Dec 16, 2021

Tomorrow December 17, Galway City Community Network (GCCN) will host a seminar exploring the Implementation of the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty in Galway City which will include the launch of the Equality and Rights in Action Galway video and community resources.

€340,000 Burren Discovery Trail to go live in January, says Cannon

Thu, Dec 16, 2021

Fine Gael TD Ciaran Cannon TD has welcomed an announcementby Failte Ireland that the Burren Discovery Loop will go live in January.

The loop is the result of an investment of €340,000 and will be the the third such loop to attract tourists inland from the Wild Atlantic Way, with loops already in place in Donegal and Limerick.

Athenry Credit Union funding boost for Voices for Down Syndrome Galway

Thu, Dec 16, 2021

With contributions from members, staff and the board of Directors of Athenry Credit Union, a total of €1,000 was raised as part of the Athenry Credit Union Down Syndrome Awareness Month.

Amazing tale of Galway’s most historic hotel

Thu, Dec 16, 2021

This book, The Hardiman – An Amazing Story celebrates the history of one of the most iconic buildings in Galway. It opened in 1852 as the Railway Hotel and was designed in a classical style by John Skipton Mulvany.

Brave the cold for COPE Galway’s Annual Christmas Swim

Thu, Dec 16, 2021

Every year, there are men, women and children in our community for whom Christmas is the loneliest time of year. Whether due to the isolation that sometimes comes with older age; whether you have had to flee violence at home or if you are enduring the realities of homelessness, this season can compound what is already an exceptionally difficult time.

TG4 to show Christmas Day tribute to the late Joe Burke

Thu, Dec 16, 2021

TG4 will broadcast a musical celebration in memory of Joe Burke, a giant of traditional music and accordion playing, in a special programme on Christmas Day. One of the most talented musicians of his era, Joe Burke died last February and in celebration of the rich musical heritage he left after him, this programme will air on Christmas day with performances from some of the most influential Irish musical figures.

This is a special night of celebration with family and friends in memory of Joe Burke, including performances by his wife Ann Conroy, herself an extraordinary accordion player. Tg4 will celebrate the man who lifted many a heart with his wit and storytelling and influenced countless musicians all over the world. Some of them will be heard in this programme, with performances from Ann Conroy Burke, Mary Conroy, Frankie Gavin, Charlie Lennon, Eileen O’Brien, Máire Ní Chathasaigh, Liz and Yvonne Keane, Jackie Daly, Dermot Byrne, Máire Ní Chathasaigh agus Conchubhar Ó Luasa.

Family carers of people with dementia sought for research study

Thu, Dec 16, 2021

NUI Galway’s School of Psychology is seeking participants for a new study to examine the psychological factors which may have been protective for family carers of people with dementia in Ireland during the past year of the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Ireland West Airport welcomes funding boost

Thu, Dec 16, 2021

Ireland West Airport has welcomed the announcement of funding of €1.9m for the airport under the Public Policy Remit Operational Expenditure Subvention (PPR-O) and Covid-19 Supplementary Support Funding Scheme.

Need for increased patience as retail staff feel the brunt of frustration

Thu, Dec 16, 2021

There is a greater need for patience among the general population this year. You can feel a tension that did not exist last winter. Last year in the quest for the ‘meaningful Christmas,’ there was some expectation, some risk, a releasing of tensions as people knew that beyond the peaked mountains of the ‘meaningful Christmas,’ vales of great possibilities abounded. The vaccine was on the cusp of general release and people were working out when they might expect to receive the manna from heaven that it represented.

And even though we were told all along that we might be living with Covid for a year or three and that ‘it wasn’t going away, ya know,’ there was some hope that the summer wind might blow it out, like the winter wind blew out Trump.

‘Momentous’, ‘appalling’ - Galway divided over ring road planning permission

Thu, Dec 09, 2021

The Galway City Ring Road will see a massive reduction in traffic congestion in the city centre, and travel times cut by more than 40 per cent; or it will see even greater levels of traffic clog our roads and drastically increase Galway’s carbon emissions.

Controversial ring road continues to produce sharp responses from supporters and critics

Thu, Dec 09, 2021

The long running, highly controversial, and often bizarre saga of the Galway City Ring Road is finally set to both come to an end, and begin to become a reality, following An Bord Pleanála’s decision, on Tuesday, to grant planning permission.

Beware the reactionaries spreading fear and doubt about realities of Covid

Thu, Dec 09, 2021

As we get closer to the end of the year, Insider has once again been in a reflective mood. Almost two years into the pandemic, and the associated restrictions, the cumulative impact of trauma and hopes dashed is having an impact on so many of us.

Transport to the city for a euro as Park and Ride returns for Christmas season

Thu, Dec 09, 2021

The annual Park & Ride Christmas Service makes a welcome return to the city this year.

Chambers call for formal process to regularise undocumented persons

Thu, Dec 09, 2021

Chambers Ireland, the voice of business throughout Ireland, has welcomed the announcement of a new scheme to regularise long-term undocumented migrants in Ireland but urges the creation of a formal process to fully regularise all undocumented persons from now on.

Speaking today, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot, said that after a long period of campaigning for the inclusion of undocumented workers and their children to be regularised, this announcement marks a very positive step towards the regularisation of thousands of migrants who add immense value to our economy, local communities, and society as a whole.

E-paper

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