Search Results for 'Gerry Finnerty'

Galway County Councillors have agreed to the local authority taking an equity share in Ireland West Airport Knock, in an attempt to secure the future of the transport facility.

Since the six new proposed bypass routes were revealed, widespread fears have been expressed from all corners about the future of the Galway Races. The blue route allows for a tunnel to be built under the Ballybrit track, and manager John Maloney has expressed his belief that this development would lead to the racetrack closing for a period of two years.

A deputation from Galway is to travel to Europe to discuss proposals for a new city bypass and the option of returning to the original route which failed at planning stage. It was decided at a special meeting of the Galway County Council on Monday evening that city and county councillors, local TDs, and community representatives will meet MEPs and members of the European Commission to discuss various options.

A debate on commercial rates at this week’s meeting of Galway County Council led one exasperated councillor to remark that there would not be a rural pub left in Galway in a few years time if the system was not changed. The method of collecting rates was labelled as ‘outdated and antiquated’ where the amounts paid were in no way related to business income.

A civil servant received one of the coldest receptions ever afforded to a visitor at a Galway County Council meeting earlier this week when he gave a presentation on the National Broadband Plan. Sean Griffin from the Department of Communications was handed the unenviable task of delivering an update on the plan, and how it would affect long-suffering internet users in rural Galway. But it was unlikely that Mr Griffin had reckoned on a chamber packed with 39 irate councillors, each of whom was awarded time to speak on the contentious issue. And it was not pretty. At one stage the department representative was even accused of pedalling “happy pills’’ to pacify a bunch that were anything but happy.

Galway’s senior hurling stars will face a county selection in Gort on December 28 (3pm) to help national charity Console provide suicide prevention training for members of nine local GAA clubs.

The substantial cost of renovating Galway County Council’s public chamber was raised again at this week’s local authority meeting. It is estimated the work which is currently under way at County Buildings will cost in the region of €450,000. It had initially been estimated that the extension and upgrade works would cost substantially less at around €200,000.

’This is our time to stand up and deliver for small struggling businesses right across County Galway.’’ The words of Fine Gael councillor Jimmy McClearn who spoke passionately on behalf of the local business community at Monday’s meeting of the Galway county council.

With the schools back, the evenings longer, and summer giving way to autumn, focus is switching to the resumption of the Dáil and to what the political environment will be like over the coming months. Are we facing a winter of discontent or are the dark skies starting to give way to brighter days?

The Galway County Council has agreed to meet with residents and stakeholders to alleviate concerns in relation to phase two of the realignment of the N67 Ballinderreen to Kinvara which is to cost in the region of €8 million.