A traffic barrier will be operational to control traffic through the back entrance at Merlin Park Hospital from early May.

The HSE will be implementing a barrier system at the rear entrance to the Merlin Park site, off Merlin Lane, with effect from Tuesday, May 6.

Access to the site via the back gate will be restricted to HSE staff and essential service delivery vehicles and access will be controlled.

The public is reminded that access to the hospital for patients and visitors remains via the front entrance only.

The barriers will be operational between the following times, Monday to Friday only (Excluding Public Holidays)

• 07:00-10:00 hours
• 16:00- 18:30 hours

For all other times, the back gate will be closed and access to the site will be via the front entrance only.

The HSE is continuing to engage with local residents and stakeholders on any issues of concern.

Three electronic and computer engineering students from University of Galway win a €6,000 prize at the annual EirGrid Cleaner Grid Competition.

The theme of this year’s competition asked students to “Present your vision of what the growing energy sector will need to look like in 2050 to have sustainably achieved net-zero emissions”.

Winning team members Ruchit Ghandi, Sarah Jane Hughes and Ethan O’Brien claimed second place for their proposal Peer Power, an app designed to encourage members of local communities to share energy which is generated locally.

They were awarded a prize of €6,000 (€3,000 for the winning student team and €3,000 for the student’s third-level institute), by the judging panel.

Their project narrowly missed out to team Todhchaí Glas from University College Dublin, who claimed first place.

Following the awards, Galway native, Ruchit Ghandi, spoke positively of the team’s experience, saying, “As young citizens of this country we feel it is important people understand more about net zero and climate targets but also how they can contribute to sustainability.”

“For students entering competitions like this in the future I recommend looking that something that will solve challenges for people. It was very enjoyable.”

The CleanerGrid competition run by EirGrid, the operator and developer of Ireland’s electricity grid, aims to foster innovation and creativity by encouraging students to showcase their skills in solving critical energy challenges, with a focus on sustainability, efficiency and clean energy technologies.

Entrants were asked to show how the grid will need to change to allow for more renewable sources and less synchronous generation; including what government policies will need to be in place, how the economy will be affected, how the grid will need to adapt, how technology can help achieve this goal, or any other relevant points they identify in order to create a resilient energy system for the future.

Among the ideas put forward by the five competing teams of finalists from DCU, University of Galway, UCD and Trinity College Dublin included pumped hydro, leveraging our coasts through offshore wind and the use of artificial intelligence in grid enhancement.

The judging panel was composed of Joanna Donnelly, Meteorologist with Met Éireann, Vish Gain, Technology and Business Journalist with the Business Post, Professor John Barry, Professor of Green Political Economy at Queens University Belfast and EirGrid’s own Head of Engineering and Asset Management, Louise O’Flanagan.

Congratulating all the teams on an engaging series of presentations, EirGrid Chief Innovation Officer Liam Ryan said, “Today’s competition is further evidence of the valuable contributions third-level students can offer in tackling societal challenges such as decarbonisation, energy affordability and climate action.”

“They are at the forefront of the latest cutting-edge research through our universities, and we can learn so much from them.”

“As we work towards delivering the Government targets for a decarbonised, sustainable, and strong economy, we recognise the importance of bringing students and young people with us on the journey as we transition to a clean, renewable energy grid.”

“We offer our thanks to everyone who took part in today’s final, coming from all corners of the country.”

Nominations are being invited for the Cathaoirleach’s Awards 2025, an annual awards scheme that honours individuals and groups who have had a significant impact on the quality of life in communities across County Galway.

The Cathaoirleach’s Awards are a joint venture between Galway County Council and the Public Participation Network (PPN), which has run annually for over a decade.

Cllr Martina Kinane, Cathaoirleach of the County of Galway said, “I am delighted to launch the Cathaoirleach’s Awards for 2025. These awards provide a fantastic opportunity to acknowledge and reward the amazing community and voluntary work happening around the County.”

The Public Participation Network has over 1,300 member groups carrying out a range of community and voluntary activities,

The winners will be announced at a special reception in May ahead of the Mayoral Charity Ball at the Raheen Woods Hotel in Athenry on June 7^th.

Liam Conneally, Chief Executive of Galway County Council, stated, “These awards give us an opportunity to showcase best practice in voluntary initiatives and projects across a broad range of areas such as sport, heritage, environment, arts and culture, community and social inclusion, and promotion of the Irish language.”

Kieran Coyne, Acting Director of Services, added that the awards provide an opportunity to “recognise the value and contribution of volunteers to our county.”

People can also see first hand, “the impact of their activities on community wellbeing and quality of life,” from these volunteers activities.

Nominations can be made by individual members of the public or through community groups and voluntary organisations, by emailing a completed nomination form to awards@galwaycoco.ie before the closing date of 18^th April 2025. 

Nomination forms are available on www.galway.ie or by emailing awards@galwaycoco.ie

The Clifden RNLI Lifeboat came to the aid of a broken down fishing vessel in Connemara waters on Monday afternoon.

Clifden’s all weather Shannon class lifeboat was launched under the command of Coxswain James Mullen, with Joe Acton, Dan Whelan, Tom Guy and Shane Conneely as crew.

The crew immediately made their way to the location, near Aughris Point. They were assisted from the shore by Ian Shanahan, Michael Barrett, Fergal Conneely and Dara Wallace.

The casualty vessel was located and the fisherman onboard confirmed the gearbox was broken. To prevent a navigational hazard the lifeboat crew established a tow line and towed the fishing boat back to Aughris Pier.

Clifden RNLI Coxswain, James Mullen said, “With the weather improving we expect to see an increase in activity around our coastal waters.”

“Our advice for anyone going to sea is to plan your journey in advance, have the relevant charts required, life-jackets for all on board and a means of calling for assistance if you find yourself in trouble.”

“I want to commend the fisherman for raising the alarm when he knew he couldn’t make safe progress. Every moment matters. Please never delay in calling for assistance, in Clifden RNLI we are ready to respond 24/7.”

Galway County Council has approved more than €320,000 in funding for projects by 267 local community and voluntary groups.

At the March Meeting of Galway County Council, Elected Members approved €303,750 in funding under Galway County Council’s Community Support Schemes, in addition to €18,000 allocated under Fáilte Ireland’s Regional Festivals and Participative Events funding scheme.

The purpose of Galway County Council’s Community Support Schemes is to encourage community and voluntary groups by providing small-scale funding for projects that benefit their local community.

The Community Support Schemes comprise three individual Support Schemes for Economic, Community and Cultural Development.

The grants are diverse and range from support to improve local amenities and facilities; support for groups that promote and increase knowledge and awareness of the arts, heritage and Irish language throughout the county.

They can also be used for collaborative business promotional initiatives, festivals or participative events, which aim to increase footfall in towns and villages and drive economic growth.

Cllr. Martina Kinnane, Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council, stated, “Each year, the Community Support Scheme attracts a high level of interest and the recognition of the level of voluntary work right across the county and the significant impact of the work being undertaken was acknowledged by the Elected Members when approving the allocation of funds.”

“On behalf of the Elected Members, I want to thank all the community groups that work tirelessly for their local communities and strive to make our local areas a better place to live, work and visit.”

Liam Conneally, Chief Executive of Galway County Council, said, “The Community Support Schemes will enable over €300,000 to be invested in the community and voluntary sector in the County.”

“This investment would not be possible without the work and volunteerism provided by our communities and citizens who play a vital part in keeping communities alive and improving the quality of life and wellbeing in Galway.”

Kieran Coyne, Acting Director of Services, stated “The Community Support Schemes are a significant and popular funding scheme for groups in Galway County.”

“The allocations provided through the Community Support Schemes are part of a wider range of funding schemes and we will continue to seek to maximise these through coordinating the schemes and directing communities to the most appropriate funding schemes for their planned projects and activities, while working in a collaborative and partnership approach with all stakeholders.”

“I would like to thank the Elected Members for the huge role they play, and I also want to acknowledge the role of the Public Participation Network which plays a vital part in informing and advising the community and voluntary groups regarding this and other funding schemes,” added Mr. Coyne.

Read the full list of projects approved funding here: CSS 2025 Recommendations for Plenary Meeting

A significant upgrade is on the way for Inishbofin’s water supply with Uisce Éireann to begin works on the island this spring.

A containerised unit designed to treat complex issues relating to raw water quality will arrive on the island within weeks.

With the island supply the subject of Do Not Consume Notices in the past due to elevated levels of manganese this investment will ensure the security of supply for islanders and visitors alike.

Uisce Éireann’s project manager Martin Blackweir explained that detailed surveys and water sampling took place on the island before final designs were agreed on.

“Depending on weather conditions we hope to begin works before summer. This project is a significant investment for the island.”

“It’s important to note that the water supply on Inishbofin is currently meeting drinking water regulations and is safe to drink but this unit will ensure a reliable and safe water supply long into the future,” said Martin.

Funding of just under €200,000 has been awarded for community development projects on the offshore islands in Galway.

Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht Dara Calleary recently announced a total of €390,000 in funding for Measure 3 of the 2024 CLÁR programme.

The funding will be used to develop and enhance community facilities and amenities across our off-shore Islands.

In total, eight Islands off the coast of Cork, Donegal, Galway and Mayo will benefit under this funding allocation.

The funding will include improvements to sports facilities and community centres, and the enhancement of play spaces.

Supports for waste management and island transport infrastructure is also being provided.

In Galway funding has been awarded for three projects on Inis Mór in the Aran Islands, and a fourth project on Inishbofin.

This includes €50,000 for the repair and upgrade of playground equipment including inclusive equipment and another €50,000 to install a community kitchen in Halla Rónáin on Inis Mór.

Also on Inis Mór €44,190 has been awarded to Athchursail Arann CGA for waste management equipment.

Additionally, Inishbofin Development Company CLG will receive €50,000 for the repair and upgrade of playground equipment at Inishbofin Community Playground.

Announcing the successful projects, Minister Calleary said, “I am delighted announce these successful projects today under the CLÁR programme. Supporting our Island communities is a key priority for me and for this government.”

“I am very pleased to see these investments which will further enhance the quality of life for those living on eight of our off-shore islands.”

“Improvements in community facilities and transport initiatives together with waste management measures are all very welcome.”

“There is also funding for the purchase of a generator in an island community centre which, as we have seen in recent weeks, will be an important resource in the future.”

“I want to commend the community and voluntary groups behind each of these projects for their continued commitment to improving the quality of life of everyone on our islands.”

“Through schemes like the CLÁR programme, I want to use my term as Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to support you as much as possible in creating sustainable and vibrant island communities.”

University of Galway has announced the Nelson Mandela Fund to promote a culture of race equality and to support scholarships for students.

The initiative was unveiled as part of celebrations and events at the University to mark Race Equality Week.

The fund is being established to help fund more than a dozen new scholarship places and to support the University’s actions as a global leader for impactful and inclusive teaching, research and innovation, staff and student experience and passion for culture and creativity.

The late Nelson Mandela was hosted at the University in 2003 when he was awarded an honorary doctorate of laws.

In his address at the conferring, the Nobel prize winner said: “Let us together hope and work for a world in which there will be peace and on the basis of that peace the building of a more prosperous life for all the people of the world.”

Launching the Nelson Mandela Fund, Galway City Labour Party Councillor Helen Ogbu, said, “Nelson Mandela showed the world that true leadership is rooted in empathy and understanding.”

“The University of Galway is dedicated to embedding his legacy throughout our community, recognizing that while strides have been made toward a fair and equal society, racial inequalities still persist in higher education and beyond.”

“By embracing equity—ensuring every individual receives the support they need—we can dismantle systemic barriers and foster diverse leadership.”

“The Nelson Mandela Fund is a vital step in answering Mandela’s call, advancing not only equality but also the benefits of equity that empower communities and build a more just society”

Dr Helen Maher, Vice-President Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, said, “The Nelson Mandela Fund is founded by University of Galway to promote Mandela’s legacy of courage and persistence in combating race inequalities and oppression during apartheid and promoting non-racism, non-sexism, peace, and reconciliation in post-apartheid South Africa.”

“Mandela was a beacon of hope, a symbol of unwavering strength and compassion in the face of unimaginable adversity and a global inspiration to all who envision an equal society.”

“Through this fund, named in his honour, our aim is to enable, empower and embed a culture of race equality throughout University of Galway and our communities.”

Oranmore Maree GAA One Club welcomed President of the GAA Jarlath Burns and Minister Patrick O’Donovan as they officially turned the sod on the club’s Sports Centre of Excellence, Renville Sports Grounds at the weekend.

Renville Sports Grounds will serve the sporting needs of the area with a number of full size all-weather and grass pitches and other community facilities.

The development will deliver in Renville leading sporting facilities which will benefit members of the Oranmore Maree GAA One Club (Oranmore Maree GAA Club, Oranmore-Maree Camogie Club & Naomh Mhuire Ladies Football Club merged in 2019 into one integrated club) and the wider community for generations to come.

Renville Sports Grounds will include one 4G full size pitch; three full size grass pitches; three training / warm up areas; club pavilion with multiple changing rooms; ball wall; a community facilities area; secure low level 2km lit community walking / running track; and a public children’s playground area.

Other works will include the preservation of a ringfort as a local heritage, a sensory garden and educational site and a community parking area with accessible public toilets and baby changing facilities which will help further service Renville Park and Graveyard.

Phase I, which will be a €4m project, primarily entails the development of the pitches, with other facilities, such as the Club Pavilion, to be developed in subsequent phases. The overall budget for the project will be in the order of €7-8m.

At the Official Sod Turning Ceremony GAA President Jarlath Burns said “Oranmore Maree GAA One Club should be incredibly proud of this hugely exciting project which will be one of the biggest sporting facilities in the West of Ireland when completed.”

“The GAA is a wonderful organisation built on volunteerism and support from the local community and this is just another great example of that.”

These amenities are greatly needed in the Oranmore Maree area. There has been a huge population growth in recent years within the area, with the population approaching 10,000. This has led to the Oranmore Maree GAA One Club operating at beyond maximum capacity with nearly 100 GAA teams at present using the local community sporting facilities.

With over 2,500 pupils attending schools in Oranmore & Maree every day and with a combined membership of 1,800 people in the club (over 1,000 boys and girls), the vision for Renville Sports Grounds arose out of an urgent need to develop new sporting facilities to cater for the rapidly expanding playing numbers from juvenile to adult level.

The club membership has doubled in the last 6-7 years and is expected to continue to grow strongly with the ongoing and future development of many new housing developments in the area.

Oranmore Maree GAA One Club has invested over €1.1m in the project to date between land purchase, planning and fundraising costs. In 2019, the Renville Project submitted an application to the Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) for the development of Phase I of the project.

Only national governing bodies could apply to the LSSIF and Renville Sports Grounds was one of only seven LSSIF applications submitted by Croke Park and the only one West of the Shannon. In 2020 the project was awarded a LSSIF grant of €2.1m, which was subsequently increased to €2.52m in a subsequent round of funding.

Minister for Arts, Culture, Communications, Media and Sport Patrick O’Donovan said “It is great to be here at Renville today for the official sod turning. It marks a new era and I am delighted to be part of this ground-breaking ceremony which everybody in the community should take pride in.”

“As a Government, we are determined to invest in our sporting infrastructure, and the commencement of this project is a further demonstration of this commitment. I want to congratulate all those involved for their remarkable achievement.”

“The development will provide a state-of-the-art sports venue for players, where supporters and the community can gather and enjoy our traditional games for many years to come”.

Chairperson of Oranmore-Maree GAA One Club Sean Greene says “we all experienced a landmark moment for Oranmore-Maree GAA Club with Jarlath Burns Turning the Sod on Renville Sports Grounds today.

“This marks the club officially moving forward with the development which will have an enormously positive impact on the club and GAA in the area for generations to come.”

Good things certainly came in threes last night as the EuroMillions and EuroMillions Plus draws delivered unforgettable wins for Irish players.

The stars of the evening were two players from Cork and Galway, who matched all numbers in the EuroMillions Plus draw to claim remarkable top prizes of €500,000 each.

The Galway player picked up their Quick Pick ticket on Thursday, 20th March, from Concannons Daybreak, Ahascragh, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway.

The Corkonian purchased their winning Quick Pick ticket on the day of the draw from Dunnes Stores, Ballyvolane Shopping Centre, Cork City, Co. Cork.

The numbers for last night’s EuroMillions Plus draw were: 13, 14, 17, 26 and 32.

Although there was no winner of the eye-watering jackpot worth €200 million (est.), Kilkenny still celebrated a notable win as one player took home €18,159 by matching five numbers.

The winning Quick Pick ticket was purchased on the day of the draw at SuperValu, New Park Shopping Centre, Co. Kilkenny.

The winning numbers for the main EuroMillions draw were: 9, 17, 18, 21, 50 and the two Lucky Stars were 5 and 12.

The National Lottery is urging all players in the Cork, Galway and Kilkenny areas to check their tickets carefully and if you’re holding the winning ticket, be sure to contact the National Lottery prize claims team on 1800 666 222 or email claims@lottery.ie to arrange the collection of your prize.

Emma Monaghan, spokesperson for the National Lottery said, “What an incredible night for Irish players! We’re absolutely thrilled for our winners from Cork, Galway, and Kilkenny.”

“We encourage everyone to check their tickets carefully and, if you’re holding a winning ticket, keep it safe, sign the back and get in touch with our team as soon as possible!”

The Aran Islands RNLI Lifeboat showed its constant readiness this week by carrying out a medical evacuation in the early hours of the morning on Wednesday

The volunteer crew were requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat, David Kirkaldy at 1:57am following a request from the Irish Coast Guard to transfer a patient off Inis Mór.

The crew received a handover from the local doctor and with the assistance of the Aran Fire and Rescue Service, the lifeboat crew transferred the patient onboard.

The lifeboat departed Inis Mór and safely transferred the patient to Ros a Mhíl and into the care of an awaiting ambulance crew.

The lifeboat launched under RNLI Regional Resilience Mechanic Thomas Davis who passed his Severn class lifeboat Coxswain assessment on Inis Mór earlier this month.

Thomas has been volunteering with Clifden RNLI for over 20 years and is now a staff Coxswain on both the Severn and Shannon class lifeboats as well as a Severn, Trent and Shannon class mechanic.

This marks his first call out as a Coxswain on a Severn class lifeboat.

Speaking following the call out, Thomas said, “I’d like to thank the volunteer crew who never hesitate to answer the pagers no matter what time of the day or night.”

“We are an emergency service on call 24/7 and ready to respond to a call at a moment’s notice. We wish the patient a speedy recovery.”

Heavy rain is expected to continue into the weekend with a weather warning issued by Met Eireann in place today.

A Status Yellow rain warning is in place for counties Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Munster, and Galway today.

The alert will be in place overnight until 2pm on Saturday afternoon.

Galway can expect to see heavy rain with a few thundery downpours tonight and tomorrow, with a possibility of spot flooding.

The University of Galway is hosting an open day for prospective undergraduate students this weekend to show off a glimpse of campus life.

The event takes place on Saturday, March 22 from 9am to 3pm and offers four exhibition spaces across the campus; more than 80 course and subject talks; accommodation and career guidance, along with stands allowing face-to-face chats with lecturers and current students.

University of Galway offers more than 60 internationally recognised undergraduate degrees including Medicine, Nursing and Midwifery, Health Sciences, Arts, Science, Engineering, Business, Law, and Hotel Management.

More than 90% of courses offer a work placement and/or study abroad opportunity, ensuring our graduates are world-ready and highly sought after by employers both in Ireland and abroad.

A highlight of the Spring 2025 open day will be exclusive access to some of the University’s most innovative teaching and learning facilities and hands-on experiences including:

Future medicine students getting hands-on with clinical skills, such as listening to the sounds of heart and lungs, or examining the ear and eye with digital trainers at the new world-class healthcare simulation facilities.

Law enthusiasts can visit the School of Law’s Moot Court, which replicates a real courtroom experience. Advance registration is required at Stand 45 in the Orange Zone.

The College of Science and Engineering will host tours of their impressive Engineering Building, starting from the Green Zone foyer.

Students interested in physics can register at Stand 16 in the Purple Zone for tours of the physics labs.

Marine Science enthusiasts can check out the range of specialised equipment and vehicles used for conducting cutting-edge marine science research, which will be on public display outside the Martin Ryan Building.

Drama lovers should not miss the Drama Master Class at 1pm and a tour of the O’Donoghue Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance. Meeting point is the Blue Zone Foyer at 11:30am.

Any student passionate about sports can meet the University’s coaches and athletes to learn more about scholarships and our state-of-the-art facilities. All details are available in the Orange Zone.

The Spring 2025 Open Day is not just about the tours and talks – students will also have the chance to explore the campus accommodation and get a taste of student life.

For parents, there is a special Parents’ Talk at 11:30am, packed with helpful tips on how to best support your student as they transition to university.

Sarah Geraghty, Director of Student Recruitment and Outreach at University of Galway, said, “Our open days are all about experiencing university life first-hand and seeing the incredible opportunities that await.”

“University of Galway is ranked in the top 2% of universities worldwide and among the top 100 in Europe. Even better, we are number one in Ireland and 34th in the world for making a real impact on global challenges.”

“The best thing about our Open Day is that our lecturers, staff and students are ready to welcome you, answer your questions, and help you find the perfect path for your future. So come along, explore, and get inspired.”

Advance registration is required, with further info and the full programme available at www.universityofgalway.ie/opendays, or by emailing opendays@universityofgalway.ie.

Gardaí are renewing their appeal for witnesses to a fatal three car crash which occurred near Barna earlier this month.

The three car collision took place on the R336 at New Village, Barna on the night of Sunday, March 9.

The driver of one of these cars, a man aged in his 20s, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Gardaí are particularly looking to speak with the driver of a car who stopped at the scene of this collision at approximately 11:17pm for a number of minutes.

This driver may have information which could assist the investigation into the collision.

Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to this crash to to come forward and contact them.

Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the area at New Village, Bearna (Barna) Galway between 10:45pm and 11:30pm on Sunday, March 9 are asked to make this footage available to Gardaí.

Anyone with any information regarding this Fatal Road Traffic Collision is asked to contact Bothar Na Trá (Salthill) Garda station on 091 514720, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.

Roadworks north of Clarinbridge will disrupt traffic in the area for the remainder of the week after getting underway tomorrow.

Galway County Council is carrying out tree removal roadworks on the N67 northern approach to Clarinbridge this week.

The works are due to get underway on Tuesday, March 18 and finish on Friday, March 21.

Road Users are advised traffic restrictions will be in place during this time.

Only single lane traffic will be permitted between 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. each day.

Alternative routes around Clarinbridge should be considered while traffic restrictions are in place.

The King’s Head Bistro in Galway was packed to the rafter this month, as family, friends, and supporters gathered for a powerful International Women’s Day Lunch in aid of Self Help Africa.

Hosted by Mary and Paul Grealish, the event was an inspiring celebration of women and a call to action for gender equality.

Special guests, including Mayor Peter Keane, First Lady Sabina Higgins, and Mary Sweeney of Self Help Africa, delivered passionate speeches that urged action to support women and girls worldwide.

Their words resonated deeply, highlighting the urgent challenges women face today:

• 137 years—the estimated time to lift all women and girls out of poverty.
• 48 million—the number of women who experience food insecurity at a higher rate than men.
• 250 million hours—the time women and girls collectively spend collecting water each day, three times longer than men and boys.
• 158 million—the number of women and girls at risk of falling into extreme poverty due to the climate crisis by 2050.

With recent cuts to aid funding, particularly for women’s projects in Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, and Zambia, the need for support has never been greater.

All proceeds from the event will directly impact women and families in some of the world’s poorest communities.

Mary Sweeney of Self Help Africa summed it up best. “As women, the greatest gift we can give ourselves is to be ourselves, trust ourselves, and stand up for one another. Together, we can change lives.”

To learn more or support Self Help Africa’s work, visit www.selfhelpafrica.org.