Gardaí are currently at the scene of a road traffic collision that occurred at approximately 1.10pm on the N83, Curraghline in County Galway.
The road is currently closed and local diversions are in place.
Gardaí say delays in the area are expected.
More to follow…
Galway GAA star Shane Walsh has opened up about the challenges of his high-profile transfer to Kilmacud Crokes in Dublin in the latest Driving Progress podcast.
Walsh sat down with host Sonya Lennon for an episode of Driving Progress, a podcast series by Audi, and talked about dealing with adversity and the importance of imagination and visualisation on the GAA field.
In a profound conversation, Walsh spoke candidly about a turbulent past 12 months as he made the decision to move from his home club to a Dublin club, describing it as the “toughest experience” he has had in his life.
Shane said his patience and persistence were key characteristics in helping him drive through adversity and achieve an All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship win with Kilmacud Crokes soon after his arrival with the team.
Host Sonya Lennon delved into Shane’s creative style of play, which he described as “performing magic on the field”, and which he attributes to the early influences of his national school teacher and current Galway manager Pádraic Joyce and coach Cian O’Neill.
Listen to the full interview here.
Series two of Driving Progress, a podcast series by Audi is hosted by Irish fashion stylist and TV presenter Sonya Lennon.
It features four episodes with four acclaimed Irish individuals at the very top of their game, with Sonya guiding candid conversations focusing on themes of progress, creativity, ambition and attitude.
Local TD Seán Canney has described changes to the Croí Cónaithe Vacant Home Refurbishment Scheme as “a game changer” for getting rid of derelict sites and delivering homes across the country.
The scheme has been extended to include vacant houses that can be rented out, which the Galway East TD said will increase supply for people seeking rental accommodation.
He also welcomed the expansion of the grant scheme to include vacant houses built up until 2007, which he believes will immediately increase the number of homes coming back into use for first time buyers and for people seeking to rent a home.
“It is widely accepted that the level of grant assistance available needs to be increased to ensure that the refurbishment of vacant properties is a viable proposition for owners,” the Independent TD said.
“This is backed up by the Society of Chartered Surveyors recent case study which demonstrates that the funding needs to be increased from the present maximum of €30,000 for vacant homes and €50,000 for derelict properties.
“In this regard, I welcome the Government’s commitment to increase the level of funding to take account of inflation in the construction industry since the scheme was introduced.”
A Bill which gives new rights to employees and employers to support a better work-life balance has passed all stages in the Oireachtas.
The Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022 aims to give workers and employers a better balance of family life, work life and caring responsibilities.
The Bill aims to support those who are victims of domestic violence through the introduction of a statutory paid leave entitlement of five days.
It introduces five days unpaid leave for medical care purposes for carers, and parents of children under 12.
It also includes five days paid leave for victims of domestic violence, and the right to request flexible working for parents and carers.
All employees will be given the right to request remote working, and mothers will be given two years of breastfeeding breaks.
Minister Roderic O’Gorman said that the Bill represents a ‘significant advance’ in workers’ rights in Ireland.
The Work Life Balance Bill has just passed.✅
This new law significantly improves workers' rights in Ireland, by supporting employees to better balance their family life, work life & caring responsibilities.
It also introduces 5 days paid leave for victims of domestic violence. pic.twitter.com/7hmvyKdiig
— Roderic O’Gorman TD (@rodericogorman) March 29, 2023
“It recognises the importance of family life and an improved quality of life for all workers, by supporting employees to achieve a better balance between their home lives and work lives,” he said.
“The passing of this Bill introduces a statutory entitlement to carer’s leave, the right to request flexible and remote working, and makes breastfeeding breaks a reality for women returning to work from maternity leave.”
He said that the introduction of domestic violence leave under this Bill is particularly important.
“Ireland is one of the first countries to introduce statutory domestic violence leave and I believe that this will make a real and meaningful difference for victims of domestic violence.
“Crucially, it will support those who are victims of domestic violence to leave abusive relationships. This leave was an important commitment in the Programme for Government and I hope it will lead to greater awareness of domestic violence in all its forms.”
Dear Editor,
The release of the AR6 report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) should serve as an alarm for all to act on climate change.
Since the industrial revolution, primarily anthropogenic greenhouse gases have increased the earth’s average temperature by 1.1°C.
This average warming will lead to more adverse storms, higher flooding risk, longer droughts, species loss, and more.
Profound changes have been made to our oceans, freshwater, air, biodiversity, and human health. We have lost 70% of wildlife species since 1970 – referred to as the windshield phenomenon.
99% of the world’s population breathes air which breaches the World Health Organization’s guidelines for air quality, including Galway, Limerick, and Dublin.
Microplastics have now been found in newborns, showcasing that even the womb is unsafe now.
95% of youth are worried about the future, with eco-anxiety affecting the generations who have experienced only the warmest years of their lives so far.
The coming decades will at the very minimum deliver a climate unseen by their parents, grandparents, and the entirety of the previous human populations.
This is not just affecting distant lands and specific ecosystems – this affects all people, everywhere.
Climate change is impacting Ireland and will continue to do so. That said, marginalised and oppressed communities will experience adverse effects of climate change. Unhoused people, people of colour, trans people, are all at greater risk due to climate impacts.
We need a strategy for rapid decarbonisation and climate justice in Ireland and around the world. This radical action will not come from governments who water-down windfall taxes on fossil fuel companies after lobbying.
This cannot come from governments who have allowed Ireland’s emissions to rise year-on-year, or governments who do not deliver on retrofitting targets.
This must come through community solidarity and action. Working collaboratively to ensure everyone is housed, fed, warm, and safe is of the utmost priority.
Community gardens can produce local food on a greater scale, parents and guardians are already working to create safer cycling infrastructure and demanding better public transport, local residents are striving to deliver renewable energy to homes in their area.
Whilst individual impacts on the climate are small, individuals form societies which can host transformative impacts.
The time to act is now.
Criodán Ó Murchú
Peterswell, Galway
World-famous ‘The Galway Girl’ composer Steve Earle has been announced as the headline act for the Galway Folk Festival on 13 June.
Known for his soulful storytelling, the multi Grammy award-winning artist has been captivating audiences for over 30 years.
The Galway Folk Festival, taking place between 13 and 18 June this year, is a celebration of traditional and contemporary folk music, showcasing some of the finest musicians at home and abroad.
“We are expecting a huge turnout for this year’s festival, and Steve Earle’s gig is sure to be one of the highlights,” said festival organiser Peter O’Sullivan of Monroe’s Live.
“We can’t wait to welcome music lovers from around the world to Galway for what promises to be a truly unforgettable experience.”
A protégé of songwriters Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clake, Earle’s songs have been recorded by artists of such calibre as Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Joan Baez, Emmylou Harris and The Pretenders.
The prolific writer, actor and producer is renowned for his masterful storytelling, captivating audiences on screen, off Broadway and becoming the voice of a generation.
Through his words and lyrical prowess, he has received critical acclaim as an author, songwriter and composer. Nominated for a Primetime Emmy in 2010 for his work on the drama series Treme, he has since been inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
His 2020 album ‘Ghosts of West Virginia’ was recognised by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the top 50 of the year.
Recorded with legendary musician Sharon Shannon, Earle’s iconic song ‘The Galway Girl’ has earned him a place in Irish music history, carving a unique bond between the artist and the west of Ireland.
Follow-on covers by Mundy and Ed Sheeran have reignited the original work for future generations, becoming the eighth highest selling single of all time in the Irish charts.
The semi-autobiographical tale of the songwriter’s reaction to a striking black-haired, blue-eyed girl he meets in Galway includes local references to Salthill and The Long Walk.
Now, fans of Earle have the opportunity to catch the singer on home soil as he brings his solo and acoustic ‘Alone Again’ tour to the historic Seapoint ballroom for the Galway Folk Festival 2023.
“We are thrilled to have Steve Earle perform at the Galway Folk Festival 2023,” added Peter O’Sullivan.
“His music is a perfect fit for our festival, which celebrates the rich history and diversity of folk music.”
Tickets for Steve Earle’s performance at the Seapoint ballroom in Salthill, supported by Roseanne Reid, on Tuesday, June 13 go on sale this Friday, March 31, and can be purchased at www.galwayfolkfestival.ie and www.tickets.ie.
The full line up for the Galway Folk Festival will be announced on April 14. Early booking is advised.
Additional bus services for Gort, Kinvara, Ballinderreen, Kilcolgan and Clarinbridge have been brought in by Bus Eireann this month.
Deputy Ciarán Cannon said that Bus Eireann have added an additional bus on the Route 434 7:30am service from Gort to Galway City.
Funding for the additional bus came from the National Transport Authority to provide more capacity during the college year.
The number of people using the service will be assessed at the end of this college year.
“This is a most welcome development and I’m very grateful to Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority for their support in providing this additional capacity,” Ciarán Cannon said.
“We will now have 100 seats available on the 7.30am service out of Gort every weekday morning and this should be sufficient to serve the needs of the town and all of the intervening stops between Gort and Galway city.”
“It’s vital that the service is supported by the public so that we can continue developing better public transport options in our local towns.”
On top of this, Deputy Cannon said that Bus Eireann has also been allocated funding to add more capacity on Route 350 between Ennis and Galway City, which stops at Kinvara, Ballinderreen, Kilcolgan and Clarinbridge.
“This is one of the busiest routes into Galway city during the tourist season and this additional capacity is badly needed.”
House prices in Galway City fell in the first three months of this year, but they continued to rise in the county.
The latest Daft.ie report shows that the average cost of a house in Galway City is now €345,880, a 1.5% quarterly drop, by still up 2.5% year-on-year.
In Galway County prices have continued to rise this year, with the average price in Q1 2023 up 0.3% to €259,940. Year-on-year prices have also risen by 5% in the county.
Nationwide, house prices fell by 0.3% in the first three months of this year, the first Q1 drop in prices since 2013.
The supply of housing also increased in the west of Ireland according to the Daft report, with 2,700 homes on the market in Connacht/Ulster at the start of March, 33% higher than the same period last year.
Economist Ronan Lyons said, “With demand weakening, prices should fall this year. The other side of the equation, however, is supply.”
“The stock of homes available to buy is indeed higher than it was a year ago – 13,000 compared to 10,000 – but that is still barely half the level of supply that prevailed before COVID-19.’’
He added prices were rising as expected in 2022, but changing conditions such as the rise in inflation and interest rates have “completely altered conditions in the market” from the second half of the year on.
The winners of the RTS Ireland Television Awards were announced at a special event in Galway City this week.
The awards were held at the Galmont Hotel in Galway on Tuesday, hosted by Caitlín Nic Aoidh and Cormac Ó hEadhra, with special guests Bláth na hÓige and Mick Flannery & Susan O’ Neill.
A range of small screen stars gathered to celebrate excellence in Irish Television over the last year, with the juries considering over 130 entries from across the industry.
Speaking at the announcement of this year’s winners, Agnes Cogan, Chairperson of RTS Ireland said that, “tonight‘s Gradaim RTS were once again the opportunity to gather together professionals in the Industry to celebrate the breadth of talent in the TV sector here in Ireland.”
“The RTS is delighted to host the awards in Galway, a thriving hub for the TV and Media Industry. Heartiest congratulations to the nominees and tonight‘s winners for their excellent work.”
“Our thanks and appreciation to the Broadcasters and sponsors for their support, and to the jurors who gave so generously of their valuable time.”
As well as the category awards, the RTS Ireland committee presented an Outstanding Newcomer Award in recognition of emerging screen talent who have made an impact on audiences this year.
The award went to James Martin, who has made his mark on both Irish and international audiences with his roles as Danny Armstrong in Netflix / ITV series Marcella, and his portrayal of Lorcan in the Oscar Winning best Short Film An Irish Goodbye.
The full list of winners from Tuesday night’s awards is:
DRÁMAÍOCHT / DRAMA | with thanks to Screen Ireland (Fís Éireann)
WINNER : Redemption, Metropolitan Films, Tall Story Pictures (Virgin Media)
Doineann, DoubleBand Films (TG4, BBC Gaeilge)
Every Five Miles, Vico Films (RTÉ)
Holding, Happy Prince, Port Pictures (Virgin Media Television)
Smother, Treasure Entertainment (RTÉ)
SRAITH FHÍORASACH / FACTUAL SERIES | with thanks to Egg Post Production
WINNER: Crimes and Confessions (RTÉ)
Cois Móire, Cormorant Films (TG4)
An Diabhal Inti, Lagan Media Productions (TG4, BBC Gaeilge)
Great Lighthouses of Ireland, Inproduction TV (RTÉ)
CLÁR DO PHÁISTÍ / CHILDREN’S PROGRAMME | with thanks to IMRO
WINNER: Storybud, Kite Entertainment (RTÉ)
Blast from the Past, Firebrand Productions (RTÉ)
Dizzy Deliveries, Macalla Teoranta (RTÉ)
Ireland’s Future is Mine, Tamber Media & Reverist (RTÉ)
The Imagination Machine, Firebrand Productions (RTÉ)
CLÁR FÍORASACH / FACTUAL SINGLE | with thanks to Nemeton TV
WINNER: Speechless, Firebrand Productions (RTÉ)
Cyril Cusack: Lár An Stáitse, Dearg Films (TG4)
The Ghost of Richard Harris, Bright Yellow Films, Samson Films, Groove International (Sky Arts)
Young Plato, Soilsiu Films, Aisling Productions, Clin d’Oeil Films and Zadig Productions (RTÉ, Northern Ireland)
NUACHT & CÚRSAÍ REATHA | NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS | with thanks to Camerakit.ie
WINNER: The Accountant, the Con, the Lies (RTÉ)
The Death of Ashling Murphy (Virgin Media News)
Eden Heaslip (RTÉ)
RTÉ Investigates: Missing Pieces (RTÉ)
Tragedy in Creeslough (Sky News)
SPÓRT / SPORT | with thanks to TVM
WINNER: Laochra Gael – Terence McNaughton, Nemeton TV (TG4)
Anton O’ Toole – Finscéal de Shaol GAA, Bankos Tales Productions (TG4)
The Connacht Way, Motherland (RTÉ)
Munster Vs South Africa A (Virgin Media Television)
Saipan – Rebel without a Ball, (RTÉ)
AG TEACHT CHUN CINN / OUTSTANDING NEWCOMER | with thanks to Coimisiún na Meán
JAMES MARTIN – Actor
BEOCHAN / ANIMATION | with thanks to Windmill Lane | VFX
WINNER: The Ghastly Ghoul, Dream Logic Animation Studios and Lupus Films (RTÉ)
Boy Girl Dog Cat Mouse Cheese, Kavaleer Productions, Watch Next Media, Cloud Co (RTÉ)
Fia’s Fairies, Little Moon Animation (RTÉjr)
Kiva Can Do, Kavaleer Productions (RTÉ)
The Presenter, Cardel Entertainment (RTÉ)
SIAMSAÍOCHT / ENTERTAINMENT | with thanks to Piranha Bar
WINNER: Callan Kicks the Year, Wonky Chair Media, (RTÉ)
Cumasc: Seisiúin sa Black Gate, Black Gate Productions (TG4)
Dancing with the Stars, ShinAwiL (RTÉ)
Free Gaff, Green Inc Film & Television (RTÉ & RTÉ player)
The Ultimate Irish Playlist, ShinAwiL (RTÉ)
SAINCHLÁR FÍORASACH / SPECIALIST FACTUAL | with thanks to Ardán
WINNER : A Note for Nature, Crossing the Line Films (RTÉ)
An Buachaill Gealgháireach, Imagine Media (TG4)
Francis Bacon, The Outsider, Mount Venus Productions (RTÉ)
Ireland’s Dirty Laundry, New Decade TV (RTÉ & ARTE)
Maeve Binchy: The Magic of the Ordinary (RTÉ)
SIAMSAÍOCHT FHÍORASACH / FACTUAL ENTERTAINMENT | with thanks to Screenscene
WINNER: Gogglebox Ireland, Kite Entertainment (Virgin Media Television)
Bagatelle – Ómós do Liam Reilly, Four Quadrant Films (TG4)
Generation Dating, Coco Content (Virgin Media Television)
Lucy Investigates, ADARE Productions (Virgin Media One)
Secrets from the Showroom (RTÉ)
Originally founded in London as the Television Society in 1927, the Irish centre was launched in 1995.
The Gradaim/RTS Ireland Television Awards seek to recognise Irish productions and international co-productions which are considered by peer jury members to have made a positive contribution worthy of acclaim by the industry and Irish viewers.
RTS Awards are one of the international gold standard awards for the TV industry and an important showcase of the extraordinary talent evident across the country’s television industry.
Planning approval is being sought for a new restaurant in Galway City Centre.
Tataupe Limited has submitted plans to the city council to convert the first floor of the building over Murphy’s Bar on High Street to a restaurant.
The project would involve the construction of the new internal stairs and partitions, along with renovation of the space.
A conservation report by SSA Architects has been submitted with the planning application, as the building is a protected structure.
It concludes that the city council must “allow for the inevitability of development”, and that the original fabric of the building will not be affected.
“We do not consider the amount of intervention to be detrimental to the character of the building,” the report states.
“The degree of refurbishment and investment in this property should be encouraged in order to preserve our architectural heritage.”
A decision on this planning application is due from Galway City Council by May 9 of 2023.
A donation from Galway Salthill Rotary Club to Croí Heart & Stroke Charity has delivered a lifesaving boon for the area.
Galway Salthill Rotary Club recently presented a cheque to Neil Johnson, CEO of Croí in memory of their longstanding member, the late Benny O’Connor.
The donation has allowed Croí to purchase a fourth automated external defibrillator (AED) for the Salthill area.
The new piece of lifesaving equipment has been placed in a central location beside Salthill car park on the wall of the toilet block facing the sea.
“The Galway Salthill Rotary Club through its Kick the Wall collection box embedded in the wall at Blackrock has been a considerable success,” said Pat Hobbert, President of Galway Salthill Rotary.
“For the last eleven years it has enabled the club to support local charities through the generosity of the Galway public, the defibrillator being an example”
An AED, or automated external defibrillator, is used to help those experiencing sudden cardiac arrest.
It’s a sophisticated, yet easy-to-use, medical device that can analyse the heart’s rhythm and, if necessary, deliver an electrical shock, or defibrillation, to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm.
Croí thanked the O’Connor family and Galway Salthill Rotary Club for the generosity which enabled this purchase, and the city council for providing a location where it can be used to help those in distress.
Stunning picturesque pieces of Galway’s history will be welcoming visitors back early this year, with the reopening of Athenry Castle and Portumna Castle and Gardens, and many more.
Locals and visitors alike are invited to “step into our story” as a number of the national landmarks across Galway that the OPW holds in trust for the nation reopen for the season.
Will you step inside Athenry Castle, an imposing three-storey hall-keep and an emblem of Norman lordship?
Or maybe Portumna Castle and Gardens, a Renaissance-style castle set in beautiful gardens on the shores of Lough Derg?
Marie Gibbs Supervisor Guide with the OPW in Galway said, “We are thrilled to reopen both Athenry Castle and Portumna Castle & Gardens this early in the year and for them to remain open longer into the season than usual.”
“This will give more opportunities for people in Galway and visitors to the county to experience the different stages of castle building in the West of Ireland.”
She added that visitors will also be “learning of the families who lived and ruled in these areas. Both sites provide interesting and informative tours for all ages and interests.”
Visitors to Galway are able to enjoy 6,000 years of history at locations such as Pearse’s Cottage in Ros Muc, or the foreboding Dún Aonghasa atop the cliffs of Inis Mór.
Welcoming the re-opening of the OPW Heritage sites for the summer season, Minister Patrick O’Donovan said, “I am delighted to see so many of Ireland’s tourism attractions re-open for the summer season, just in time for Easter weekend.”
“The heritage landmarks re-opening, as well as those open all year, significantly contribute to the local sense of place, the local economy and are great places for all the family to enjoy.”
“The OPW is working hard to safeguard our national landmarks and the preservation of these heritage sites shows the clear investment by the State in our heritage portfolio.”
On the first Wednesday of every month, visitors and families can enjoy free admission to Athenry Castle, Dún Aonghasa, Aughnanure Castle and Pearse’s Cottage at Ionad Cultúrtha an Phiarsaigh.
Claremorris Gallery will host a new exhibition by award-winning artist Cecilia Danell next month, featuring a body of work inspired by her interest in the push and pull between the natural and the man-made.
Entitled ’A Stillness Expanded’ the selection of paintings by the Galway based artist represents a glimpse of the forrested landscape where she grew up in Sweden, but they could be anywhere.
Through use of colour, sci-fi graphical elements and the focus on remnants symbolising human presence, Danell’s paintings depict scenes that exist between truth and fiction.
He work points to something else and sometimes upending the romantic notion of nature as an untended wilderness.
Living in Galway, for the past decade Cecilia Dannell has returned to her family farm in Sweden to walk and gather research material for paintings
Her work has garnered many awards. She is the 2022 recipient of the RHA Hennessy Craig Award for painting, the ESB Keating Award at the 190th RHA Annual Exhibition, a 2017 Arts Council Next Generation Award and the 2011 Wexford Arts Centre Emergence Award.
Much of the work was created during the pandemic, a time when many of us found our immediate landscapes both strange and familiar at the same time.
Her paintings draw on how both we and our environment adapt, adjust and form new realities after seismic events. Each canvas represents a slice of a bigger world and gives a sense of a portal to a universe larger than what you can see.
While incredibly unique, these paintings have broad appeal especially for those who are connected to nature and want to bring the outside in.
Rosemarie Noone, Claremorris Gallery, said ”The pandemic amplified our natural human impulse to get back to nature, to live in tune with nature, to re-root. Danell’s paintings prompt us to make that connection and examine our relationship with it.”
Danell uses acrylic washes and layers beneath oil paint. Her signature style includes acrylic drips which add velocity and are intended to ‘break the illusion’ to remind us that a painting is a construct. She paints wet on wet, an intense process, taking about three weeks per canvas.
A Stillness Expanded opens at Claremorris Gallery on April 1 and runs until April 15, and thereafter by appointment.
Gallery hours 1 – 6pm, Wednesday to Saturday or by appointment. For more see https://claremorrisgallery.ie/
There are almost 200 people on a waiting list for hip and knee replacements in Galway, some of whom have been waiting more than two years.
Ahead of a meeting of the Regional Health Forum this week, Councillor Donagh Mark Killilea asked how many were on waiting lists in Galway, and what the capacity for operations is.
The Tuam councillor said that he is meeting people who are, “In pain and told that they will need to wait up to two years for an operation.”
The HSE provided figures for 196 patients waiting for hip and knee replacements at Galway University Hospitals.
Of those on the waiting list, 73 have been waiting for an operation for over nine months, which is the National Service Plan target for inpatient and day case procedures for 2023.
The HSE also said that current staffing levels at surgical theatres allow for 12 operations to be carried out each week.
However, approval has also been given to hire additional staff that will bring this up to a maximum of 20 sessions a week.
Galway City Council has been awarded €100,000 under the 2023 Historic Structures Fund to conserve the stunning Nuns Island Theatre.
Funding of €100,000 has been awarded for repair works to many elements of Nuns Island Theatre and The Manse Creative Arts Centre.
The old building used to be a Presbyterian Church, before being converted into an intimate yet modern 82 seat theatre in the heart of Galway City.
A total of €4.5 million was awarded for 95 heritage projects in the 2023 Historic Structures Fund.
By providing grants of between €15,000 and €200,000, the HSF assists owners of heritage structures to care for their properties.
The scheme provides assistance to a wide range of heritage structures, including castles, churches, mills, bridges, shopfronts, and thatch structures, as well as to private houses.
Minister of State for Heritage Malcolm Noonan said, “This year’s Historic Structures Fund will assist 95 owners and custodians of historic and protected structures across the country as they carry out hundreds of conservation projects to repair and safeguard our built heritage.”
“Through this investment, this Government continues to celebrate the value and diversity of our built heritage, while also supporting traditional building skills.”
“These actions also continue to help us deliver on our commitments to built heritage under Heritage Ireland 2030, the national heritage plan which I launched last year.”
The Maldron Hotel in Oranmore has been sold to a private investor after more than five months on the market, a sale handled by property advisory firm Savills.
The four star hotel located just off the N18 went up for sale in September 2022, with a price tag of €13 million.
Built in 1998, the Maldron Oranmore has 113 guest bedrooms, and is operated by Dalata Hotels.
The hotel also operates the Q Bar and Grain & Grill Restaurant, along with conference facilities, and a leisure centre with a gym, 20m pool, sauna, steam rooms, and more.
It’s understood that the sale will not affect the existing lease with Dalata Hotels.
Tom Barrett, Director of Hotels & Leisure at Savills Ireland said, “We are delighted to have managed the successful sale of the Maldron Hotel Oranmore Galway to a private investor.”
“This transaction highlights the continued confidence in the Irish hospitality market, particularly for well-established and well-located assets such as the Maldron Hotel.”
The private investor which purchased the property was represented by Dessie Kilkenny of CBRE
Plans have been submitted for a massive expansion of the popular Taylor’s Bar in Galway City, along with a new café and apartments.
A planning application has been made by BRTW Investments for the demolition of No. 5 & 6 on Dominick Street, and renovations to No. 7, Taylor’s Bar.
In their place, the new building will have a large extension to Taylor’s on the ground floor, and the first floor will be a licenced café.
The second and third floors of the building will comprise two penthouse apartments, one single bed unit and one two bed unit.
Outbuildings in the rear yard of Taylor’s, including sheds, toilets, and a lounge building will also be demolished.
This is to make way for a two storey extension to Taylor’s with toilets, a kitchen and storerooms, as well as a new basement below the bar’s yard which will have more toilets and storage areas.
Other works will include refurbishments to the upper floors of Taylor’s and the Beer Garden in the rear yard.
A cover letter for the application states that including No. 5 in the plans will reduce the material impact of the development on Taylor’s, a protected structure, as an alternative fire escape can be located there.’
It says that the two buildings have “exceptionally small” plot sizes, and it would not be financially viable to develop them individually.
“This collective development enables the redevelopment of otherwise dilapidated small premises which have become unsustainable on their own.
“The new design of the building retains a ‘hole in the wall’ traditional element to respect the proportions and plot sizes similar in scale and expression (although simplified) as No. 7”.
“The additional side section continuing at the penthouse expression is a more contemporary expression of the crescent era’s contribution to the streetscape.”
A decision on this planning application is due from Galway City Council by April 20 of this year.
Galway based software company RugbySmarts has been selected for the next phase of a strategic partnership with the IRFU.
RugbySmarts is one of three companies which has been chosen by the IRFU and Enterprise Ireland to test and validate their products with the sporting organisation.
Their SaaS platform uses AI and Computer Vision to give coaches the power of video analytics.
It is customisable to each individual coaches needs, which in turn allows them to focus fully on the aspects of the game that they deem most important, and takes automatic game highlights.
Scott Walker, IRFU Director of Strategy and Technology said, “The IRFU is excited to work with MoveAhead, RugbySmarts and Brace, over the coming months.”
He added that they are “eager to learn from Ireland’s innovative entrepreneurs”, and working with these companies is a “perfect opportunity to support each other as well as developing the game of rugby.”
This is part of a strategic innovation partnership between the IRFU and Enterprise Ireland aimed at enabling Irish innovators and start-ups in the sport tech sector to get access to the organisation at an early stage of their product or services development.
The partnership will run for two years, and allow the selected companies to trial, test and validate their products in an elite sports organisation.
In turn the IRFU has the ability to access early-stage technology and create an innovative environment to remain competitive in a rapidly changing sporting landscape.
Following an ‘IRFU Technology Call’ in recent months, an open competition was held where 10 finalists were selected to pitch their technology solution to the IRFU.
Three companies were selected as part of the 2023 programme to work with the IRFU and participate in the programme over the next nine months.
Keith Brock, Senior Development Adviser with Enterprise Ireland, said that they are committed to nurturing Irish talent.
“This partnership with the IRFU will foster the growth of these Irish start-ups and their cutting-edge solutions,” he said.
“This collaborative opportunity will offer these companies, which are Enterprise Ireland High Potential Start-Up companies, an unrivalled opportunity to utilise their products and services, and we look forward to supporting them on their journey.”
The mental health charity Aware is offering free life skills programmes in Galway which will be getting underway next month.
Aware’s popular Life Skills Group Programme is available to attend at the Clayton Hotel, Ballybrit from April 18, with registration now open.
This programme, nine hours over the course of six weeks, will teach attendees how to better cope with the stresses of everyday life.
It teaches how to recognise and manage unhelpful thoughts, learn new ways of thinking and ultimately begin the journey to a healthier and more confident life.
Developed by the renowned cognitive behaviour therapy specialist (CBT), Dr. Chris Williams, the programme is specifically designed to help people learn more about how we think and how this can influence our actions in helpful or unhelpful ways.
“I feel by practicing these tools daily I will be able to get back to the old confident me that seemed to have got lost because of life pressures,” one attendee said.
“An amazing, potentially life changing course that is user friendly and welcoming. The skills are invaluable.”
The Life Skills Programme has been independently evaluated by Aware.
The evaluation showed a clinically significant improvement in participants’ self-reported levels of anxiety and depression after completing the programme.
Virtual programmes are also available so participants can choose the format, day and session time that best suits their schedule.
The organisation’s Relatives & Friends Programme and Living Well With Bipolar Disorder Programme is also open for registration with virtual options available.
To find out more and register your free place, visit https://www.aware.ie/
Uisce Éireann and Galway County Council have advised residents and businesses in Lackagh that they will be without water for a time today.
The four-hour water outage is to facilitate valve replacement works on the watermain network and the area affected is from Lackagh Cemetary to Knockdoe.
People in the area will be without water between 11am and 3pm.
Woman’s car stolen at knifepoint after man (50s) stabbed in Doughiska chaos
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