Spriocdháta Gradaim Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh buailte linn

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February 22, 2018

I have to say that if I came up with this idea years ago, I feel I would have banished the cigarettes a long time ago. The messages of support have been unreal and while I don’t want to overstate what I’m trying to achieve as it’s only the third day, my confidence has been given a massive boost.

While my intentions for writing the diary has been to share the experience, it’s nice to hear the amount of people rooting for me to quit and between messages, posts and chats, I feel I will finally kick this habit.

I was a serious anti-smoker in my younger days before I discovered cigars. Indeed, one ex-girlfriend will remember me breaking some of her packets years ago. I did replace them eventually I think but that was still wrong of me to do.

Everyone has to make their own decisions because it’s their choice. And from my own aborted attempts, I know how hard it is to do and there’ll be no success if someone is quitting them because they feel forced.

That being said, that lady is off the cigarettes for many years now and she was one of the first people to message me wishing me the best of luck when I announced my intentions. I will apologise for breaking packets and hope I did replace them. If not, I definitely owe a few pints down the line 🙂.

One of my best friends for over 30 years is Martin Ward and had a great chat with him today when we were doing the shopping in Tesco. In regards our cigarette smoking lives, we both have being late starters but coming around to a different way of thinking as the big 4-0 arrives around the corner.

If I’m correct, I started smoking before Martin and I was 20. Martin made a decision before Christmas to drop them and has now been over 11 weeks clean. Realising how hard it is, I admire and respect Martin even more now and look forward to our first night out together without going out to the smoking area.

Martin went the e-cigarette route which a lot of people have found effective. Now, it never appealed to me. My pharmacy days always suggested the gum works if you have discipline. I think the latter has been my downfall in the past. But as you get older, you start to appreciate the good things that can be achieved if you decide to forgo the bad habits blocking your path.

Another close friend, Una Ni Bhroin, sent me a lovely message letting me know about all the various outlets there to help me if I start struggling. In a later post, I will definitely highlight these for anyone considering quitting for good. At the moment, being able share my day with you has me feeling good.

I did have my first two Nicorette gums last night. Was a pre-caution I must admit as I had a big chess match in our Senior Club Championship and didn’t want the thoughts of smoking distracting me.

I didn’t get the required result as our top seed and defending champion Tommy Dunne Jr edged me in a two hour plus contest. But enjoyed the game and felt I challenged him to the end as I wasn’t going outside every 30 minutes for a puff.

https://www.facebook.com/336132773241420/videos/868818466639512/

The Ballinasloe Chess Club is arguably the proudest thing I have ever been involved with and to see it go from strength to strength will be something I’ll look back on with fierce pride in years to come.

It’s hard to believe that it’s 16 years ago since Geraldine Deane asked me to give a one-hour lesson to her son and six friends before the Community Games. I can still remember the full squad – Tony Deane, Kenneth Dillon, Ross McCarthy, Jonathan Brooks, David Finnegan, Conor Johnston and Jake Mulvany.

I promised I’d just watch them for half an hour but I’d say I didn’t stay quiet for 10 seconds 🙂. They were opening with rook pawns which would be like marshalling a GAA defence without a full back and centre back. But they were eager to learn and had talent and we reached the County Final in April.

I could spend a whole article mentioning the great people, especially John McKenna and Ron Cummins, who have built Ballinasloe Chess Club to a group with over 70 active members now. And maybe some other day I will.

But after we finished playing last night, we were all hooked on an epic battle between Abdullah Shahid and Jessica Tully that went nearly the full three hours. I’m blessed that parents are understandable when we still have their children out at 11pm on a school night. Doesn’t happen too often but shows the commitment our young players bring.

After an over and back tussle, they eventually finished in a draw. Abdullah is on our under 16 team this year and Jessica is on our under 13 side. No player playing for us in 2018 was born when the initial squad represented us in 2002. Our club is a generation old 🙂

Tonight is bacon night with herself and that’s always a treat I always look forward to. Will probably have that eaten by the time you read this. They say the first three days are the hardest and providing my mood doesn’t change, I’ll have that knocked out of the park tonight.

Darren

Government has ‘utterly failed to defend beef farmers’

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February 22, 2018

A Galway East TD has criticised the Taoiseach for ‘utterly failing to defend beef farmers’, saying that he broke a promise made at a recent AGM of the Irish Farmers Association.

Fianna Fáil TD Anne Rabbitte made the comments yesterday during a debate on a motion brought forward by her party to support the suckling sector, which received the support of Sinn Féin.

“I need to remind the Minister that the Taoiseach has failed utterly to defend beef farmers and he broke the promise he made at a recent IFA annual general meeting, where he stated the Government would have the farmers’ backs. Once again it was all spin and no delivery,” said Deputy Rabbitte.

“Unless the EU and the Government move quickly to inject confidence into the suckler sector, farmers will face exit from the sector and it will accelerate financial consequences far beyond the farmers’ gates.”

Some suckler farmers are surviving on €13,000 a year, and less in some instances, and many of them are on farm assist in order to survive.

The motion called for a fully funded, fair, and simpler CAP post-2020, that safeguards direct payments with measures to directly support all low-income sectors including sucklers.

It also called for protection for suckler farmers and the beef sector in all upcoming EU trade deals, especially with South America, and for the introduction of a €200 payment per suckler cow via the current BDGP.

During the debate, Anne Rabbitte referred to the Saw Doctors’ N17 to highlight how this issue affects Galway.

“The song is about emigration among the people of north Galway on their way to Shannon Airport,” she said. “One of the lines of the song is ‘Stone walls and the grass is green’, and the fields are small in north Galway. This is exactly why we have the largest suckler herd in the country. We have 87,000 suckler cows and 13,500 farmers but we are down 3.5%.”

She continued: “The Minister has heard all night this is not just about my constituency. The issue goes from Donegal all the way down to Cork and it goes all the way over as far as Longford.

“The average income is approximately €13,000 per annum. As Deputy Scanlon has said, these people have to work outside the home.

“This is not their only industry and they are barely living on subsistence. As Deputy Fitzmaurice said earlier, we need a lower limit and this is what Deputy McConalogue has brought before the House this evening.”

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Councils to receive funding to appoint ‘Atlantic Economic Corridor officers’

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February 22, 2018

Funding of €300,000 will be given to the ten county and city councils along the West coast, it has been announced.

Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development Seán Kyne confirmed the funding, whereby the 10 local authorities will each receive 30,000 each to designate an ‘Atlantic Economic Corridor officer’.

They will work to develop the AEC and support the AEC Taskforce and sub groups.

“The overarching objective of the AEC initiative is to maximise the infrastructure, talent and enterprise assets along the western seaboard and to combine the economic hubs, clusters and catchments of an area to attract investment, improve competitiveness, support job creation and contribute to an improved quality of life,” said the Galway West TD and Minister of State.

“Working with my colleague, Minister Michael Ring TD, I am delighted to be able to support the city and county councils to designate an Atlantic Economic Corridor Officer.”

He explained that the concept of an AEC Officer is based on the appointments of Broadband Officers in every city and county council in the country, funding his Department has provided as part of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce.

Each Broadband Officer is a dedicated point of contact for phone coverage and broadband issues and the officers have been welcomed by the Taskforce stakeholders.

UHG severely overcrowded today

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February 22, 2018

University Hospital Galway today is serverely overcrowded today, with forty-four people are waiting on trolleys.

Many hospitals around the country are experiencing similar overcrowding, including St Lukes Hospital, Kilkenny, also with 44 people on trolleys, and University Hospital Limerick where 49 are waiting on trolleys.

According to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, the number of people on trolleys in hospitals across the state is 578.

Saturday – Talk on Galway’s computing heritage

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February 22, 2018

Galway’s computing heritage: Find out about the weird and wonderful history of computing in Galway City!
Saturday, February 24 @ 2:30pm, Galway City Museum (Spanish Arch)
Free talk by Brendan Smith, curator of the Computer and Communications Museum of Ireland at NUI Galway

‘Back to the Future’ – Online Social Media, Video Conferencing & Cloud Computing in 1980s Galway!

Technology innovation, communications and learning is so much part of the fabric of modern Galway.

Children and their parents are together attending Saturday morning classes to learn how to code; people of all ages are daily accessing online services for hotel bookings, banking details and information services; teenagers are flirting online with their boyfriends and girlfriends in different schools during class time; robotics are taught in our third level colleges; our pre-teen and early youngsters are becoming renowned digital makers who are demonstrating their own programmable automated devices at the Young Scientist Exhibition in the RDS; a multi-national Mervue-based company employing over one hundred college graduates is developing a revolutionary new type of search engine; Galway’s high tech industry is creating thousands of jobs that is earning the city a worldwide reputation for business and responsible for a large slice of Ireland’s export trade.

Mobile phones and video conferencing communications are changing the way we socialise and do business.

Whilst these details could define Galway city in 2018, there are in fact stories of Galway as it was during the 1980s that would intrigue and amuse you.

Find out more about the city’s proud digital heritage at a fascinating talk by Brendan Smith, curator of the Computer and Communications Museum of Ireland based at the Insight Centre for Data Analytics at NUI Galway.

Friday – Galway Jive Weekend at the Ardilaun Hotel

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February 22, 2018

Galway Jive Weekend at the Ardilaun Hotel
Friday, February 23 @ 5pm – Sunday, February 25
The Ardilaun Hotel, Taylor’s Hill, Galway
€50 for a dance ticket, €129 for 2 BB and dinner at the hotel

Arrive and Jive at the Galway Jive Weekend!

Two nights, three days of dance lessons and 20 workshops – beginner to advanced classes in Jiving, Old Time Waltz, and Quickstep.

Led by five of Ireland’s top dance instructors, it promises to be an unforgettable weekend!

No partner or experience required.

Dancing from 10pm Friday and Saturday nights, with a competition on Saturday night and a €300 prize to the winner!

Featuring:
Tom Jive, three-time Jive champion from Cork
Colleen Mannion – this Galway Girl is already a huge success in the West!
Patrick Roche Band, Friday at 10pm
Eden Friel & SaraLouise Montague, All Ireland Jive Champions from Donegal
Alana Regan, 19 year old Kerry Jive Sensation
and Stuart Moyles on Saturday at 10pm

Learn to dance in a weekend!

RACING: KIDS GO RACING SET FOR GALWAY IN MARCH

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February 22, 2018

20180222 Kids Go Racing — Galway Racecourse 29-3-2017. Horse Racing Ireland Schools Day at the racetrack with 7 local schools and over 300 kids at the course this morning. Here we see pupils of Merlin Woods Primary School with racetrack Manager MICHAEL MOLONEY explaining details about the race track. Photo HEALY RACING.

Galway Racecourse will host a ‘Kids Go Racing’ Day on Thursday, 22nd March in Ballybrit in conjunction with Horse Racing Ireland.

👧🧑It's coming up next month our Kids Go Racing Day with @GoRacing Thursday 22nd March. Bring it on🤟. Aa super day bringing our young guests on a behind the scenes tour of the Galway Races #GalwayRaces #Futureracegoers #GiddyUp #Sport #HorseRacing pic.twitter.com/zIdEssUE4y

— Galway Races (@Galway_Races) February 22, 2018

As part of their Go Racing Kids’ Club, schools are invited to come along to their local track for a morning. The education days usually coincide with a family race day at the track, where there are extra activities between racing and an educational area set up to teach children about Irish racing.

The aim of the Go Racing Kids’ Club is to educate the younger generation about horse racing and show them what happens behind the scenes on a race day. And that this initiative will lead to greater integration between racecourses and their local community.

As part of the tour, there are five stations:

Meet a Trainer: A trainer brings a racehorse to the racecourse and describes how he or she would train it, how their yard gets ready for a big race day, what a horse eats and how much exercise it must get. The trainer also demonstrates how to saddle up and points out all the necessary tack.

Meet a Jockey: A jockey takes the pupils into the weigh room. The jockey shows the students his/her riding gear – helmet, whip, back protector, etc. and explains how he/she became a jockey, what it takes to be a jockey, how he/she prepares for races and answers any questions the students may have.

R.A.C.E (Racing Academy & Centre of Education): A representative of RACE provides information about their Trainee Jockey course and give demonstrations on the racehorse simulator.

Racecourse Manager: The pupils meet the Racecourse Manager and learn about how he/she prepares the track/ground for a race day. The pupils are then brought out on to the track where they are shown how starting stalls work or how the hurdles and fences are made.

Front Runner – Racing Club for Kids: During the break, the children are shown a range of racing equipment, props and visuals that are required for racing, including silks, horse shoes, racing tack, feed, etc. This gives children an insight into racing in a fun and interactive way.

For further details, contact Horse Racing Ireland or the Galway Races Website.

Great fun in @Galway_Races with local kids for @GoRacing club pic.twitter.com/WPlOx9KREf

— Derek O Connor (@DerekOConnor82) March 29, 2017

Friday – 24 hour Anime lock-in for charity

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February 22, 2018

NUIG Anime and Manga Society hosts 24 hour anime lock-in
Friday, February 23 @ 5pm until Saturday, February 24 @ 5pm
Áras na Mac Léinn, NUI Galway
Free event with free pizza and snacks, and a raffle!

From Friday until Saturday evening, the NUI Galway Anime and Manga Society will be hosting a 24 hour lock-in for the mental health charity Jigsaw Galway.

Join them as they watch anime for 24 hours straight and eat pizza and snacks! Attendees will watch the highly-rated Konosuba and Made in Abyss anime series in their entirety.

The Anime society will also be selling raffle tickets at the event to raise money for Jigsaw Galway.

Prizes include – but are not limited to – a big, stuffed Totoro, a tiny stuffed Naruto, vouchers for the Eye Cinema, the Wa Cafe and Charlie Byrnes, Vol. 1 of My Hero Academia, an armoured Titan pop figure, and some lovely dresses. Still more prizes to come!

Jigsaw Galway is a free and confidential service supporting the mental health and well-being of people aged 15 – 25 in Galway city and county. Jigsaw’s aim is to support young people in Galway who are struggling, to ensure they get the support they need, when and where they need it.

Galway Daily le Gaeilge

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Sheila Ní Bheaglaoich

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February 21, 2018

A Léitheoirí,

Is mór an onóir dúinn anseo sa Galway Daily, fógairt a chur amach agus sinn go léir ag céiliúradh, Lá Idirnáisiúnta na Máthairtheangacha, go mbeimid á foilsiú scéalta trí mhéain na Gaeilge, mar aon le scéalta i mBéarla ag tosnú an tseachtain seo.

Bunaíodh Lá Idirnáisiúnta na Máthairtheangacha ar dtús sa bhliain 2000, ionas chosaint a thabhairt do na Máthairtheangacha ar fad mar chuid tábhachtach d’ár oidhreacht a chaomhnú.

Tá sé fíor thábhachtach dúinn ar fad mar náisiún a bheith bródúil as ár dteanga dúchais féin, agus muinín a bheith againn, i scríobhneoireacht agus cainte an Ghaeilge.

Bliain na Gaeilge atá i gceist i mbliana agus chuireann sé fíor áthais orainn anseo sa Galway Daily go mbeimid páirteach i mBliain na Gaeilge trí scéalta a foilsiú trí ár dteanga dúchais.

Mar aon le Bliain na Gaeilge tá stádas dátheangach ag Cathair na Gaillimhe agus dá bharr sin tugann sé sceitimíní dúinn scéalta atá bainteach agus scéalta go ginearálta i nGaeilge a thuarascáil.

Táimíd ag súil go mór leis an bhliain atá amach romhainn agus tá súil againn go mbeidh sibhse, ár léitheoirí ag leanúint sinn ar an mbóthair agus go mbainfidh sibh súp as na scéalta a mbeidh le teacht.

Dear Readers,

It is a great honor for us here at Galway Daily, as we celebrate International Mother Language Day, to announce that we will be publishing stories through the medium of Irish as well as through English, commencing this week.

International Mother Language Day was initially established in the year 2000, in order to protect all mother tongues as an important part of preserving our heritage.

It is so important for us as a nation to be proud of our native tongue and to have the confidence to be able to speak and write in the Irish language.

With this year being Bliain na Gaeilge, it greatly satisfies us here at Galway Daily to be able to take part through the publishing of stories in our mother tongue.

Alongside the fact that it is Bliain na Gaeilge, the city of Galway has a bilingual status and it excites us to be able to report stories that are both connected to and are Irish stories in general.

We are really looking forward to the year that is ahead of us, and we hope that you, our readers, will continue to follow us and that you will enjoy all the stories that are to come.

Mise le meas,
Iriseoir na Gaeilge,
Sheila Ní Bheaglaoich.

Darren’s Diary – Kicking The Habit (Day 2) – Wednesday, 21st February

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February 21, 2018

I promised myself when I decided to do this through the public domain that I wasn’t going to use this column for ranting, or being ‘ratty’ that was politely said to me today 🙂

I want this column to be a positive experience. Yes, there will be tough days that I will share. And yes, there will be days I’m in a mood and just want to unleash and will do so. My hope for this piece is honesty. Simple as that. When it’s hard and when it’s just damn frustrating.

For the last 90 minutes, I’ve had a problem getting my broadband data loaded so I could get to work. I’m with Vodafone and they are absolutely brilliant. Phone wise, would recommend them to anyone. But every now and then, the data load up hits obstacles which can be annoying.

Understandably, after quitting the fags has me on edge a little bit more. It always gets sorted and any delays aren’t usually this long. But Aoife, my contact, always find a solution even if she has been on the end of a rant by me once or twice.

It’s an interesting relationship we have all through the medium of twitter so I’m sure Sinead won’t mind. Though I don’t think I’d get away with it if I ranted at her in a similar situation 🙂

The diary has been helpful so far as any pauses in thoughts have been about what to write and that has helped take my mind off smoking. I hope it is coming across well but It’s definitely been a positive experience for me. Now, it’s only Day 2 so we won’t get carried away. But feeling it so far.

I had my first mild temptation last night when I went to Athenry to meet their camogie team ahead of Sunday week’s All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie Final. I’ll chat about them in a moment but found myself in a situation before leaving that has easily broke me before.

My friend Dermot Flaherty arrived thinking it was the Galway team I was seeing. Dermot is the official Video Recorder for the county and does a damn, good job. I won’t go into advertising (you can check Dermot Flaherty Video on Facebook – like what I did there 😀) but he delivers outstanding content.

Now, Dermot is not a regular smoker. A packet could last a week so when he said to me, where can we chat, I said the car was over there. We are both in Wexford this Sunday and Croke Park the following Sunday. So naturally, I assumed he wanted to discuss those.

No, he just wanted to get away from the team so he could have a quick smoke. Casuals can go hours, days without touching one but when they have a craving, they want to nip it. Works for some and that’s all good. Regulars like me just convince ourselves we can.

RT @SFL_CDurham
Wendy and James Cartmell from John Low pharmacy …. 4 weeks quit and completely thrilled! #heroes #quitsmoking #smokefree #health #countydurham
Text QUIT to 66777 pic.twitter.com/Kp6BMRY402

— Solutions4Health (@Solutions4H) February 21, 2018

My biggest problem is like drinking (which thankfully, I don’t do much anymore – that’s a column for another day), when I smoke one, I’ll want 10. Didn’t really feel the desire to ask for one but a distraction was helpful and I remembered I’d chewing gum in the car. The little things but they help.

If I’d conceded 90 minutes after the column went online, it would have been a sad cop-out. As I said yesterday, anyone can go one day if they want. I’ve had great support from many telling me the first day is the hardest. but there will be other hard and challenging days and I look forward to taking them on.

https://www.facebook.com/athenrycamogieclub/photos/a.431953460247540.1073741825.334378320005055/1473770169399192/?type=3&theater

But as I mentioned, was in Athenry to visit their camogie team and they’ll face Johnstownbridge on Sunday week.

I’ve seen enough All-Ireland finals to never put pressure on Galway teams but this is a talented bunch. Young players like Dervla Higgins and Lorna Hannon have integrated with legends including Regina Glynn and Therese Maher. Add Jessica Gill and Noreen Coen into the mix, they’ll never have a better chance.

Athenry dominated the domestic scene between 2006 and 2009 winning four county senior titles and missing out in two All-Ireland finals. That’s why their relegation to the intermediate ranks in 2016 was such a shock in the county.

But they’ve regrouped! Katharine Duane has done an amazing job. Sport is littered with great clubs falling apart but greater clubs bounce back. Athenry have proven their greatness already and finishing the job in Croke Park will be their best achievement yet. I hope they do and honestly, I think they will!

So, day two is nearly complete and when you are reading this, I’ll be battling a potentially three-hour long chess match where my thoughts could go anywhere. Look forward to telling you about that tomorrow. But so far, so good. Looking forward to saying the same again tomorrow.

Darren

Friday – JCI Galway spring celebration and TechTalk

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February 21, 2018

JCI Galway February Fellowship Gathering, Spring Festival Celebration, and TechTalk Series: Why your startup can’t ignore Asia
Friday, February 23 @ 6:30pm (Registration starts at 6)
Workbench Galway, 19 Eyre Square
Free entry, light refreshments

February marks the start of the Lunar Calendar year in Asian communities and it’s also the month to celebrate the Spring Festival. Why don’t we take the opportunity to join together for a celebration and learn about the Asian startup ecosystem?

Meet JCI Galway President Carol Ho and she will share with you what you have to know about the up-and-coming Asian startup scene!

Carol Ho is the President of Junior Chamber International Galway in 2018. She is a digital marketer and the co-founder of Impact Hub Hong Kong, the local branch in Hong Kong of the international social innovation and tech startup co-working space and community.

She was the President of Junior Chamber International East Kowloon (Hong Kong) last year, winner and organizer of Startup Weekend Hong Kong, organizer of Next Step Challenge in Hong Kong that helped the winning startups to raise more than €600,000 seed funding.

Carol is very active in the Asian startup communities and was the speaker at various popular startup events in the region, such as TechCrunch China, International ICT Expo in Hong Kong and Meet Taipei Startup Carnival in Taiwan.

Apart from sharing stories and experiences, all the attendees will receive a “red packet” of lucky money, a symbol of blessings and good fortune. They will also have the opportunity to learn to write Chinese Calligraphy!

This promises to be a celebration of Asian culture and business that is not only interesting and fun, but also useful and informative.

Register now and celebrate the New Year together!

This event is free. Light refreshment will be provided.

Junior Chamber International (JCI) is a global network for young professionals and entrepreneurs in their 20’s and 30’s.

For enquiries, please contact Membership Officer Marie Scully at membership@jcigalway.org or President Carol Ho at president@jcigalway.org.

New Salthill restaurant Wilde’s opens on the Prom

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February 21, 2018

Galway gourmets will be pleased to hear about the recent soft opening of new Salthill restaurant Wilde’s on the Bay.

Located right on the Prom, the spot aims to draw in locals and tourists alike with a menu featuring both creative and classic comfort food.

The restaurant has a large, beautifully decorated dining area featuring full-length windows overlooking Galway Bay.

It was previously occupied by the Fisherman restaurant, but the owners — Galway’s own O’Malley family — decided to take it in a new direction.

So they closed for a month-long overhaul and renovation and re-opened as Wilde’s, with a brand-new look and menu.

The past couple of weeks have since been a bit of a blur.

According to staff, the first week was ‘exciting’, with a busy first weekend. Last Sunday was particularly crowded after the Galway match, but it was closely followed by a successful Valentine’s Day, with a special evening menu crafted by the head chef.

Wilde’s has been getting very good reviews and feedback on social media as well.

And by the look of it, their second week has been every bit as jam-packed as the first — especially due to the recent spate of good weather bringing sun-starved Galwegians out to the beach.

With an extensive brunch menu and an evening menu featuring unusual dishes like barley risotto next to more standard fare such as fish and chips and sirloin steak, Wilde’s seems to cater to all tastes.

And although it no longer specialises in seafood, the owners are still dedicated to bringing in fresh, high-quality food — even making all of the brown bread, pastries, and scones in-house.

The restaurant will be open for breakfast from 8am starting next week. Brunch hours run from 10 til 5, and the candlelight dinner service starts from 6pm.

Salthill is an up-and-coming gastronomic hub in Galway, with eateries like Oslo and SALT bringing fresh ideas and fine dining to the area in recent years.

It seems that Wilde’s will add its own unique style to the scene.

For more information or to see a menu, check out Wilde’s Facebook page.

Thursday – Launch of ‘Rocking the System’

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February 21, 2018

Book Launch – ‘Rocking the System: Fearless and Amazing Irish Women who Made History’
Thursday, February 22 @ 6pm
Galway Arts Centre, Dominick Street

‘Many battles have been won by these brave women and the unknown heroines who walked quietly alongside them. This book will inspire its readers to play their part in creating a world that is fair, harmonious and equal.’ – Sabina Higgins

Rocking the System by Siobhán Parkinson and illustrated by Bren Luke is a collection of twenty illustrated essays on Irish women, historical and contemporary, who have defied cultural norms around femininity and achieved great things.

The subjects include Irish women from Queen Medhbh to Garry Hynes, from Constance Markievicz to Sonia O’Sullivan, covering stateswomen, artists, writers, activists and rebels of all kinds.

Suitable for readers aged 11+, the book will also have a great appeal to teenagers and adults.

This book is published to celebrate the centenary of women’s suffrage, and Irish women’s remarkable achievements over the centuries.

Written by multi award-winning author and first Laureate na nÓg (Irish Children’s Laureate), Siobhán Parkinson, she comments ‘I’ve always seen the world from a feminist perspective, and the centenary of women’s franchise in these islands seemed like a great time to celebrate women who have made history – as suffragists, rebels, artists…’

Siobhán was born in Loughrea, Co. Galway, and fellow Galway locals Lady Gregory, Garry Hynes and Lelia Doolan feature as three of the twenty amazing women chosen for this book.

Join us at 6pm on Thursday 22 February in the gallery of the Galway Arts Centre at 47 Dominick Street – the former home of celebrated Irishwoman Augusta Lady Gregory – to celebrate the publication of this remarkable and timely book.

Dr Micheline Sheehy-Skeffington, lecturer, academic and granddaughter of Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington, will be launching Rocking the System, and there will be wine and superb conversation in abundance.

40 employers expected at ‘West’s leading jobs fair’ in the City this weekend

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February 21, 2018

MORE THAN 40 leading employers and educators, as well as professional development experts, will take part in Jobs Expo Galway – an event which could see many jobs secured by people across Galway and further afield.

The Jobs fair at the Galmont Hotel this Saturday, 24 February, will include global employers such as Shopify, Medtronic, Valeo, Cardinal Health and Shire Pharmaceuticals and local employers such as Ballynahinch Castle Hotel, Empire Marketing, LotusWorks and Surmodics.

State and regulatory bodies such as the Workplace Relations Commission, Department of Social Protection & Family and Obair will also be in attendance, seeking to recruit on the day.

The jobs fair, being described as the West’s leading jobs and recruitment fair, will cover opportunities in developing areas such as Medtech, Retail, Pharma, Computers & IT, Construction, Public Sector, Smart Data, Ecommerce, Hotel, Leisure & Tourism and more.

Medtech, STEM and Tourism“Galway is an international medtech hub and the city has a thriving STEM sector. In addition, tourism has long been an important economic area. As a result, there is strong demand for skilled candidates in Galway city and the surrounding areas,” says Jobs Expo’s Bronagh Cotter. “This weekend’s Jobs Expo will have a great mix of local and international companies eager to meet skilled professionals. This includes multinationals such as Medtronic, Valeo, Shire, MAPFRE and McDonalds, plus Irish success stories like LotusWorks and the award winning Ashford Castle.”

Additional exhibitors include Advant Medical, Cardinal Health, Marketo, Empire, NUI Galway, Merit Medical, FMI, Kelly Services, Travel Counsellors and Innopharma.

The free-of charge event runs from 10am to 4pm and also includes free talks and seminars along with free career advice.

It will include the Career & CV Clinic, where visitors can receive free career coaching from a team of qualified career counsellors. Meanwhile, the Agenda Stage will offer a day of free, topical talks by industry insiders.

Jobseekers can register for free admission by clicking HERE.

One Galway beach makes list of Ireland’s top 10 beaches!

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February 21, 2018

One beach in County Galway has made a list of the top ten beaches in the country, a list dominated by the West coast.

Dog’s Bay, just a short journey from Roundstone in the West of the county, made number three on the Trip Advisor list, where it has 162 ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ reviews.

Visitors to the beach noted the clean and clear water and the cleanliness of the beach itself, with one commenter saying that the day they visited the beach, it was “beautiful, sun shining and lovely and warm. The water was super clear and the sand a lovely bright colour.”

Dogs Bay, Co. Galway. What a spot! 😮🍀🍀 pic.twitter.com/n61ewaGXgh

— IrelandBeforeYouDie (@IrelandB4UDie) July 26, 2017

Dog’s Bay, together with Gurteen Bay, creates a tombolo which juts out into the Atlantic Ocean.

Donegal has two beaches in the top ten, and Kerry had three, but it would be difficult to argue that any of them are as stunning as Dogs’ Bay beach.

So, if you haven’t already been, we can’t recommend it enough!

Anti-dumping initiative in County receives €67,000

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February 21, 2018

An allocation of €67,663 in funding has been made available for an anti-dumping initiative in County Galway this year, it has been announced.

Sean Cannery TD said that applications are now open for community groups to apply for funding under the Anti-Dumping Initiative 2018.

The initiative has an increased funding allocation of €2 million nationally.

Galway County Council Council has responsibility for the control of litter and the enforcement of the litter laws in the County.

Report littering and illegal dumping to the Environment Section, Galway County Council on (091) 509 510 or email
environment@galwaycoco.ie.

Thursday – Galway Bay Cycling Club Open Night

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February 21, 2018

Galway Bay Cycling Club Open Night
Thursday, February 22 @ 7.30 pm
Galway Community College (at Moneenageisha Cross, opposite the g hotel)

Galway Bay Cycling Club is delighted to invite all current and prospective new members of all ages and abilities to their open night at Galway Community College, which is bound to be a bit of craic as well as an informative and interesting evening.

If you’re interested in taking up or getting back into cycling, why not come along to meet current Galway Bay Cycling Club members and learn about the history of the club and their plans for the future.

Food is very near to any cyclist’s heart, so there will be pizza on the night – and of course, lycra will feature heavily with the launch of the brand new Galway Bay Cycling Club kit.

As if that wasn’t enough, the club is absolutely thrilled to welcome honorary club member Sean “King” Kelly, who will be there on the night. He will be displaying some of his priceless coveted trophies from his phenomenal professional career.

It’s a great opportunity to meet with one of Ireland’s most successful sportspeople in a relaxed and casual atmosphere.

Galway Bay Cycling Club welcomes new members of any level at any time. Club members are happy to walk anyone through the online membership process on the night also.

Don’t be intimidated by the lycra!

Eleanor McEvoy to take to stage at 2018 Alumni Awards

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February 21, 2018

Singer-songwriter Eleanor McEvoy is set to take to the stage at the 2018 Alumni Awards next weekend, NUI Galway announced yesterday.

It was also revealed that RTÉ/TG4 presenter and producer Gráinne McElwain will host this year’s Gala Banquet.

When not touring, Eleanor plays an active role in cultural life in Ireland.

She is a member of the board of Ireland’s National Concert Hall which completes the unique circle in Eleanor’s musical life through classical music, traditional Irish music competitions, youth orchestras, choirs, violinist in Ireland’s National Symphony Orchestra before submitting to her prime desire to be a contemporary singer songwriter.

The 2018 Alumni Awards will be presented at the 18th annual Alumni Awards Gala Banquet on Saturday, 3 March, 2018 in the Bailey Allen Hall located in Áras na Mac Léinn on campus.

The Alumni Awards recognise individual excellence and achievements among the University’s more than 90,000 graduates worldwide.

The Awards programme boasts an impressive roll call of over 100 outstanding graduates who have gone on to honour their alma mater, including, for example, Uachtarán na hÉireann, Michael D. Higgins; Olympian, Olive Loughnane; Rugby great, Ciarán FitzGerald; RTÉ broadcaster, Sean O’Rourke; former Attorney General, Máire Whelan; former Creganna CEO, Helen Ryan and Tony Award-winning actress, Marie Mullen.

Darren’s Diary – Kicking The Habit (Day 1): Tuesday, 20th February

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February 20, 2018