Let’s fly, let’s fly away.

Ireland West Airport (Knock as it is known as, by almost everyone except themselves) has announced its winter schedule.

And there will be a 3% increase in seat capacity. Which is around 7,000 extra seats.

Granted, the majority of these seats will be to the UK, with flights to eight different UK airports providing flexible travel options for business, leisure and more opportunities to see your Premier League team in action.

But for those looking for some winter sun, Ryanair will continue to operate a weekly service to Lanzarote, where temperatures average 25 degrees C during the winter season.

In addition Ryanair will operate up to 32 weekly services to and from East-Midlands Nottingham, Liverpool and London Luton airports.

This will provide the only connectivity to these key markets from Galway and Mayo.

Ryanair will increase capacity on its London Stansted service by 7%, offering over 20 weekly return services providing flexible daily return options in particular for the business and commuter passenger.

Flybe, Europes largest regional airline, will operate up to 24 weekly services to and from Birmingham, Edinburgh and Manchester this winter, increasing the range of options for travelers both in the UK and this region.

Speaking at the launch of the winter schedule, Joe Gilmore, Managing Director, Ireland West Airport, said: “We are pleased to launch our 2017/18 winter schedule with our airline partners Aer Lingus, Flybe and Ryanair.

“Almost 250,000 passengers will use the airport this winter and with capacity increases in the London market we expect it to be one of our busiest winter seasons in recent times.

“Passenger numbers at the airport have increased by almost 5% so far this year, with close to 500,000 passengers using the airport year to date which has a significant spin off for the local economies through tourist spend, job creation and local bed nights.

“In addition the commencement of a major airport transformation programme will see a major investment in new facilities and upgrading existing critical operational infrastructure ensuring we have the infrastructure needed to handle more passengers and provide them with an enhanced experience.”

The good news keeps on coming for NUI Galway

The university has retained its position as a top 250 Global University in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings for 2017-18, remaining within the 201-250 range.

The college also impoved its scores in four of the five main pillars categorised – international outlook, research, citation impact and industry income.

This comes the day after Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh was named as NUI Galway President Jim Browne’s successor.

Dr Jim Browne explained that remaining a top 250 university is “ultimately important for our students”.

“Rankings can’t measure culture or what makes a University a great place to learn, but the fact that we have risen from the Top 500 in 2007 to the Top 250 now is testament to the vision and hard work of our staff and students,” he said.

“We have been fortunate that a combination of philanthropic and exchequer funding has enabled us to transform our campus in recent years, and we’re now starting the see how this is enabling great strides to be made in our teaching and research.

“Ultimately this is important for our students. In an international jobs market, rankings matter. Our students will be the future leaders and innovators and when we look at economic development, we need to make sure we have the supports in place to help our students to dream big and reach their potential,” Dr Browne added.

The Times Higher league table of the world’s top universities is based on 13 separate performance indicators covering all of the core missions of a world class university; teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook.

The survey also includes one of the world’s largest academic reputation survey, with more than 10,000 academics asked to rate the world’s best universities for the 2017/18 ranking.

White smoke over NUI Galway…

The university today announced that Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh has been appointed its 13^th President with effect from January 2018, with Ó hÓgartaigh saying that he is “honoured” to be given the role.

Professor Ó hÓgartaigh will succeed Dr Jim Browne at the conclusion of his ten year term.

Professor Ó hÓgartaigh has served as Principal and Dean of UCD College of Business since 2011, leading its schools in Dublin (UCD Lochlann Quinn School of Business, UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School and UCD Smurfit Executive Development) and its overseas programmes in Hong Kong, Singapore and Sri Lanka.

Ciarán has also worked in academic leadership roles in Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand and in Dublin City University.

Speaking about the appointment, Ms Justice Catherine McGuinness, Chair of NUI Galway’s Governing Authority said: “At the outset, we sought a leader who can build on the significant achievements during Dr Jim Browne’s tenure and inspire NUI Galway’s staff and students to take this remarkable University to new heights.

“With a track record of leadership and achievement nationally and internationally, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh brings both the necessary experience and vision to this role and I look forward to working with him as we chart the next stage in the University’s journey.”

Current President of NUI Galway, Dr Jim Browne,  said that Professor Ó hÓgartaigh will bring a “wealth of academic leadership experience” as well as a proven track record in internationalisation.

“I welcome Ciarán to NUI Galway and wish him the very best in leading our terrific staff and students into a bright future where they can fully realise their ambitions,” Dr Browne said.

Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh said: “I am honoured to be appointed President of my alma mater, NUI Galway.

“Given its unique heritage and hinterland, the quality of its people, and the strength and depth of its research and student experience, NUI Galway is exceptionally well-placed to further enhance its reputation and reach both nationally and internationally.

“I look forward to coming home to the ‘town and gown’ which shaped me and to working together with my new colleagues in the best interests of our students and our society.”

Michael Fitzmaurice TD has described as “actually laughable” the suggestion that farmers will require a Public Service card when applying for EU grants from next year.

The Galway-Roscommon Independent TD is the latest in a line of TDs and senators who have criticised the government’s decision to roll out the new ID card.

“A farmer can’t be a farmer if they do not have land and herd/ flock number so it’s hard to see how the new card is needed as you get paid on the land you have and if there’s a double claim it’s picked up straight away.

“This new ID card is being introduced in connection with online applications and Minister Creed and the Government are showing no regard for elderly people some of whom never opened a computer in their lives and always farmed their land quietly and effectively,” Michael Fitzmaurice said.

He stated that the Minister and the Department are trying to “force everybody into dealing online” but points out that adequate broadband is lacking in many rural areas and that many farmers are without even a phone line.

“I’m writing to Europe today to see are they going to be that heartless to force elderly farmers especially those who don’t own a computer or have any broadband service to have to either travel long distances to get their applications in or maybe it will force them out of applying for grants altogether and I feel the latter would suit the Government and Brussels.

“Farming organisations need to wake up now and stand up for the farmers they represent and take on this Government and the bureaucrats in Brussels. If they stand back and do nothing this will happen gradually. The Department should be able to cater with 20% paper applications which is the trend at the moment. Surely that is not too much to ask,” he added.

Maroon umbrellas at the ready…

Ahead of Sunday’s Al-Ireland final, it would have been nice to bathe in sunshine and head to Croker with a tan (or at least a bit of sunburn).

We hope the Gods will be on our side on Sunday, and today was a fine day (by Irish standards).

But for tomorrow, it is set to rain heavily for some hours.

Both Galway and Waterford are included in MET Éireann’s status yellow rain warning which comes into effect tomorrow afternoon and lasts until 6am on Sunday morning.

The heavy rain will will spread eastwards in the evening and into the night.

There is some good news, however. Sunday is set to be dry but cloudy in the afternoon, with temperatures rising to 19°C when the clouds begin to clear in the late afternoon.

That will come as a relief to those who plan to watch the match on the big screen at Eyre Square.

It will be a similar picture in Dublin on Sunday, with cloud expected.

The N17 Knockdoe Galway to Tuam road is closed following a road traffic collision at 3.15pm today, but Gardaí say that the road will be re-opened shortly.

One man has been taken to hospital following the two vehicle collision, involving a car and a truck.

Diversions are still in place on the road, which has been closed for some hours.

The AA are urging people to use alternative routes until the road is re-opened.

Unrelated to this accident, there is also heavy traffic on the N59 Galway/Clifden Rd near Lough Bofin due to works that are in place until the end of October. Lane and speed restrictions are signposted.

The man taken to UHG is not understood to have suffered any serious injuries.

Surgery can be painful. But there are experts working on how to reduce pain.

And they will meet at NUI Galway for tomorrow, Saturday August 26th.

The 17^th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Irish Pain Society will mark the 10-year anniversary since the establishment of the Centre for Pain Research at the University, Ireland’s first multidisciplinary pain research centre.

The theme of this year’s meeting will focus on the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) theme for 2017, ‘Pain After Surgery’.

Professor David Finn, President of the Irish Pain Society, said: “Unfortunately, pain can be a serious unwanted consequence of surgery, affecting millions of people worldwide and exacting a very significant toll on health, wellbeing, society and the economy.

“To address this important unmet clinical need, we require a better understanding of pain neurobiology, and the mechanisms and factors influencing the transition from acute to chronic pain. The Irish Pain Society meeting this year has been organised to increase our understanding of postoperative pain and its treatment,” Mr Finn added.

Speakers will include Professor Esther Pogatzki-Zahn from Germany, who will discuss the prediction and prevention of pain after surgery. Also speaking will be Professor Alison Twycross from the United Kingdom, who is an expert in postoperative pain management in children.

Dr Patricia Lavand’homme will speak about the transition from acute to chronic pain. Dr Niamh Moloney, Guernsey will discuss the profile and management of persistent pain following breast cancer treatment and Dr Rachael Powell will talk about the psychological aspects of understanding and reducing postoperative pain.

The meeting will provide an opportunity to broadening knowledge and networks across Pain disciplines, with the aim of moving towards a more enlightened approach for improved understanding and management of pain post-surgery.

Professor Finn added: “I am really excited to be hosting this year’s Irish Pain Society meeting in Galway and anticipate a day filled with informative and thought-provoking talks covering the cutting edge of research on pain after surgery, as well as fruitful discussions and interactions with colleagues.”

University Hospital Galway has defended its response to a patient who collapsed and hit his head last week while awaiting treatment, the Irish Times has reported.

Witnesses who wish to remain anonymous say that the hospital was not overly busy when the incident occurred.

They say that a middle-aged man looked like he was distressed while awaiting treatment in the emergency department.

The man then stumbled from his chair towards a door and hit the back of his head “with an unmerciful smack,” the Irish Times reported.

The man then suffered a heart-attack, and a doctor came rushing out to begin chest compressions.

UHG told the Irish Times: “At the time the emergency department was very busy and congested.” This contradicts the witnesses accounts of what happened.

“The patient collapsed in the waiting area and was treated immediately as an emergency in the waiting room,” it said.

“The emergency department is equipped with all necessary resuscitation equipment. This patient received immediate treatment and was then admitted to an inpatient bed,” the hospital added.

COPE Galway has hit out at the lack of additional social housing in the city, stating: “Without provision of additional social housing we are simply at nothing.”

The organisation has also called for vacant properties in the city to be brought back into use.

This is in light of the findings of the Daft.ie Rental Price Report for the second quarter of 2017 which shows a 10% increase in rent levels for Galway City in the past 12 months.

The local charity says that homeless services are struggling to address the unprecedented homelessness crisis in the city which is most evident with the growth in rough sleeping over recent months.

They say that this is resulting in the growing numbers of families and individuals who become homeless remaining in emergency accommodation for extended periods of time.

COPE Galway’s Martin O’Connor said that is is clear that the private rental market does not offer a solution to the crisis we are struggling to deal with.

“This Daft.ie rental report which highlights the chronic shortage of supply and ever increasing rent levels in Galway is further proof, if proof were needed, that the private rental market is in serious difficulty and that those most negatively impacted on are families and individuals who cannot afford the rents being asked for.  Without the provision of additional social housing we are simply at nothing,” said Mr O’Connor.

Mr O’Connor went on to welcome recent Government policy initiatives to bring vacant properties back into use as something which also offers hope for the many people at risk of and experiencing homelessness.

“At a time of shortage it is vital that housing stock in the city is utilised to the fullest extent possible and measures incentivising property owners to put vacant units into use and taxes to penalise them for not doing so are required,” he added.

A 23-year-old man has died following a single vehicle crash in Shannongrove, Banagher. The crash took place at approximately 00.05 yesterday morning.

Gardaí have said that that the 23-year-old man was fatally injured when the car he was driving collided with a wall. He was the sole occupant of the vehicle.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene and his body was taken to Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe.

The flags are flying.

Galway Pride festival began today with an enormous LGBT pride flag being unfurled at Eyre Square at 1.30pm.

There are a plethora of events planned throughout the week, and tonight sees the celebrations hit the Róisín Dubh with the official launch party beginning at 7.30pm.

The biggest event of the week will be the parade, beginning at 2pm on Saturday.

Grand Marshall for this year’s celebrations is Cameron Keighron, who described it an an ‘honour’ to have been given the position.

“I hope to give visibility to the most margianliaed sections of our community and use this opportunity to highlight the fights that lie ahead,” he said.

Pride is a celebration of our diversity and I am excited to share it with you,” Mr Keighron added.

The Guards aren’t known for their good sense of humour.

And this week, they have hammered that fact home, with possibly the poorest tweet we have ever seen.

Obviously, the Races is a week of craic and drink and well-dressed individuals from far and wide.

It seems that the Gardaí, caught up in this positive atmosphere, decided to try an alternative way of getting their message across, with this shockingly un-punny tweet.

Looking for a few 'Tips' for the #GalwayRaces.? Get on all of these and you’re onto a winner! #TipTuesday Don't gamble with road safety pic.twitter.com/e9HTPKN441

— An Garda Síochána (@GardaTraffic) August 1, 2017

Though reaction to the tweet appeared to be largely positive, this is probably because most people coudn’t be bothered even commenting on such nonsense.

Stick to policing lads, yeah? Comedy really ain’t your bag.