Galway Bay fm newsroom – City councillors have paved the way for an Aldi development at a site on the Monivea Road that has been derelict for almost 20 years.

The site is a brownfield one that has previously been excavated, following the demolition of Comer Machinery in 2005.

German retailer Aldi has applied for planning permission on the site, however a considerable portion of the land that would be used for car parking is zoned industrial.

This means councillors have to approve the contravention of the Galway City Development Plan to allow it to be used for retail purposes.

At this week’s meeting of Galway City Council, there was widespread agreement that it was a very positive development, and the vote was passed unanimously in favour.

This mean the proposed development can go ahead in principle with no changes to the zoning of the land.

Aldi Ireland says it hopes to start construction in 2022, and to open the new €9 million store in Autumn 2023.

It says 30 new permanent jobs will be created when the store opens, while up to 50 jobs will be supported during the construction phase.

Councillor Declan McDonnell says after being just a “hole in the ground” for almost 20 years, there’s now a huge opportunity for development.

Galway Bay fm newsroom – A further 1,413 people have tested positive for Covid-19.

The five-day moving average stands at 1,395 – down almost 100 on two weeks ago.

Monaghan, Donegal and Louth have the highest 14-day incidence rates in the country.

There are 290 patients being treated for the virus in hospital, a drop of two since yesterday, while the number being treated in ICU has increased two to 67.

Galway Bay fm newsroom – Students from Holy Rosary College in Mountbellew have been selected to rear five Angus calves in schools competition

At a special event at the National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska, Co. Laois today broadcaster Carl Mullan revealed the six schools that will progress as finalists in the Certified Irish Angus school’s competition.

Among the finalist groups challenged to rear Angus calves were Peter O’Neill, Oisin Colleran, Amy Higgins and Cormac Delaney from Holy Rosary College, Mountbellew.

The unique competition sees the student groups actively involved in the rearing of five Irish Angus cattle over the next 18 months in order to allow them to gain an understanding of the care and attention that is required to produce top quality Irish beef under a sustainable family farming system.

The Galway group join students from St. Louis’ High School, Rathmines; Ursuline Secondary School, Thurles; Ardscoil Phádraig, Granard; Abbey Community College, Boyle; St. Brigid’s Secondary School, Killarney as the successful finalists for this year’s competition.

During the interview stages, these groups stood out to the judges for taking great interest in the agri-food industry and for bringing new perspectives, ideas, and findings to the competition.

Each of the finalists will receive the financial benefit involved in the selling of the animals on completion of the project. The winning students also receive an additional grant of €2,000 for their further education.