Connacht Tribune
Coastal development ‘should be moved inland’

Green Party councillor Alastair McKinstry has said that construction along the R336 Coast Road should start to be moved away from the old road and towards the location of a new road – in preparation for rising sea levels.
However, any decision on the future of the R336 between Barna and Ros a’ Mhíl would have to be put on hold until a decision is made over the Galway City Ring Road.
That’s what Connemara local area councillors were told at their first local area meeting of the new Council term.
Galway County Council’s Director of Services for Roads, Jim Cullen, said a freeze on planning had been lifted earlier this year which allowed landowners in the area to apply for planning permission to build.
Almost exactly five years ago, prior to the 2014 local rlections, county councillors voted in favour of the so-called “brown route” to replace the existing R336 – against the advice of Council officials, who said that it was unlikely to ever get planning permission as the route cut through areas designated as environmentally sensitive.
As a consequence of the route being approved by councillors, a 2km-wide corridor between Galway City and Ros a Mhíl had a freeze placed on any planning permission applications, causing uproar amongst local landowners.
The planning and scoping works completed in advance of this decision cost €3 million, but Mr Cullen said those studies were now out of date and said no plans would be made for the road in advance of An Bord Pleanála’s decision on the GCRR, which he said was due to go to public hearing later this year.
Cllr McKinstry said that rising sea levels would mean that any building that was constructed along the route would be in danger of destruction within the next century.
“We do need to see that any further development along the coast is moved inland so that it is not lost in the next century.
“We know that there will be a two-metre sea rise over the next century, with worsening storm surges,” he said.
Mr Cullen agreed that action needed to be taken and said this would form part of the County Council’s Climate Change Action Plans which were in preparation.
Of the R336, Mr Cullen said: “There’s hardly a road that has as many weaknesses It has a footpath that must be one of the longest footpaths in Europe.”
Any future decision on the road would also be influenced by the progress of the Moycullen Bypass and while a lot had gone into planning a new road since 2009, the Council was “effectively back to square one”.
Cllr Eileen Mannion (FG) criticised the repeated raising of the R336 at meetings of Connemara Municipal District and said both she and her fellow councillors had been informed on several occasions already that nothing could happen with the R336 until a decision on the Ring Road was forthcoming.
Connacht Tribune
Minister is asked to deliver on sheep supports

FUNDING for the Sheep Improvement Scheme (SIS) needs to be nearly stepped up to bring into line with the rate of payment under the new Suckler Cow Scheme, Galway IFA Chairman said this week.
The told the Farming Tribune that he had asked Agriculture Minister, Charlie McConalogue during his recent visit to Galway to seriously review the rates of payment in SIS, which currently works out at €12 per ewe.
“A suckler cow is classed as one livestock unit while seven ewes are also one unit. Yet the SIS payment for a sheep livestock unit is way under half what will be paid out under the new SCEP and BEEP-S schemes,” said Stephen Canavan.
He added that the IFA had been lobbying for a long time for an increase in the ewe payments but the increase of €2 per ewe – €10 to €12 – was no more than a token gesture.
“We know full well how important the new schemes will be for suckler farmers but we need an equivalent payment for sheep.
“As things stand, the payment for a sheep livestock unit (€84 made up 7 X €12), is completely insufficient. We have consistently called for a €30 per ewe payment,” said Stephen Canavan.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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Connacht Tribune
Dressing for the hazy days of summer

Fashion, Beauty and Lifestyle with Denise McNamara
The minute the sun comes out, I reach in my wardrobe for my tatty cut off denim shorts and my humble collection of sun dresses.
There’s nothing that screams summer as a pretty sun dress, which can be worn day or night, depending on shoes and accessories.
I am still obsessed with jumpsuits for the hot days as well, but the shops appear to be favouring midi dresses this Spring Summer 2023, which are versatile as they can work into autumn paired with a pair of chunky boots instead of sandals with a cardy or denim jacket thrown over.
Florals are still a huge trend this year as are crochet dresses, which can be worn over a longer slip to give cover to the underwear.
Look for dresses that can be worn casually as well as dressed up for a wedding or party to save on the pocket.
White dresses and are dead popular as is the colour hot pink, which makes me smile when I wear it.
If you’re not a fan of, why not try a dress with, which are everywhere, particularly on slip dresses cut on the bias.
Tie-dye patterns and geometric prints are a fresh way of updating the summer wardrobe.
Mini skirts and mini dresses aren’t as easy to pick up this season, but the midi and maxi dresses are trending to lean silhouettes.
A collared or tunic is a good choice for work and then heading out on the town afterwards.
If you’ve managed to get a tan without stripes unlike me, you may want to show off the shoulders in one of the many strapless numbers adorning the rails if bra support isn’t a priority – one shoulder numbers are very on-trend.
S/S 23 runways had a fierce amount of draped dresses with ruching, which look terribly classy. Good for hiding those extra pounds on the hips too.
With the sun looking to stay out a while longer, get out those sun dresses while you can.
Here is a trawl of dresses that might tickle your fancy from Born in Galway City, Tuam and Loughrea, Love It in Tuam, Loughrea and Oranmore, Modella in Corrandulla, Standún in Spiddal and Oughterard and Concepts in Oranmore and Moycullen.
Connacht Tribune
Corofin United round off fine campaign with cup final glory

Corofin United 4
Cois Fharraige 0
Mike Rafferty at Eamonn Deacy Park
BASED on statistical evidence this Joe Ryan Cup final produced a comprehensive victory for Corofin United, but at Eamonn Deacy Park on Wednesday night, the evidence on the pitch was less clear cut as Cois Fharraige certainly gave as good as they got in a entertaining contest that brought the local soccer season to a finale.
One up at the break as Dylan Wall got their opener, Corofin’s second just four minutes after the restart was the turning point as Barry O’Donovan applied the finish before two subsequent goals killed off the contest as it put a meaner look on proceedings that the Connemara side deserved. However, in front of a sizeable crowd, Corofin had more of a cutting edge as they made the most of the opportunities that came their way.
No doubt, the winners had long forgotten their opening game in the competition when they had just a Jonathan Keane goal to show for their efforts in a 1-1 draw after extra time with lowly Renmore B, but aided by the saves of Dylan Canney, they advanced by 3-2 in a penalty shoot out.
Of course, Corofin followed this up with a 3-2 away victory over Moyne Villa in the semi-finals and would have been the fancied team going into the decider. Cois Fharraige had seen off Cregmore/Claregalway by 7-0 and this was followed up by a Seamus de Búrca winner in a 1-0 derby success over Mac Dara.
After a tentative opening as both sides probed, it was Corofin United who made the breakthrough on 14 minutes when Nathan Kearney did all the good work down the right and the inrushing Dylan Wall got the touch to his cross to make it 1-0 from close range. Cois Fharraige threatened a response, as Seamus de Búrca sent Chris Ó Biadha through on goal, but Canney made the first of many smart saves to deny him.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.