Breaking News
Counting underway in Presidential election – with Michael D Higgins on course for landslide victory
Galway Bay fm newsroom – The first votes are being counted in the Presidential election and blasphemy referendum.
The exit polls suggest Michael D Higgins will comfortably win the election, and that blasphemy will be repealed from the Constitution.
It looks like a landslide victory for President Higgins – with two exit polls putting the current President on course to be re-elected with between 56% and 58% of the vote.
Businessman Peter Casey looks as though he will place second – securing 21% support in a surprise turnaround in the last week of polling.
His comments that Travellers should not be given ethnic status angered many, but clearly appealed to a significant amount of the electorate.
Sinn Féin will have to pore over why their campaign failed.
Sinn Fein’s candidate Liadh Ni Riada polled worse than Martin McGuinness in 2011 with the exit poll showing she only secured between 7 and 8 per cent of the vote.
The party has been criticised for being slow to announce their candidate but the party’s health spokesperson Louise O’Reilly is blaming the poor turnout.
Sean Gallagher will finish on between 5.5% and 7% according to the exit polls – far short of the half a million votes he got in 2011.
Pieta House founder Senator Joan Freeman will finish with around 6%, while businessman Gavin Duffy conceded overnight and is likely to get just 2% support.
Mr Duffy says he has no regrets about his decision to run for office.
He has tweeted his congratulations to Michael D Higgins, and wished him all the best for his second term.
Galway Bay fm newsroom – A pop-up vaccination base will operate from NUI Galway next week.
It’s one of 11 pop up vaccination centres that will be established across third level colleges next week.
The clinics will provide first or second doses and will be provided to students and staff.
The initiative aims to maximise vaccine uptake in those who have not yet availed of vaccination, including international students.
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Simon Harris says Ireland has already seen a great uptake from young people and vaccination week will offer anyone who hasn’t received their first or second dose the opportunity to do so.
Galway Bay fm newsroom – 5,769 people in Galway will receive the pandemic unemployment payment this week, as the number of claimants for the State support continues to fall.
The number has fallen from a peak of over 33 thousand claimants in May 2020.
This week, the Department of Social Protection issued weekly payments valued at over 28 million euro to over 110 thousand people.
This represents a fall of 3,842 compared to last week.
The greatest reduction this week is in the accommodation and food services sector.
It comes as the PUP is gradually changing over a six month period from September until next February to align with the standard jobseeker’s payments.
Galway Bay fm newsroom – A medical device manufacturer in Galway is set to expand its operations with the potential to create up to 200 new jobs.
Integer has announced plans to construct a new manufacturing facility through a 30 million dollar investment in Parkmore East.
With 15 sites across the world, Integer has been operating in Ireland for 25 years.
The company currently employs 1,300 people through its research and development centre and manufacturing facilities in Galway and New Ross in Wexford.
Following collaboration between IDA Ireland and Integer, the new facility for the Parkmore East area will help the company meet increased demand for research, development and manufacturing capabilities, as well as capacity for catheters and delivery systems.
Expected to total $30 million in the coming years, the investment will include the construction of a 60,000 square foot facility while planning permission for a further 147,000 square feet for future expansion has also been secured.
The company said it expects an estimated 100 to 200 engineering, administration and manufacturing jobs to be added as a result of the expansion with building work expected to begin next year.
Pop-up vaccination clinic to operate from NUIG next week
5,769 PUP claims to be issued in Galway as numbers continue to decline
Up to 200 jobs for Galway as medical device manufacturer expands
Gort Gardaí investigate discovery of body near Kinvara
Appeal to Galway students to avoid drugs as they return to city’s colleges
Landmark Oasis nightclub in Salthill demolished
Up to 500 construction jobs to be created in new ‘City North’
Win a fantastic seven-night Mediterranean cruise in this week’s Connacht Tribune
Galway City Council knocks new wall – so they can build it again!
Wrecking ball for once-great social hub, the Corrib Great Southern Hotel
