Business
Kenny Galway appointed Peugeot dealers
Gowan Distributors Limited, Peugeot Importers in Ireland, have been on the lookout for a new dealer in Galway since the closure of Arch Motors last year. This week they announced the appointment of Kenny Galway to the Peugeot Dealer Network.
Kenny Galway was established in 1992 and in 2003 the family-run business relocated to its new premises on the Tuam Road, on the outskirts of Galway, where significant investment was made in both customer facilities and staff.
The extensive facilities and 520 sq m showroom will exhibit the full range of award-winning Peugeot passenger cars and light commercial vehicles on sale from now.
A 12-bay workshop is staffed by highly qualified technicians who offer servicing for all makes and models for both passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.
Dealer Principal, Brian Kenny said: “The success of Kenny Galway to date is down to our team of highly experienced and committed staff who are totally dedicated to giving the best customer care possible, both in sales and aftersales. I am very pleased to join the Peugeot Dealer Network and I look forward to working with the team at Gowan Distributors Limited.”
Speaking at the signing of contracts, Managing Director at Gowan Distributors Limited, Des Cannon said: “Gowan Distributors Limited has a long standing history in Ireland, with a strong sense of community. Since 1969 we’ve partnered with our Dealer Network, working alongside Irish family-run motor businesses.
“Our latest appointment, Kenny Galway, is a fine example of one such Dealer, long-recognised for providing superior sales and service to the Galway community with integrity, reliability and the utmost professionalism. I wish Brian and his team every success for the future as Main Peugeot Dealers.”
Meanwhile, Bradley Renault, Galway have expanded their showroom space with the acquisition of the former Renault Showrooms on the Tuam Road in Galway.
Bradley Motors, who are also main dealers for Land Rover, Range Rover and Jaguar in Galway, took over the Renault and Dacia franchise following the closure of Galway Renault and have since seen market share rise.
Following this success, they are in need of more space for the Renault and Dacia brands and have acquired the former Renault showrooms on the Tuam Road.
Speaking to the Connacht Tribune, Robert Bradley, Dealer Principal said: “We simply need the extra space and customers are familiar with the Tuam Road site. We will operate from there as a sales venue only; the service department will remain at our anchor premises on the Dublin Road.”
Connacht Tribune
Six schools perform with distinction during EU Model Council Debate on the EU’s Renewable Energy Transition
By Barbara Nolan, Head of the European Commission Representation in Dublin
The results are in from the 2023 Model Council of the European Union debating competition. Six teams rose above 21 other secondary schools across Ireland for their convincing portrayal of the positions taken by EU Ministers for Energy while discussing how to accelerate the EU’s Renewable Energy Transition.
The debate mirrors the format of a real meeting of the Council of the European Union (also known as the Council of Ministers) so students can explore how the EU decision-making process works. The Model Council has been organised by the European Commission Representation in Ireland every year since 2007. The 2023 event was held in City Hall in Dublin.
Scoil Muire agus Pádraig from Mayo won first place for their representation of Poland during the debate. Second place went to Christ King Secondary School from Cork, and third place to Deansrath Community College from Dublin. Those schools role-played Slovakia and Hungary respectively.
Honourable mentions were given to the following schools: Ardscoil Rís in Dublin as Croatia: Mercy Secondary School Mounthawk in Kerry as Czechia and Loreto Secondary School Kilkenny as Belgium.
The event opened with an address by Maria Walsh, MEP representing Ireland Midlands-North-West constituency, who emphasised the significance of the 50th anniversary since Ireland joined the EEC. The debate itself discussed ways to increase the share of renewable energy within the EU, a challenge that has been brought into sharp focus since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
The energy sector is responsible for over 75% of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, increasing the share of renewable energy is a key building block in reaching the EU’s energy and climate objectives under the European Green Deal. This aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 (compared to 1990 levels), and for Europe to become a climate neutral continent by 2050.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sparked an energy crisis in Europe. In response, the Commission published the REPowerEU plan that aims to reduce the EU’s dependence on Russian fossil fuels well before 2030 by accelerating the clean energy transition. REPowerEU is based on three pillars: saving energy, producing clean energy and diversifying the EU’s energy supplies. The Commission proposes to increase the EU renewable energy target to 45% by 2030 – all this was discussed in the Model Council Debate.
Significant challenges remain but a collective effort is underway, across the EU, to reach ambitious renewable energy targets. Earlier this month, the European Commission proposed to reform the EU’s electricity market to accelerate a surge in renewables and phase-out gas, to protect consumers from price spikes related to fossil fuels, and to make the EU’s industry clean and more competitive. These proposals will be discussed by the real EU Ministers for Energy next month.
There were over 200 complaints from Galway to the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman over the course of 2022, according to the annual report published last week.
The Ombudsman, Liam Sloyan, received 207 complaints from Galway residents during 2022, as his office delivered outcomes worth over €5 million to consumers in 2022.
“In addition to the financial outcomes totalling over €5 million for individual complainants, the Office played its full part in enhancing the financial services and pensions environment, including in relation to the exit of two major banking providers,” he said.
“The departure of two major financial service providers from the Irish market posed the potential for a high volume of complaints to be made to this Office.
“It is notable that by the end of 2022, the FSPO had received less than 100 complaints identified as relating to market exit. The FSPO collaboratively engaged with stakeholders, including the providers leaving the market, sharing information and making every effort to progress these complaints as quickly as possible, within our resources. It is very positive that, to date, for the vast majority of impacted consumers, the departure of two major banks has not given rise to issues leading to a complaint being made to this Office,” he added.
In all, 4,781 complaints were received in 2022, a slight increase of 123 complaints received in 2021; 4,647 complaints were closed in 2022.
The report revealed that 28% of complaints concerned an issue of customer service; 80% were made by complainants in the Republic of Ireland, with one in five complaints reflecting the cross-border nature of financial services markets.
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.
A Galway City student is celebrating success in her ACCA (Association of Certified Chartered Accountants) exams where she achieved first in Ireland and 19th place in the world in her Financial Management exam.
AccountancySchool.ie student Lucy O’Donoghue had completed a Masters in International Management from University of Galway and joined the graduate programme at the Central Bank.
And with her interest in the areas of business, finance and strategic management, she said the next logical step was to look at studying for ACCA qualifications with AccountancySchool.ie.
“When I was starting out on my ACCA journey, it was a bit daunting – twelve exams felt like a mammoth task and at times the road felt never-ending,” she said.
“So, I think the best advice I would give to someone in a similar situation would be not to get bogged down by how far you have to go – take it exam-by-exam and keep chipping away at it. Eventually it will all come together!”
AccountancySchool.ie – based on Fitzwilliam Street in Dublin – is a Platinum Approved Learning Partner of the ACCA, the globally recognised accountancy qualification.
Public invited to Front Line Defenders lecture at University of Galway
Plans for luxury “habitable treehouse” overlooking Killary Fjord rejected
Separate traffic incidents cause road closures on the Curraghline and near Roscahill
New orthopaedic theatres at Merlin Park only operating at 60 percent capacity
Search of waters around Renville Pier due to concerns over parked car
City seeks to annex Oranmore, Claregalway, Moycullen and Barna in boundary extension
Man awarded €142,000 over unprovoked attack in toilet of County Galway pub
Woman convicted of harassing social media guru
Galway family’s plea – help us save our home
Bono has finally found what’s he’s looking for!
