The 2024 Galway Rose was announced last night at a packed Clayton Hotel.

28-year-old Deirdre Jennings from Rosaveel in Connemara will head to Tralee in August as the new Galway Rose, taking over from Clare Ann Irwin.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

A social worker with the geriatrics team in University Hospital Galway, Deirdre sang a beautiful version of the Irish song ‘An Cailin Alainn’ and was supported by a wide circle of family, friends and work colleagues.

The post Deirdre Jennings of Rossaveal is named the 2024 Galway Rose appeared first on Galway Bay FM.

Many motorists are not observing the pedestrian crossing in Claregalway – leading to a number of near misses as a result.

Concerned residents in the village held a meeting over the weekend to voice their concerns over the matter and are asking the Gardaí to monitor the situation.

Local Cllr David Collins admitted it is a worrying situation with a lot of motorists simply ignoring the pedestrian crossing when passing through Claregalway.

The crossing has traffic lights on either side, but the village has become a traffic nightmare in recent years.

Even with the provision of the M17/M18 motorway, there are still mile-long tailbacks in the village and particularly in the evenings.

Cllr Collins stated that a meeting with a number of concerned residents in Claregalway have highlighted that there have been a lot of near misses for people using the pedestrian crossing near the local national school.

“The crossing allows people to cross from the nearby housing estates and the daycare service to the other side of the road where all the schools, community centre and church are located,” he said.

“They have said that the lights on the poles are not bright enough and do not provide an adequate signal for drivers to know that there is a pedestrian crossing.

“They also said that in the afternoon the lights are not seen because the sun makes them invisible.

“The residents have told me that there have been numerous near misses at the crossing where people have started to cross but because of the problem with the signals that the cars nearly hit some pedestrians.

“They have asked me to see if the lights be upgraded by Galway County Council to signal a pedestrian crossing. This is a really busy crossing. It is time now before anything serious happens at this junction for an upgrade of the lights,” he added.

Cllr Collins said that he has been in contact with the engineering staff from Galway County Council and they have informed him that they will investigate what can be done to assist with the upgrading of these Belisha beacons.

“I welcome this update and will be working closely with the engineering staff to try and resolve this issue for everyone that uses this crossing.”

Pictured: Cllr David Collins at the pedestrian crossing in Claregalway.

A development board must be established to deliver a plan for the meaningful redevelopment of the St. Brigid’s Hospital campus.

That’s according to local election candidate Alan Harney, who lashed out at what he called ‘a clear failure’ to deliver a future for the campus to date.

“The HSE has been dragging its heels for many years and over that time the state of repair of all of the buildings has been deteriorating,” he said.

“As I have been out and about meeting people over the past number of months, it is very clear that people locally have had enough of unfulfilled promises. We are currently told that an evaluation of the property is being undertaken on behalf of the HSE.

“However, as far back as 2018, the HSE sought expressions of interest from state bodies and other stakeholders in relation to these lands and we were told that the OPW completed a report at that time.

“It now appears that six years on the HSE is going around in circles, it is back completing another round of property reports and does not have a vision for the future of the site,” he said.

He called for the establishment of a board with the power to bring together the state agencies and stakeholders, along with representatives of the local community to develop comprehensive and achievable proposals for the future of the site.

“There is a clear precedent for this approach, with the establishment of a development agency to develop the former Grangegorman Hospital in Dublin, with a very successful outcome. We need to follow that blueprint in Ballinasloe,” he said.

“The longer we wait for action from the HSE, the state of dilapidation of the magnificent stone cut buildings is ever worsening. In the short term, I would like to see action to repair the exterior of these buildings and secure them against the elements so we do not see further decline. The funding streams are there, but we need a board in place with the power and willingness to access them.

“St Brigid’s has played a huge part in the lives of my family through many generations, and I know that it is the same for so many other families locally. We need to take action to ensure that those buildings can once again play a crucial role in the story of Ballinasloe going forward,” he concluded.

Pictured: Alan Harney in the grounds of St Bridgets Hospital, Ballinasloe with the pitch and the pod buildings in the background.

A UNIVERSITY student who was supported on her cancer journey with specialist services for teenagers and young adults has gone public to praises the resources that helped her on her journey.

Nora Goaley (22) from Corofin in Galway has attended the AYA service at Galway University Hospitals (GUH) throughout her cancer journey.

And she spoke of her experience to mark last week’s Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Awareness Week. AYA Services provide specialised care to patients aged between 16- and 24-year-old who face unique challenges in their journey.

“In April 2023 I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma and entered the AYA service,” revealed Nora.

“The support of this service has meant so much to me. If I needed any advice or any help understanding my diagnosis even more, I was able to contact the service and that was such an amazing help to me and my family.

“The service also supported me through college and ensuring I was able to do my exams at a later date.

“Having this support allowed me to carry on being able to do everything I wanted to do and have somewhat of a normal life, as well as balancing this diagnosis,” she added.

AYA services provide a holistic approach to young patients living with and beyond cancer. The AYA service carries on beyond chemotherapy into the time when patient enter remission. Support is provided by a group of physicians, specialised nurses, social workers and psychologists to help the young person get back to their peer groups, get back to school and to help them with any potential long-term side effect such as depression.

Patricia Gleeson, Clinical Nurse Specialist in the AYA Cancer Service at GUH, supports young patients and their family and works alongside their treating teams, whether that is medical oncology, haematology, palliative care, radiation oncology or surgery.

“I access the needs of that young person at different point times throughout their cancer journey. So for example, if there is need for academic or employment support, or if there are changing levels of distress for that young person, we support them through this,” she explained.

“I understand the unique and different needs of young people with cancer and I am available to support those needs throughout their cancer journey,” she added.

The specialised support provided by GUH cancer team has also been commended by Nora’s mum, Stephanie Goaley.

“The AYA service has been excellent,” she said.

“Once my daughter Nora got diagnosed, the team came on board, we had back-up 24 hours a day, seven days a week and we never felt alone. There was always someone there to help us, give advice and information.

“If Nora came to the Emergency Department, we had a direct contact number for the AYA service and they would come and remove Nora to a safer environment.

“I couldn’t have asked for anymore help between the services, consultants, doctors and nurses. I was so happy with the team Nora has and I cannot thank them enough,” she added.

Dr Amjad Hayat, Consultant Haematologist and AYA Cancer Clinical Lead for Saolta, was also loud in his praise for the services.

“These specialised services that have come into place allow us to provide a tailored service to each individual patient, taking into account their disease, their family situation and their social and psychological challenges that may have affected them at the time,” he said.

“When you originally begin the journey, you think you have a very long road ahead, and nothing will ever get back to normal again,” added Nora herself.

“But when you go through it and come out the other side, it’s definitely worth everything, all the appointments, scans and blood work. You realise how much more important life is and how you want to fulfil things even more.”

You can learn more about Nora’s journey on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIlAteJCV3Q.

Pictured: Ringing the bell on the completion of her cancer treatment, 22-year-old Nora Goaley shares her special moment with Patricia Gleeson, Clinical Nurse Specialist in the AYA Cancer Service at GUH.  

The areas of Maigh Cuilinn and Newcastle are to receive over €10 million euro for the construction of Community Centres following an announcement by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys.

Minister Humphreys made the announcement in Galway City this morning as part of an overall allocation of €30 Million that will be awarded with 12 new centres to be built across the country.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

The investment of €10,343,255 to Maigh Cuilinn and Newcastle is over a third of the funds allocated nationally. Of the Maigh Cuilinn has received the highest funding possible of €6 million euro with Newcastle receiving €4,343,355.

It’s the first time in the history of the State that a dedicated fund has been set up to deliver new-build community centres in Rural Ireland.

Speaking to Galway Bay FM News, Minister Humpherys commended both communities for the work done on both projects

Seamus Davey, Chairman of the Newcastle Combined Community Association said they have been dreaming about this day for many years.

Members of Forbairt Pobail Mhaigh Cuillinn and other local clubs and schools gathered at Teach na Gaeilge in the village today to celebrate the announcement:

The post Maigh Cuilinn and Newcastle to receive over €10 Million for facilities through Community Centre Investment Fund appeared first on Galway Bay FM.

Ten Galway sites will share almost half a million euro after the Government’s weekend announced almost €7.5 million in state aid to protect archaeological monuments across the country and safeguard them into the future.

Ten projects in Galway will share a total fund of €486,070, with two of those in the city – Menlough Castle and St Nicholas – receiving €100,000 each.

Across the county, funding of €57,554 and €120,000 respectively will facilitate conservation works at Issertkelly and Temple Jarlath in Tuam.

A grant of €29,520 will facilitate the preparation of Conservation Management Plans for St. Grellan’s Ecclesiastical Site in Ballinasloe, with the same amount going to Kilmeen Ecclesiastical Site in Loughrea and €27,695 to Moylough Castle.

St. Brendan’s Cathedral, Clonfert, has received €5,700 in funding for the digital recording of its iconic doorway, which is noted for its sandstone detail and symbolism of its iconography.

The necessary works to conserve and make safe the Seefin Souterrain in Craughwell will also proceed thanks to a grant of €8,172.75.  The important archaeological site features three large chambers built with limestone slabs encased within a mound of soil.

Galway County Council and Galway Community Archaeology Project also have received €7,907.50 in funding to create story-maps of community monuments which have previously benefited from the Community Monuments Fund, including Kilcreevanty, Kilboght, Abbeygormican and St. Kerrills, Gurteen.

First established in 2020, the Community Monuments Fund aims to conserve, maintain, protect and promote local monuments and historic sites.

Funding is available to allow conservation works to be carried out on monuments that are deemed to be significant and in need of urgent support.

The aim is to encourage access to monuments and improve their presentation and also to build their resilience to help them withstand the effects of climate change.

The CMF supports essential repairs and capital works for the conservation of archaeological monuments and also the development of Conservation Management Plans to identify measures that may be needed to conserve monuments. Grants are also available to enhance public access infrastructure and interpretation at archaeological monuments.

“I would also like to acknowledge the private owners as custodians of much of our archaeological heritage and I am delighted that they are able to avail of this funding,” he said.

Galway County Community Archaeologist Bernie Doherty described it as ‘wonderful news for the many communities and individuals involved in preserving and promoting their archaeological heritage’.

And Marie Mannion, Heritage Officer with Galway County Council agreed.

“The Community Monuments Fund allocation is very valuable as will support the conservation, maintenance, protection and promotion of a number of our local monuments and historic sites,” she said.

“The conservation of our historic buildings, monuments and heritage sites makes our towns and villages more attractive to tourists and locals alike. This vitally important work also can often act as a catalyst for further heritage projects in an area, as it enhances local awareness in our built heritage,” she added.

Minister of State Malcolm Noonan said he was delighted that 140 projects across the country would be supported under this year’s €7.4m Community Monuments Fund.

And the new Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government and Planning, Alan Dillon, thanked the Local Authorities for what he called ‘all of their hard work and co-operation with the National Monuments Service in rolling out and administering the Community Monuments Fund’.

Pictured: St. Grellan’s Ecclesiastical Site in Ballinasloe.

Fianna Fail has confirmed the party’s selection for the Tuam Municipal Council area – and it does not include former Galway East TD Colm Keaveney.

While he was nominated to go forward, he had already informed party headquarters that he will not be a candidate.

So sitting councillors Donagh Killilea, Joe Sheridan and Mary Hoade will be joined on the ticket by Tom Quirke from Abbeyknockmoy in the seven-seater electoral area.

Mr Quirke, who has been living in Barnaderg for the past 18 years, has a background in Macra and is an accountant and financial advisor by profession.

He is also a well-known opponent of large-scale wind farms in rural areas and has called for the regulation regarding these developments.

Currently Fianna Fail hold four of the seven seats with the remainder being held by Fine Gael’s Pete Roche and Andrew Reddington with Cllr Karey McHugh having the independent seat.

The Fianna Fail convention was called for the purpose of selecting candidates to contest the local elections for the Tuam Municipal District area, which will be held on June 7.

Deputy Eamon Ó Cuiv, who chaired the meeting, paid tribute to the local LEA for their work in getting four candidates elected in 2019 and he also paid tribute to Cllr Keaveney for his work locally as he was stepping back from a long career in political life at both local and national level.

The three outgoing councillors were deemed selected, and the meeting proposed the addition of Tom Quirke to contest as the fourth candidate. This was endorsed by both the meeting and the three outgoing councillors.

“There are very few areas that have such an advantageous geographical spread between candidates and the natural boundaries lend well to what could well be the delivery of another four seats in this area,” Deputy Ó Cuiv told delegates.

The Galway West TD said that Mary Hoade is well placed in the Headord/Caherlistrane area, Donagh Killilea in Tuam/Belclare area, Joe Sheridan in Milltown/Dunmore area and Tom Quirke in Abbeyknockmoy/Barnaderg area.

Pictured at the Tuam area selection convention were (back) Deputy Eamon O Cuiv, Cllr Joe Sheridan, Cllr Donagh Killilea, Cllr Mary Hoade, Tom Quirke, who has been selected to run and Tom Reilly, Chairman of the FF Tuam area. Front: Deputy Barry Cowan, Cllr Ollie Crowe and Senator Niall Blaney.

Gort Cancer Support is hoping its new fundraising initiative will help them in their efforts to provide much-needed services to those affected by cancer.

The organisation, which operates out of Hollyblue House just off Church Street in Gort, has launched ‘Wear Blue for Hollyblue’ which will take place on Friday, May 3.

Volunteer Director, Mary Nolan, says they’re asking schools, businesses and individuals to show their support for the charity by wearing blue clothing on that date and donating to this worthy cause – and those who want to go a step further by hosting a blue-themed bake sale won’t be discouraged.

“This fundraiser is really about helping us keep the services going,” she says, adding that the vast majority of the centre’s funding comes from donations, with only a small amount being provided by the State.

“This is open to all. We’re hoping some of the big factories will come on board, through their sports and social clubs.”

All donations, big and small, will be gratefully received, she continues.

“Schools can get involved by wearing something blue and donating a €1 or €2 each – we didn’t want it to be a big ask of people,” says Mary.

Hollyblue provides services to people all over South Galway and North Clare – and people travel from as far as Galway City and Portumna to avail of its support.

Providing a driving service for those attending oncology appointments, counselling services, lymph drainage therapy and reflexology, to mention but a few, Gort Cancer Support has become integral to the wellbeing of countless people undergoing cancer treatment, and to that of their families.

Mary says there are currently around 300 people on its client list, and demand is ever-increasing.

They hope this fundraiser, in addition to their annual auction which takes place later in the year, will receive enough support to help them continue that work, she adds.

With just one paid employee, who serves as centre manager, and a number of part-time staff on Community Employment Schemes, Hollyblue house is operated in the main by a dedicated team of volunteer workers.

“Our fundraising pays for the professional services that we provide – the therapists, counsellors, and so on.

“We would love to have more paid staff. Our driver service has to be coordinated every day and it’s a brilliant service, but it is a full-time job in itself,” says Mary.

As part of this service, volunteer drivers bring Gort Cancer Support clients to their hospital appointments, waiting for them and bringing them home – a critical support to many undergoing treatment.

“All funds raised go towards providing services free of charge to those impacted by a cancer diagnosis in South Galway and North Clare.

“Every euro helps.”

In the first three months of this year, Gort Cancer Support saw a 50% increase in new clients, with demand for the driving service more than doubling on last year.

“Now, more than ever, we need your support to enable us to continue providing all our support services to people affected by cancer.”

Those taking part in the Wear Blue fundraiser on May 3 can donate online at https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/wearblue4hollyblue.

Funds raised can also be dropped into Hollyblue House, or paid directly into Gort Cancer Support’s bank account, with further details of the fundraiser available by contacting manager@gortcancersupport.ie.

Pictured: Gort Cancer Support Centre Manager, Cara Brady, with Volunteer Director, Mary Nolan, launching ‘Wear Blue for Hollyblue’ which takes place on May 3.

University of Galway has launched a new scholarship in honour of renowned actress, Siobhán McKenna.

The award will be awarded each year to one student on the MA in Drama and Theatre Studies, with the first recipient announced as Nouf Rafea

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

A lecture series is being launched alongside the scholarship, with the inaugural address to be given by actor, director and producer Lelia Doolan.

Siobhán McKenna’s career started in An Taibhdhearc Theatre before making her London debut in 1947 in The White Steed.

The post University of Galway launches new scholarship in honour of actress Siobhán McKenna appeared first on Galway Bay FM.