North End United 1

Salthill Devon 0

(After extra time)

By Mike Rafferty in Bunclody

Salthill Devon came up short at the FAI Junior Cup semi-final stage for the second time in three seasons, as North End United grabbed a winner in extra-time in Bunclody on Sunday afternoon to book their spot in the decider.

This was a contest between two pretty evenly-matched teams and while both enjoyed spells of domination, it was more a case of them cancelling one another out. It almost appeared that both sides had the brakes half-on, with caution the obvious choice, as neither side ever left themselves open.

It was always a contest where the lead goal would be vital and that arrived just two minutes into extra-time. A long ball into the Devon area bounced and as Paul Scally attempted a clearance, he made contact with North End’s Eoin Rhodes.

It wasn’t a blatant foul, but a situation where a penalty is generally awarded and such was the case here. Former League of Ireland campaigner Paul Murphy took the spot-kick, and his less than well struck effort was saved by Arek Mamala, the rebound fell kindly into the path of the striker as he blasted to the roof of the net for what turned out to be the match winner.

For many years Salthill Devon have been playing at a level above the ordinary in the local league and while they have contended for outside honours at national and provincial on a regular basis, their return in terms of titles is not what might be expected.

They are currently battling for a fourth Premier League title in succession, with Mervue United the challengers, but success on a local level does not appear to prepare them for contests further afield and where the competition is stiffer.

They performed well in the opening half as they enjoyed a lot of possession, but never got the numbers forward to give it a real go. Up top, Colin Kelly ploughed a lone furrow, as he was outnumbered all the time, and the supply of deliveries from the flanks never offered him an opportunity for a breakthrough.

The Wexford side had a little more going for them from an offensive point of view. Like Devon, they had good performers all over the park, with towering centre-half Gary Delaney and big number nine Rhodes central figures in their respective positions.

However, in contrast to the visitors, the home side appeared to get things going at a faster pace and they certainly threatened a breakthrough on a number of occasions.

In an opening half of limited opportunities, North End United were thwarted by a post on 32 minutes when Rhodes got his head to a left-wing Niall Connolly delivery, but despite having time and space his effort came back off a post; and the same player was also denied by a Calym Crowe goal-line clearance after he got a touch to a Todd Hynes free-kick.

The early contributions of Conor Barry before he went off injured, and the continued influence of Timmy Molloy, gave Devon a foothold at stages, but for all their prompting, their actions out wide and in the last third of the park were limited.

Pictured: Michael Lee worked hard for Salthill Devon in Bunclody on Sunday.

Lloyd Cole, Martha Wainwright, Seán Keane, Fionn Regan, Don Stiffe, Ultan Conlon The Scratch, Kíla, Seanchoíche and Daoirí Farrell are among the 60+ acts taking part in this year’s Galway Folk Festival, which runs from June 4-8 in venues across the city.

The line-up, which has now been finalised, includes international and Irish acts from the world of folk, roots and trad music.

UK singer-songwriter Lloyd Cole will perform at the Town Hall Theatre on Wednesday, June 4, with special guest Ultan Conlon. Meanwhile, Montreal’s Martha Wainwright will mark the 20th anniversary of her groundbreaking debut album with a performance in Monroe’s on June 8 that will include hits like the iconic Bloody Mother Fucking A**hole, Factory, and When The Day Is Short.  Twenty years on, these powerful songs continue to resonate with audiences worldwide.

Other acts this year include Hat Fitz & Cara, The Half Room, BackWest, Banshee, Billow Wood, BRÍDÍN, Briars, Casii Stephan, CLADA, Eli Waltz, Eve Clague, Evie, Feedback, First Class & Coach,  Frankie Archer,  Hubert Murray, J Smith, June Carousel, Korina Zambrano, Laura Duff, Laura Jo, Laytha, Liam Carroll & Co, Loes and the Celtic Link, Mná, Myles Gaffney, Neart, NXNW, Robert John Hope, Roswell, Saije, Sarah Buckley, Sarah Croker, Seo Linn, Shillelagh Law, Some One’s Sons, Stephen O’Dowd, Strings & Things, Sweet Jayne, Tadhg Williams, Teague and Joyce, The Fógues, The Hidden Maple, Three Rod Wale, Tom Portman, Will Softly, Whiskey Mash and Yonder Boys.

In addition to ticketed shows, there will be a series of free daytime events over the weekend.

Cuppa Tea TV returns with The Market Stage, while Culture Vultures, hosted by Tony Clayton-Lea, will feature conversations with special guests. The Youth in Music stage will showcase the next generation of folk performers, while The Little Room of Folk and Westend Sessions will haver intimate performances and vibrant sessions.

Festival Directors Gary Monroe and Peter O’Sullivan say support for the festival is “amazing, with ticket sales from all over the world. This year is our biggest festival to date and we’re delighted to expand the free weekend daytime events which are family-friendly and will have something for everyone from pop-up shows to food stalls and stalls from our friends at the Tiny Traders Village”.

Tickets at www.galwayfolkfestival.com.

Pictured: Canadian singer-songwriter Martha Wainwright makes a return visit to the Festival.

Bradley Bytes – A sort of political column by Dara Bradley

Galway City Councillor Alan Curran has quit Facebook – soon after he left Twitter.

The Social Democrat representative for Galway City West also left Instagram, Facebook’s sister social media platform owned by Meta.

Curran, a secondary school teacher in Salthill, deleted his accounts in the same week that his Council colleague, Cllr Shane Forde (FG), warned about relentless negativity online towards Galway City Council.

Forde said debate on social media, under City Council posts, was often “toxic”. He was concerned about the welfare of staff at City Hall who are responsible for moderating the accounts, as well as other members who read the toxic and negative comments about their employer.

Curran’s reasons for leaving the platform were twofold. The first related to the “symbiotic relationship” these “tech oligopolies” have with US President Donald Trump’s “regime”, including “their restrictions on free speech, their manipulative algorithms, their removal of diversity, inclusion and equity programmes, their spread of misinformation, their denial of accurate scientific data and the removal of fact-checking”.

He called for Galway City Council not to use Artificial Intelligence for promotional material, and to pay artists instead.

And he was against social media companies’ “massive push to integrate generative AI into their products, scraping data without consent, plagiarising artists, authors and the wider creative community”.

He left Twitter/Instagram/Facebook for personal reasons too, “to spend more time in the real world without the addictive need to check my notifications and obsess over likes, shares and comments”.

Curran is not gone altogether and has joined Bluesky, a ‘motherhood and apple pie’ version of Twitter where people are apparently nice to each other.

Meanwhile, other city councillors are embracing social media. At a recent Council meeting, they agreed to approve expenses to attend an AILG training event for elected members of local authorities on ‘video-content creation’.

Expect more wannabe TV news reporters-cum-politicians appearing on your screens pointing at potholes and whatnot, as you scroll through photos of cats and other people’s dinners.

Pictured: Cllr Alan Curran: Deleted Facebook and Instagram accounts, having already deleted Twitter, citing the “symbiotic relationship” between these companies’ owners and the “regime’ of US President, Donald Trump.

Sixteen traders at the historic St Nicholas’s Market have called on the local authority to lift the veil of secrecy on the long-promised upgrade.

And they have threatened further action unless Galway City Council comes up with a start date, a funded project, and a plan to apply the by-laws to ensure all spots are filled by regular and occasional traders.

In a letter to the chief executive, the traders say they have “repeatedly raised” three problems and they are still getting a deaf ear from City Hall.

They pointed to the lack of essential services, including electricity, running water, waste bins and toilets; what they called the refusal to spend on street surfacing and drainage, public lighting, seating, and signage – and the failure to enforce the street trading by-laws so that every trading space is taken up on every trading day.

“The city council does a regular census of attending traders – but it is not acting on the findings,” said bread-maker Paul Illien.

“In rolling over permits for traders who rarely if ever use their licenses, it is locking out a younger generation brimming with enthusiasm and ideas for bringing colour and life to this historic market.

“The council has to ensure that traders not using their licenses pass the torch to others who are locked out. It should also be issuing one-day licenses permitted in the by-laws,” he added.

The traders claim they are regularly assured that action is on the way, yet nothing is done.

They said that the street surface was a serious tripping hazard; there is no public lighting, power points, running water, bins or toilets, or drainage for rainfall runoff.

And they feel very aggrieved that the Council have, in their words, soaked them for money over 30 years but left all this work undone when they had contractors in remediating William Street to Quay Street and Mainguard Street.

Organic farmer Cáit Curran is livid that City Council is spending like a Sun King on new offices while leaving ratepayers in the lurch.

“The monstrosity in Mervue could cost as much as €75-80 million, at a time when they are plucking the public for higher property taxes and commercial rates, and possibly even strangling tourists with a bed tax,” she said.

“They need to start running their business like a business – more money for the things that bring in tourism and investment, and a lot less on keeping themselves in comfort,” she added.

Pictured: The St Nicholas’s Market: traders demand action on promised upgrade.

Music for Galway’s final concert of the current season will take place next Wednesday, May 7, when legendary Australian pianist Piers Lane will perform the complete Nocturnes by Chopin.

He is replacing Anne-Marie McDermott who had been scheduled to play, but who has had to withdraw. The candlelight concert will take place in the city’s St Joseph’s Church on Presentation Road at 7.30pm.

Piers, who is based in the UK, and Anne-Marie McDermott, from the USA, were due to serve on the jury of the Dublin International Piano Competition later in the month. She’s had to cancel that engagement too. Meanwhile, Piers has come to the rescue for the Galway recital, and audiences are in for a treat as he will play these popular pieces, giving spoken introductions to each.

Chopin, whose early influences included Irish composer, John Field, went on to develop the nocturne into a sophisticated and emotionally charged utterance. The 21 Nocturnes chart his development – and therefore the development of the genre – across almost 20 years, and give a fascinating insight into one of the most creative minds of the 19th century.

People who have already bought tickets for Anne-Marie McDermott’s concert can use them for this one, or contact Music for Galway for a credit or a refund; info@musicforgalway.ie or 091 705962.

Standard tickets are €22 with concessions of €19.80, and €11. Social Inclusion tickets are also available for fulltime students, asylum seekers, people in receipt of jobseeker allowance and disability allowance. More information and booking at musicforgalway.ie.

Pictured: Australian pianist Piers Lane.

THE games keep coming thick-and-fast for Galway United, with John Caulfield’s new joint league-leaders facing Dublin opposition twice this May Bank Holiday weekend.

First up is Stephen Kenny and his pre-season title favourites, St Patrick’s Athletic, in Inchicore this Friday (7.45pm), followed by the visit of a resurgent Bohemians to Eamonn Deacy Park on Monday (5pm).

United go into the double-header on the back of an entertaining and thoroughly deserved 2-1 win over league leaders Drogheda United last Friday, a win which saw the Tribesmen join their vanquished opponents at the summit of the table, trailing only on goal difference.

If we thought last year’s title race was a close-run thing, this year’s jostle looks like being even closer if the first third of the season is anything to go by. Just one point separates the top five, with Bohs one more point adrift in sixth, and a further point back to Derry City in seventh.

It means that any side that can string a run of results together is likely to break clear of the pack, and if United can stay in the mix after this weekend’s double dose of Dubs, they face each of the bottom three of Waterford Cork City, and Sligo Rovers in their next three games. Hmmm.

Assistant manager Ollie Horgan handles the media inquisition after United’s home games – Caulfield steps front-and-centre on away days – and the Salthill native was having none of this excited talk of lofty league positions after last Friday’s win over Drogheda.

“It is [a great position] but you move on quickly. We lost here last Friday [to Derry City] and moved on very quickly to the Monday [Shelbourne], and we got what in hindsight was a very, very good result up there, having underperformed here last Friday.

“[We have] Pats away on Friday and then playing at home to Bohs [on Monday]: it’s mighty to be talking about that that, you know, and I think people expect possibly too much too soon, you know.

“We are playing Bohs and playing Pats for the second year, you know, we haven’t been in this division for many years. We need to be patient and maybe take small steps rather than people expecting massive steps.

Pictured: Galway United’s David Hurley winning this aerial duel with Darragh Markey of Drogheda United during the clubs’ Premier Division clash at Eamonn Deacy Park on Friday night. Photo: Joe O’Shaughnessy.

By Eanna O’Reilly

AHEAD of Galway’s trip to Castlebar on Sunday to take on Mayo for the Connacht title, team manager Pádraic Joyce was looking forward to a fixture which rarely fails to live up to the occasion. The Tribesmen are seeking to win the Nestor Cup for the fourth year in a row, a feat which hasn’t been achieved since 1966.

‘‘It’s always a huge occasion,’’ he said. ‘‘Regardless of whether we’re favourites or not, there’s never any more than a kick of a ball in it. It’s always a massive game, even for the supporters, to be going up the road to MacHale Park, it’s a great place to be going. We know Mayo are always very well supported.

‘‘There’ll be a great bit of banter among the supporters and a good bit of rivalry. Look, its going to be a fantastic game with two great teams. It’ll be a great occasion, on a May bank holiday weekend. We really appreciate the support that Galway have at the minute, it’s been great to see. We’re hoping that people will get there again on Sunday and support the lads.’’

The Galway boss was satisfied with his team’s performance in their semi-final victory over Roscommon, which saw the Tribesmen book their place in a tenth consecutive Connacht Final.

‘‘As a group we were very happy [after defeating Roscommon] there’s no doubt about that. Any time you win a championship game regardless of who it’s against; you have to be happy. The lads have applied themselves really well since we came back from New York.’’

‘‘Look, we are happy to have won it [Connacht semi-final] and we were delighted with the way we played. But again, this game against Mayo is going to be a different kettle of fish altogether. We finished up our analysis of the Roscommon game on the Sunday evening and we were back in on the Monday and concentrating on Mayo straight away.

‘‘We will have a lot of analysis done on them [Mayo] as regards how they’re playing under the new rules, and what we can do to try and win the game. We’ll be flying fit for it up there and we’ll give it a good rattle.

‘‘From a management point of view, we always feel we have things to improve on, and we know we’ll have to step it up a level from the last day. We’re hoping our performance is going to be good enough on Sunday.’’

Joyce is expecting a huge test at MacHale Park against the home side, who he believes will be additionally determined to beat Galway after their last minute defeat in Pearse Stadium twelve months ago. Regardless of Mayo’s unconvincing performances against Sligo and Leitrim, the Galway manager is expecting them to raise their game substantially on Sunday.

‘‘First and foremost, we want to get a performance out of the lads. We want to move the ball the way we can and be dangerous in attack. If we can keep the momentum going and get good displays out of the lads, then we’ll be half-way there.

‘‘They [Mayo] are a serious side. I don’t know what way the bookies have it, but I know there’s only going to be a kick of a ball in it on the day. Mayo came through their two games against Sligo and Leitrim, and they’re two games that you never get the credit for when you’re expected to win.

‘‘Mayo’s aim has always been to be here on this date. That’s what they’ve been training for, they knew at the back of it all that they were going to be in this final. So, look, we’re expecting a hell of a battle, and we know they’re going to throw the kitchen sink at us, especially after last year when we snuck past them [in the Connacht Final].’’

Pictured: Galway supremo Pádraic Joyce who is expecting a massive challenge from Mayo in Sunday’s Connacht Football Final at MacHale Park.

By Eanna O’Reilly

GALWAY vice-captain Cillian McDaid is anticipating a huge challenge in Castlebar on Sunday as the Tribesmen face off against the old enemy Mayo, hoping to secure the Nestor Cup for the 51st time.

‘‘Yeah, it’s a big week ahead’’ he said. ‘‘We were happy to get over Roscommon the last day and we’re back to work now this week and fully focussed on MacHale Park.’’

The Monivea-Abbey player felt that the team performed well in the semi-final win over Roscommon and generated some positive momentum going into another Connacht Final test.

‘‘We were happy with our performance [in the semi-final]; Roscommon were in the division two league final, and they’ll be a division one team next year. So, to beat them at home was excellent.

‘‘I thought we played well, and it was probably one of our best performances so far this year. But you have to move on quickly, and we have another big challenge coming down the road.’’

As ever, Mayo are expected to provide stiff opposition to the Tribesmen in their bid for a fourth consecutive provincial title. McDaid is well aware of the threat posed by Kevin McStay’s charges and believes that Galway’s comprehensive win in Castlebar in early February will have little relevance on Sunday.

‘‘It’s always a difficult game [against Mayo]. We were probably beaten this time last year [in the Connacht final] going into injury time two or three points down. It’s hard to say how we managed to come out of it, but we did.

‘‘Mayo were top of division one this year. They were in the division one final, and they’re a very good team. They have some of the best players in the country and they are a very hard team to beat at home. So, when it comes to championship football, you know you’re always going to have a very difficult game against them.

‘‘We’re certainly under no illusions about the fact that things have changed a lot since the early rounds of the league. Teams have gradually adapted to the new rules since then, so look, we know it’ll be a difficult game on Sunday.’’

Four months on from the introduction of Gaelic footballs new rules, McDaid feels that Galway have adapted well and that the rule changes have made the game more enjoyable to play, as well as watch.

‘‘I think the rules are doing what they’re supposed to. They are opening the game up. We’re seeing better games of football across the board at every level, between underage and senior football.

Pictured: Galway’s Cillian McDaid getting the better of Roscommon’s Colm Neary during the Connacht Senior Football semi-final at Pearse Stadium.

Galway Theatre Festival kicks off this Friday evening and runs in venues throughout the city until Saturday, May 10.

Family entertainment is on offer this Saturday, May 3, with The Lonesome Boatman, which follows the adventures of Buttons, a corrupt local politician who settles into his bath to sail away on rising tides. However, he ends up battling the sea, the elements and his ego.

This circus theatre show which explores climate change in a fun but thought-provoking way, is a musical clown odyssey, which promises comedy, surprises and rubber ducks. The score includes new compositions as well as traditional music, performed live on instruments including banjolele, bodhrán, tin whistle, spoons and musical saw. It’s on in Nuns’ Island Theatre, at 11am and 2pm on Saturday. Tickets €15/10 and it’s suitable for 5+.

Mr Bergmann of Deadman’s Point, which is at the Town Hall Theatre Studio next Wednesday and Thursday, May 8 and 9, at 8pm, is a mysterious, comic tale that explores reputation, legacy and what it’s like to live close to death.

Inspired by a true story from 2009, it’s presented by multi-award-winning Nth Degree Productions. A man using the alias Peter Bergmann spends three days in Sligo town, a period that involves using fake names, non-existent addresses and the disappearance of all his possessions. Later, he’s found deceased at Deadman’s Point Beach.

His aim is to delete himself – and all goes to plan until an unexpected encounter with an embalmer, who is in a race against time to cement his legacy.  Tickets for this are €16/14.

Dathanna Geala Amháin/Bright Colours Only at an Taibhdhearc, is a one-woman Irish wake show that has toured from Belfast to Brazil in a hearse, getting rave reviews everywhere. The “deadly funny show” has been resurrected in Irish and is billed as “only suitable for those dying to live!”

Performed in Irish with English subtitles, it’s on at 8pm this Saturday, and from May 6-10. Tickets €18/16. Previews on Thursday and Friday cost €12.

Malaprop Theatre who recently made their off-Broadway debut, are presenting their award-winning production, Hothouse, at the Town Hall Theatre next Tuesday, May 6. This fast-paced, intergenerational story of love, loss and legacy, set on an Arctic cruise ship that’s guided by an unhinged captain, takes the audience on a journey to bid farewell to the ice caps. It’s at 8pm, with an ISL performance, and tickets are €22/18.

Carpet Muncher, in the University of Galway’s Bank of Ireland Theatre next Wednesday and Thursday, May 7 and 8, blends spoken word with surrealist costuming and physical theatre.

In a cathartic excavation of the closet, the Mothman weaves tales of queer alienation, metamorphosis and cross-border solidarity, before feasting on a pile of cloth. The show uses vibrant surrealist costuming to explore themes of queer alienation, metamorphosis, cross-border solidarity and homoerotic hot-hub encounters. It’s at 9.30pm nightly, and for over-16s. Tickets €16/14.

The Festival has many other shows, works-in-progress, exhibitions, and a festival club. Information on all events at galwaytheatrefestival.com.

Pictured: Mr Bergman of Deadman’s Point is being staged by Nth Degree Productions.