The final tickets are being sold as the countdown begins in earnest to Connemara Chamber’s hugely exciting winahomeinclifden.com draw for a magnificent duplex apartment.

The draw will take place next Thursday, August 21, at the Station House Theatre in Clifden, when the MC will be Galway Bay FM’s Ronan Lardner along with numerous special guests. Doors open at 8pm and all are welcome.

On the night one lucky winner will receive keys to the stunning 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom luxurious property on Ireland’s iconic Wild Atlantic Way boasting breathtaking views of Clifden harbour and the surrounding countryside from your own private balcony.

Tickets are on sale online at winahomeinclifden.com until 7pm on the night.

You can also purchase a ticket at their draw office in the heart of Clifden next to E J Kings bar and restaurant, at the Connemara Pony Show from August 19.

“The reaction to this hugely exciting draw has been incredible and we would like to thank everybody for their support to date,” said John Sweeney, Chairperson of the Connemara Chamber.

“Tickets have been sold in all four provinces, in the UK, across Europe and Asia as well as in Australia and the USA – and for just €100 you could win an incredible home in one of Ireland’s most beautiful locations worth €360,000,” he added.

Numerous celebrities from the world of sport, business and entertainment have also got behind the draw and showed their support including broadcaster Ryan Tubridy, World Champion and Olympic silver medalist Sonia O’Sullivan, presenter Mary Kennedy and five-time Kerry All Star footballer Tomas Ó Sé,

For more, see winahomeinclifden.com or email info@winahomeinclifden.com.

Pictured: Support…Ryan Tubridy.

The foundations for a new era in train travel for Galway commuters were laid this week with the contract signing to commence works at Oranmore station.

Because the construction of a new underpass will provide access to the new platform and second track through the busy facility – increasing train frequency in the process.

Minister of State at the Department of Transport, with responsibility for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports, Seán Canney was at Oranmore station on Monday to mark the contract signing to commence works at the station.

The first phase of works is to construct the underpass, to provide access to the new platform and second track planned at Oranmore, with Mayo construction firm P&D Lydon having been awarded the contract.

The project will see a one-kilometre section of double track at Oranmore Station, and a new second 185-metre-long platform constructed also.

As the Athenry to Galway line is currently a single line with no opportunities for trains to pass each other in opposite directions, the works will allow a doubling of train services calling at the station, to every 30 minutes in each direction.

The project, being delivered in partnership with Galway County Council, is co-funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), and by the Department of Transport through the National Transport Authority.

This URDF Call 2 project also includes funding for the design of an Ecopark and Local Centre at Garraun as well as a Density Typology Study. These design strategies are currently at an advanced stage with Galway County Council.

Further URDF and Galway County Council funding is in place for the design of a multi storey carpark structure at the existing station carpark.

The new platform, to the north of the current platform, will be accessed via the underpass under the railway for which the contract has now been awarded, and which will also provide a dedicated cycle route to the lands to the north.

A stairs, lift and access ramp will ensure that both platforms are accessible to all. Associated infrastructure such as passenger shelters, passenger help points, customer information signs, lighting, CCTV and seating will also be provided.

As well as improving services to the existing community, the works will facilitate the planned development of the surrounding lands as set out in the Garraun Urban framework Plan, allowing development to be both compact and sustainable, with high quality public transport at its doorstep.

The scheme will also provide the opportunity for improved public transport frequency and accessibility serving both the station and surrounding area.

And it supports a variety of national and local policies – including the Climate Action Plan, NIFTI, National Development Plan, Galway County Development Plan, and the Galway Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan.

Modal switch to rail facilitated by the scheme will help to improve the environment through reductions in noise and emissions, and improvements in local air quality

It is planned to undertake advanced enabling works and building of the underpass in Autumn 2025. Construction of the main station works will start early in 2026 and the project is expected to be completed in Summer 2027.

Speaking at the station, Minister Canney said that ‘as a Galway man and a Galway Minister’, he was delighted to see the work at Oranmore Station progressing.

“These works are part of a series of rail station upgrades ongoing across the country, including at Ceannt Station in Galway and at Kent Station in Cork where we opened a new platform in April,” he said.

CEO of Iarnród Éireann Jim Meade described the upgrade as ‘a game changer for commuters from Oranmore’.

“It is a busy station and by upgrading the infrastructure, we will be able to provide more services and more capacity, making commuting by train an even more attractive option,” he said.

“Work is also underway on a study of the Galway – Dublin rail corridor to identify other ways that we can increase, capacity, frequency and speed on this route,” he added.

Pictured: Galway County Council Cathaoirleach Councillor David Collins and Minister Seán Canney at Oranmore station to mark this week’s contract signing with (from left) Jim Meade, CEO of Iarnród Éireann; Eoin Gillard, National Transport Authority, and Liam Conneally, CEO of Galway County Council.

A new community-led initiative is set to bring one of Ireland’s finest medieval Franciscan foundations to life for visitors – in the heart of East Galway.

Ross Errilly Friary Guided Tours will officially launch during National Heritage Week, offering in-depth, engaging tours of the historic site in the Headford area.

The project is the result of extraordinary local collaboration and generosity. A visiting unit, kindly donated by local builder Al Callanan, has been transformed into a tour office by Mike Connell and Fergus Hassett of Headford Men’s Shed.

This office will serve as the central hub for all tours and visitor information. Thanks to Headfest and Moyne Villa, who generously funded the materials, and the transformation became a reality.

The group received further support from Joe Kenny of Galway Rural Development (GRD), who facilitated the involvement of a Rural Social Scheme participant as one of the lead tour guides.

“It was a real team effort from start to finish. There are eight members on the committee we all had jobs to do and we got it all done in time for heritage week with our official launch is on August 18,” said John McHugh, spokesperson for the initiative.

Additional support came from John Neary of Galway County Council, who provided professionally produced leaflets to promote the tours.

The group also worked closely with Frank Geraghty and Michelle O’Dea of the Office of Public Works (OPW) to ensure all elements were carefully aligned with heritage protection standards.

The group are particularly grateful to local landowner Mark Conroy for assisting in securing the tour office location, to Jim Joyce for the donation of two decorative planters, Ger McGaugh for flowers and Frank Heneghan for providing space for meetings and talks throughout the year.

The residents of Ross and Ardfintan have also offered invaluable support, for which the team is deeply grateful.

The official launch of Ross Errilly Friary Tours will take place next Monday, August 18, with tours continuing throughout Heritage Week and beyond led by Marcus Wynne.

Further tours will be scheduled after Heritage Week based on public demand. Contact Marcus via text 0892664223 or email rosserrillytours@gmail.com.

Pictured: Window dressing…Mike Connell, Paul Burton, Galway County Councillor Andrew Reddington, and Fergus Hassett.

A leading Galway academic has been appointed to UN’s Scientific Panel on the Effects of Nuclear War.

Dr Neil Rowan is the only Irish scientist on the 21-member scientific panel drawn from a range of expert fields globally.

He is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science at University of Galway and lectures at Technological University of the Shannon.

Last month, United Nations Secretary-General Antóino Guterres announced the appointment of an independent scientific panel experts tasked with examining the physical and societal consequences of a nuclear war on a local, regional and planetary scale in the days, weeks and decades following a nuclear war.

The panel was established pursuant to General Assembly resolution 79/238, titled “Nuclear War Effects and Scientific Research”, and its tasked with publishing a comprehensive report on the effects, making key conclusions, identifying areas requiring future research.

The report will be considered by the UN General Assembly at its eighty-second session in 2027.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Harris, has welcomed the appointment of Dr. Rowan.

“I am delighted that, once again, Irish people are front and centre of global efforts to achieve a world free from the threat of nuclear war,” he said.

“The work of Dr. Rowan and his fellow panellists will be an invaluable contribution to our evidence-based understanding of the catastrophic effects of nuclear war,” he added.

Dr Rowan has over 30 years on leading scientific research in food systems and advancing healthcare where has published over 200 journal papers and supervised 40 PhD students.

He is also a Principle Investigator at Research Ireland-funded CURAM Centre for Medical Device Research at University of Galway where he specializes in sterilization and infection prevention.

“Our understanding of the effects of nuclear war needs to be updated given that the existing knowledge is incomplete and more than likely outdated,” he said.

“The last cross-sectional United Nations study of this kind was undertaken almost four decades ago where advances have since been made in high performance computing and modelling to inform this important area.

“The population of the world has also increased considerably with changes in distribution and where economies have become more interdependent on trade for food security.

“Our environment has also become more vulnerable as evidenced by climate change and frequency of extreme events.

“This updated integrated approach to address new scientific information will include reviewing appropriate models that can estimate long term effects of nuclear war on affected populations globally,” added Professor Rowan.

The first meeting of this new scientific UN panel for nuclear war effects is due to take place in New York over the coming weeks where the work will be of profound importance for informing global disarmament and non-proliferation.

Pictured: Prestigious appointment…Dr Neil Rowan.

Galway-based SamePage Theatre is bringing one of Oscar Wilde’s most popular plays, the Importance of Being Earnest, to the Mick Lally Theatre in Galway city this September.

This razor-sharp comedy follows Jack and Algernon, two bachelors bending the truth to add a little excitement to their lives. But when love gets involved and lies start to collide, the result is a fast-paced farce full of mistaken identities, outrageous twists, and laugh-out-loud moments.

The team at SamePage promises an unforgettable night of sharp performances and pure entertainment. The company was co-founded by Robbie Walsh and Sarah Slevin in 2017 and has staged ten productions to date.

These includes plays by the likes of Enda Walsh, Joshua Harmon and Mike Bartlett, along with their first venture into musical theatre just last year with Stephen Sondheim’s Company.

They’ve enjoyed sold-out runs at the Town Hall Theatre Studio and An Taibhdhearc and are excited to take on a new venue, and one of the most iconic in Ireland – the Mick Lally on Druid Lane.

The cast stars many local actors – Robbie Walsh as Jack, Mark Regan as Algernon, Gráinne Tierney White as Lady Bracknell, Muireann Hogan as Gwendolen, Erika Moore as Cecily, Ailbhe Slevin as Miss Prism, Richard Browne as Chasuble and Diarmuid Tierney as both Lane and Merriman.

“We’re having so much fun in the rehearsal room, and we just know that audiences will have a blast at the show,” said director Sarah Slevin.

“We are putting our own unique stamp on the play by allowing the characters and story to take centre stage, rather than leaning too much into the extravagance you may usually expect in ‘Earnest’.

“And we think this will suit the venue, as it is more of an intimate setting. We are definitely doing something different with our staging of the show, and we think audiences will appreciate that.

“This is my first time directing a full show, and it’s been wonderful having such a hard-working talented cast and crew with me on it,” she added.

The play runs at the Mick Lally Theatre from Thursday to Saturday, September 4 to 6; tickets are €18 and are available at druid.ie.

Pictured: Muireann Hogan and Gráinne Tierney White during a readthrough of SamePage Theatre production of Oscar Wilde’s Importance of Being Earnest.