From the Galway Bay FM Newsroom: An Athenry Bus Company says it’s had a huge public response to its plans to start operating a new bus route to the three colleges in Limerick as the accommodation crisis impacts.

Farrells of Athenry posted a social media post asking people to register their interest in a potential new route going from Loughrea to Athenry and on to the University of Limerick, LIT and Mary Immaculate College.

It’s estimated around 10 thousand students across the country are currently on waiting lists for student accommodation with the Union of Students stating that difficulties accessing a place to stay are worse than ever.

Manager of Farrells of Athenry Bus Company Fergus Farrell says the accommodation crisis has created an immediate need for other options for Galway students hoping to study at campuses outside the county.

From the Galway Bay FM Newsroom: Galway City Council has heard a litany of complaints about the new traffic system at the former Kirwan roundabout.

It’s claimed communities and businesses nearby are being adversely affected by heavy traffic as a result of drivers trying to avoid the newly developed junction.

It was meant to change the traffic situation for the better, but drivers are taking different routes to avoid the new traffic system and traffic lights at the new Kirwan junction, and other areas are feeling the effects according to City Council members

Councillor Mike Cubbard mentioned rat runs in Tirellan – a term for drivers making short cuts and he stated that the Ballinfoyle area is also affected.

Councillor Niall Murphy said there appeared to be more traffic on the Dyke Road.

Councillor Terry O’ Flaherty said turning right at the Kirwan junction coming out of town was very confusing.

Nearby business parks are also feeling the pressure.

Senior Engineer, Uinsionn Finn stated that tweaking to the system was taking place and he focused on the traffic volumes at the junction – 50,000 vehicles per day and 1,000 pedal cyclists.

The roundabout, he said, was not free of problems and 102 accidents – generally of a minor nature – had occurred there in the past.

Galway Bay fm newsroom – Young Galway climate action protestors will gather in the city tomorrow afternoon for a demonstration.

It’s part of the ‘Fridays for Future’ campaign – a worldwide movement of student led strikes to protest the lack of significant climate action by government.

The strike will take place in Eyre Square at 1.30pm.

The instigator of the world movement Greta Thunberg says ‘we can’t change the world by playing by the rules because the rules have to be changed’.

Catherine Mc Donagh is one of the local organisers and also a leaving cert student at Scoil Einne in An Spideal.

She told Galway Bay FM news, students have strong opinions on why they want to protect their environment and their future.