Local comedian Karl MacDermott, a stalwart of the Irish comedy scene from 1989 to 1999, will be back in Galway City next Thursday, April 25, when he performs The Comedy Nobody at the  Town Hall Theatre Studio space.

He’s in full comedy mode as he explains that the one-man show, which he has also written, is being presented by Pointless Productions (an affiliation of Zero Expectation Enterprises).

Karl was a regular in venues throughout Ireland until 1999 when he “disappeared from view amidst much public indifference”.

But now he’s back. And he’s happy to report that the indifference has been banished, “only to be replaced by yawning apathy”.

However, the comedian who has reworked Beckett’s famous phrase about failing, trying again and failing better, isn’t bothered.

‘Fail again. Fail even better’, is his motto as he takes to the road with this show in which humour and anonymity collide.

It follows a former comedian who contemplates a comeback while caring for his ailing mother. He’s also a member of a self-help group for unsuccessful comedians called The Comedy Casualty Club, and is trying to get his former agent, Sisyphus O’Shea of SOS Management, to take him on once more, as he desperately tries to update his act and find work in the current Irish comedy scene.

The Comedy Nobody is at the Town Hall Studio next Thursday, April 25, at 8.30pm.  Tickets at €15 from www.tht.ie, 091-569777 or the box office.

Pictured: Karl MacDermott in The Comedy Nobody.

By John Mulligan

Corinthians will hope that home advantage proves to be their friend at the second time of asking in the league play-offs when they host Wanderers tomorrow in the AIL Division 2B promotion play-off in Cloonacauneen (2.30pm).

The Galway side were beaten at the same stage of last year’s competition, losing the divisional semifinal 16-12 at home to Dungannon, but they dusted themselves down for a new promotion push, and while their title challenge came up just short, another second-place finish in th league has handed them another home play-off semi-final.

The season has been a long one for Michael Harding’s men starting with a ten-point win over tomorrow’s opponents in Corinthians Park back in September, followed by what would be a vital bonus point loss to Instonians. Wins over Malahide and Dolphin followed and as November came and went, the team were in a strong position following further wins over Belfast Harlequins and Skerries.

The momentum was carried to the end of the year as they won all games including their last game of 2023 against Sligo. Repeating the result in their first game of 2024 as the reverse fixtures came into play. However, injuries had taken their toll and defeats to Rainey and Skerries, the latter being played on the 4G in Creggs, saw them drop from second to third and from there, were involved in a battle as the race for the playoffs truly took off.

A crucial away win away from home in Belfast was followed by a one-point win over Dolphin, which guaranteed a place in the semi-finals but also showed that there was work to be done as Dolphin scored four tries from mauls.

With three games left in the league, a home semi-final looked a tall order as they would have to face the teams above them in two of those games. A two-point win over a Malahide side fighting against relegation was important but it was what followed next that has given massive belief to this team and for good reason.

The first was a home game against an Instonians team who were almost unbeatable all season. Corinthians bucked that trend with a fantastic two-point win in Corinthian Park. Ironically, both clubs were celebrating at the full-time whistle as the losing bonus point was enough for Instonians to be crowned champions.

What it also meant was that after 17 league games, it would boil down to 80 minutes of rugby to determine who would have home advantage in a semi-final against the same opposition as Corinthians and Wanderers faced-off on the gfinal weekend of ther regular season.

Pictured: Micheal O’Reilly shows his speed to skip past the cover in Corinthians’ win over Instonians. Photos: Joanne Glynn Cullen.

By Kevin Egan

As players, league officials and media people milled around Athlone Town stadium last Thursday as part of TG4’s launch of their live coverage of the LOI Women’s Premier Division, eight players from eight different clubs all shot the breeze about their thoughts on the league so far.

There were several comments along similar lines, but Athlone Town’s Jesi Rossman was the most succinct, saying “I think there’s a bunch of crazy results going on. Anyone can grab the league, there’s a lot of teams in the mix”.

The Midlanders are at the top of a group of six teams, placed from second to seventh, that are separated by just three points after the fourth round of games at the weekend. However, they are five points adrift of Galway United, who extended their 100% record with a comprehensive 4-0 win over Bohemians at Eamon Deacy Park.

Would players from around the country have said it’s still wide open, or that there are crazy results going on, if it was Peamount, or Shels, or even Shamrock Rovers that had 12 points from four games, and a +12 scoring difference?

We can only speculate, but for United midfielder Jenna Slattery, there’s no doubt that whatever the country as a whole thinks about their prospects, within the playing group, they fully believe that they are right in the mix in 2024, albeit with only 20% of the season behind them.

“Yeah, 100% we’re contenders. We’ve had a positive start in the first four games of the league and it’s been good but it’s only onwards from here. It’s a long, long league so we just have to keep building on these good performances week-on-week and hopefully we stay positive and get the results we want,” said the Limerick native.

“We came in at the start and we had high ambitions. Everyone will have their doubts – that’s just the way soccer is – but for us as a team and a group, we set high ambitions, and that includes winning this league.

“We want to go and win everything, and we wouldn’t have set those ambitions if we didn’t think they were achievable. We have a young squad ,but the likes of Lynsey [McKey] and Julie-Ann [Russell] have the experience in the league and I think that really helps us. They’re always so positive and that always helps us week on week,” she said.

Slattery might be of a different generation, but her style of play is such that she has become a natural leader on the pitch anyway. She wasn’t on the scoresheet in the handy win over Bohemians, but she has five goals in four games, including a crucial match-winning penalty in the 89th minute of their trip to the Showgrounds to take on Sligo Rovers.

Pictured: Jenna Slattery of Galway United pictured at the TG4 launch of its live games for 2024 Women’s Premier Division at Athlone Town Stadium. Photo: Ben McShane/Sportsfile.

Benetton 39

Connacht 24

JOHN FALLON in Treviso

PETE Wilkins said that Connacht won’t be dwelling on their disappointing Challenge Cup quarter-final exit in Treviso and are now going to concentrate on nailing a knockout place in the URC.

They have a bit of work to do, starting with Zebre at the Sportsground this Saturday night, but the Connacht head coach said they need to move on quickly and have just one target now.

“We’re disappointed with the result,” said Wilkins. “Benetton deserved the win, the pressure they put on us and some of the errors we made on the back of that, they thoroughly deserved it. I’m disappointed we didn’t play better, I’m disappointed we’re not in the semi-final, but it’s not detracted from the Pau performance.

“Once we processed some of the elements of the performance against Benetton in the changing room over there in Italy after the game, talk quickly turned to the URC and what we want to achieve there this season, but also the importance of setting ourselves up to be playing Champions Cup rugby next season as well,” he added.

Connacht may have been aggrieved two weeks earlier when they got caught at the death by Benetton in the league at Stadio Monigo, but they could have few complaints about the outcome of this European Challenge Cup quarter-final on Sunday as they were brushed aside by the Italians.

Connacht, though, will have regrets, not least in gifting Benetton 14 points in the opening half when they were still in the game but while they battled away, it always looked like too big of an ask to rescue this one despite having Six Nations players Bundee Aki and Finlay Bealham back for this one after they sat out the URC game a fortnight later.

Benetton, who now travel to meet Gloucester in the semi-finals, were good value for their victory but Wilkins’ men got a lifeline just before the end of an opening half that lasted 52 minutes when No.8 Paul Boyle drove over after they worked the ball infield from a lineout, with JJ Hanrahan’s conversion reducing the interval deficit to 26-14 after an opening half where they gifted Benetton two of their four tries.

Pictured: Connacht’s Dave Heffernan who had a mixed outing in their European Challenge Cup defeat to Benetton on Sunday.

Bradley Bytes – A sort of political column by Dara Bradley

There was a small rump in Fine Gael in Galway last week secretly celebrating the new Cabinet announced by Taoiseach Simon Harris, which omitted the promotion of Hildegarde Naughton to a senior ministry.

Not everyone within the local organisation is a fan of the party’s only elected TD in Galway West. And her detractors – from within and outside the party – could hardly contain their delight at Simon’s snub.

Naughton’s supporters pointed out that she was not demoted. She remains Government Chief Whip with a voice, but no vote, at Cabinet. And she has a new, arguably, more suitable portfolio as junior minister for special education and inclusion.

Still, the wait for a senior minister position goes on. And it’s not just a personal disappointment for one politician and her supporters.

Internal politics aside, the fact that a Fine Gael Taoiseach has once again overlooked Galway West for a senior ministry, in a constituency where Fine Gael has never had a senior minister, was bad news all round for Galway. If not now, when?

Pictured: Taoiseach Simon Harris with Hildegarde Naughton TD, Cllr Clodagh Higgins, and Andrea Kilkenny, the manager of Barnacles, Salthill, as he pulled a pint there before the FG Ard Fheis. His ignoring of Hildegarde when it came to appointing new senior ministers was a snub to Galway West.  Photo: Andrew Downes.

University of Galway and the Liffey Trust have announced that First Year Business Information Systems student Elizabeth Busari is the Séamus McDermott Entrepreneurial Scholarship for 2024.

Established in 2022 and funded through the philanthropic support of the Liffey Trust, the Séamus McDermott Entrepreneurial Scholarship supports students who are committed to developing their innovative and entrepreneurial potential through their university journey.  The scholarship is supported by IdeasLab, the University of Galway Entrepreneurial Education and Training Unit.

The technology that Elizabeth’s is working on is called ‘UNdump’: an innovative app designed to revolutionize the way we deal with unwanted items by teaching users a multitude of ways to upcycle.

With a clear goal to make the world cleaner with every ‘UNdump’, Elizabeth envisions a future where, instead of disposing of items, people will turn to UNdump for sustainable alternatives. Her project resonates deeply with the Universities value of sustainability, and it recently being recognised as a national SDG Champion.

“Elizabeth’s UNdump project exemplifies the kind of visionary thinking and practical action we encourage in our students,” said Dr. Natalie Walsh, Director of Entrepreneurial Development, University of Galway.

“Her work not only aligns with our values but also paves the way for a cleaner, more sustainable future. We are proud to support Elizabeth and all our students who are committed to making a significant positive impact on the world,” she added.

Aidan Corless, Chairman of The Liffey Trust, praised Elizabeth for her innovative approach and the potential of UNdump to contribute positively to the environment and society.

“Elizabeth’s business idea is wonderful on so many levels.  It starts by getting us to rethink about dumping things, asking us if there is life left in it, can someone else benefit from it, can it be reworked, will someone pay money for it,” he said.

“We are all conscious of reduce, reuse and recycle so clearly this Undump app helps us do this.  It was great to listen to Elizabeth and understand her passion to solve a problem, and create something different. She ticks all the boxes as a future entrepreneur.

“I was delighted to witness the huge work that the University of Galway put into training and encouraging students to become Entrepreneurs. It really is commendable and congratulations to Dr Natalie Walsh and everyone involved in Ideaslab.

“The Liffey Trust is proud to be part of this important project and delighted that Elizabeth is our third scholar after Chloe Gardiner 2023 and Alan Donnelly 2022,” he added.

The Scholarship is valued at up to €9,000 for the duration of their studies. For more information, contact ideaslab@univer sityofgalway.ie

Pictured: Elizabeth Busari (second right), recipient of the Séamus McDermott Entrepreneurial Scholarship for 2024 with (from left) Dr. Natalie Walsh, Director of Entrepreneurial Development, University of Galway; Aidan Corless, Chairman of The Liffey Trust and University of Galway President Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh.

A group of dads have come together to set up a youth club in Bohermore, which has sparked a rapid transformation of the city neighbourhood.

Instead of kids hanging on street corners creating a hotspot for antisocial behaviour, up to 50 boys, aged six to 21, are lining up three evenings a week to attend the Bohermore Youth Matters Club.

Operating since late November, activities range from exercise sessions, boxing, soccer to pool, cards and discos. Every Tuesday evening a group have started to hand out sandwiches, soup, tea and coffee to the homeless community from a marquee erected on Eyre Square.

Before the group set up in the Bohermore Community Centre, there was very little happening apart from an afterschool homework club.

Now boys attend — separated by age — on three nights, with a girls’ group about to start on Friday evenings run by local mothers. There is a men’s social night taking place on Fridays and a women’s night on Mondays.

There was a massive community turnout for a Christmas party with the guest of honour, Santa, arriving by limousine, while the first Mass in many years said at the hall attracted 120 locals just before Christmas.

Guest speakers who have attended the club so far include an education officer giving out practical information about how school leavers can apply for apprenticeships.

The brainchild of Bohermore dads, including Kevin Ward, Jason Ward, William Browne and Derek Ward, the club is supervised by volunteers who are keen to give their kids something to do in the evenings, explained William Browne.

“Bohermore has got a lot of bad publicity, especially since that stuff in the Galway Shopping Centre, but antisocial behaviour can happen anywhere if they’ve nowhere to go to play pool, darts, nothing to do to but stand on a corner and other young lads come and other things happen,” he told the Galway City Tribune.

Pictured: Peter McDonagh, Volunteer, William Browne, Secretary, Kevin Ward, Chairman, Derek Ward, Head Coach and Jason Ward, Vice Chairman, at Bohermore Youth Matters Club. Photos: Joe O’Shaughnessy.

Oranmore singer Róisín El Cherif has released a new single, with all proceeds going to Médecins Sans Frontières’ Gaza Emergency Regional Fund.

The Irish-Palestinian woman has recorded a unique version of the traditional love song, Siúil a Rúin, which she performs in a mixture of Irish, English and Arabic to raise money for the group, Doctors without Borders.

Siúil a Rúin, with its haunting air, is one of the best-known ballads in the Irish tradition and has previously been performed by the likes of Clannad, Mary Black and Joe Éinniú. This recording is a new direction for Róisín as she celebrates her Palestinian and Irish roots.

Siúil a Rúin is a macaronic song –with verses in Irish and English – and Róisín has now added Arabic verses, which she has written and has woven through the existing structure. She describes the new verses as her way of continuing the challenge that macaronic verses traditionally posed to colonial power, while also shining a light on the strong connections between Irish and Palestinian cultures.

“What links these cultures for me is grief and perseverance,” she says. “I find great solace in the traditional music of both lands and it felt easy for me to blend and combine them.”

In recent times, Róisín has been performing to celebrate and to raise funds for Palestinians –she featured in the Irish Arts for Palestine gig at Dublin’s Olympia Theatre and the Gig for Gaza at 3Arena, alongside Lankum, Damien Dempsey, The Mary Wallopers and Lisa O’Neill.

She recorded Siúil a Rúin in collaboration with fellow Galway musicians Fergal Scahill and Ruth Smith, with whom she has been touring and performing since last November.

It was recorded with composer and producer Brian Crosby at his Treehouse Studios in Wicklow and she performed it on RTÉ’s Tommy Tiernan Show on Saturday night.

Hothouse Flowers’ co-founder and RTÉ music presenter Fiachna Ó Braonáin is among those who have praised “this beautiful version of Siúil a Rúin”, describing it as “transporting music that speaks to our humanity”.

To download the song and donate go to https://linktr.ee/roisinelcherif.

Pictured: Oranmore singer Róisín El Cherif

Galway’s newest bridge will be christened ‘Droichead an Dóchais’ – Bridge of Hope – at an official naming ceremony next month.

The Galway City Tribune has learned that Droichead an Dóchais is the preferred choice of name for the new €10m pedestrian and cycling bridge over the Corrib, south of the existing Salmon Weir Bridge.

Other suggested names included ‘Salmon Eile’, and more serious ones such as naming it after the late Galway historian Peadar O’Dowd, and Nora Barnacle, wife of author James Joyce.

Republicans had mounted a high-profile campaign in the past year to have the bridge named after Julia Morrissey, who fought in the 1916 Easter Rising.

Led by Éirígí’s Galway representative, Ian Ó Dálaigh, the campaign for the Galway-born Cumann na mBan commander included lobbying of politicians, online petitions, and public meetings.

Proponents of that name argued she had been ‘written out of history’ while other revolutionaries, such as Liam Mellows, had statues and other things named in their honour.

However, this newspaper understands the bridge naming committee steered clear of naming it after any one individual.

The committee included a city councillor from each of the three Local Electoral Areas of Galway City Council, as well as Mayor of Galway, Councillor Eddie Hoare (FG), and staff from various departments within City Hall.