A Galway couple are preparing to host their ninth annual team party in their home – to help make a difference for primary school children on the other side of the world.

Malachy and Mary Booth host their Tea Party on Thursday, May 23, from 11am to 7pm in their home in Stradbally North Clarinbridge, with all of the funds raised going directly to Project Malawi to support Matandani Primary School near Zomba in the southern part of Malawi.

This project was initiated by Andy Monaghan, Primary School Principal in Rushall N.S. Co. Laois and he has spearheaded the development of Matandani school over the last number of years. It is entirely volunteer led with every euros raised going directly to the school.

Over the last two years €26,400 has been raised in Clarinbridge to support this school and since our last visit four new classrooms have been built and equipped with tables and chairs which has greatly alleviated the overcrowded classes. Before these were built the average class size was 120 to 140 students which is hard for us to comprehend.

“The local community in Clarinbridge and surrounding areas also donated other educational resources such as pens and pencils, mathematical sets, wall posters all of which were gratefully appreciated,” said Mary.

“We also brought much needed medical supplies which we received from nurses and doctors here and these were delivered to the local Health Centre and the staff couldn’t have been happier.

“However, it was the four shoe boxes of glasses from Elaine O’Sullivan in Optique Opticians in Briarhill which caused the greatest excitement. Visits to the optician are commonplace for us but in Malawi eye disease is a regular issue and it is rare to see anyone wearing glasses. Our arrival with our shoeboxes of glasses was greeted with such joy that we will forever remember it,” she added.

Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world with a population of 20 million. Life expectancy is around 60 years of age with diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, respiratory infections being the main causes of death.

Climate change is also impacting on the people in Malawi due to floods, drought, failing crops and deforestation with millions facing famine and increased levels of malaria due to the rise in temperatures.

All are welcome to come along from 11am to 7pm on Thursday, May 23 – or you can donate online at www.idonate.ie/malachyandmarysteaparty2024.

Pictured: Malachy and Mary Booth hosting a previous Project Malawi Tea Party at their home – with Galway Paralymian rower Katie O’Brien doing the honours.

Business leaders from the Celtic regions of Lorient, France, Wales and Scotland are set to join forces with their Irish counterparts after the inaugural Irish Interceltic Business Forum in Galway’s Portershed recently.

Previously held in France and Wales, this is the first time the event was hosted on Irish soil. The event was an engaging forum for sharing business best practice with compelling dialogue and insights, interspersed with honouring shared Celtic heritage, in the form of music and spoken word.

Mayor of Galway City, Cllr Eddie Hoare,  opened the event before a keynote address from Fabrice Loher, President of Lorient Agglomération, who led the French delegation.

The first roundtable talk was on ‘Doing Business the Lorient Way’ followed by a discussion on ‘Successfully Scaling your Business in the West of Ireland’ which was chaired by Olive McLucas, Investment Executive of WDC.

The Scottish Government in Ireland led a roundtable discussion on ‘Scotland and Ireland Working Together to Build the Rural Economy’.

Deirdre Frost, Policy Analyst with WDC, gave a presentation on ‘Remote Work and Relocation: Evidence from Ireland’. This was followed by a roundtable discussion on the topic featuring Helen Leahy, IBEC and Ricky Conneely, IDA West.

In the afternoon there was a Startup Spotlight on AI, with a roundtable that included Linda Heimisdóttir, CEO, mideind.is, John Clancy, CEO, galvia.ai and Tomás Ó Síocháin, CEO, Údarás na Gaeltachta.

Founded in 2016 by Charles Kergaravat, the Interceltic Business Forum is a dynamic convergence of minds, set against the backdrop of the legendary Festival Interceltique in Lorient.

“We are excited to bring this prestigious event to Galway, a vibrant hub of innovation and entrepreneurship, to further expand opportunities for economic collaboration and growth,” said Mr Kergaravat.

Western Development Commission CEO Allan Mulrooney said this was a way of embracing what he described as ‘an exceptional opportunity’ for Galway, the ‘twin city’ of Lorient.

“By forging partnerships across Europe and beyond, we’re not just accessing funding and support, but also broadening our global outlook,” he said.

“Hosting our Celtic counterparts in Galway underscores our shared heritage and mutual ambitions. Together, we’re navigating towards collective growth and innovation.”

Pictured: Mayor of Galway City, Cllr Eddie Hoare, with Niall Burgess, Ireland’s Ambassador to France, and WDC CEO Allan Mulrooney at the previous Interceltic Business Forum in Lorient.

At the beginning of the sixteenth century, the South Connacht lordships of Clanrickard and Hy Many lay beyond the effective control of the Tudor government.

Clanrickard was ruled by the Burke dynasty, descendants of the thirteenth-century Anglo-Norman conquerors and colonists of Connacht, while Hy Many was governed by the indigenous Gaelic Irish O’Kelly lords.

And that’s the background to a major new book written by Galway historian, Dr Joe Mannion, which was officially launched by Stephen G. Ellis, Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Galway in Claregalway Castle.

The event began at 8pm, and the panel of speakers included representatives of the Clanrickard Burkes and the O’Kellys of Hy Many among others.

Joseph Mannion is a former primary school principal in Woodford and he holds a PhD in history from the University of Galway. He has published widely on the medieval and early modern history of the Connacht region.

He is also the driving force behind the annual gathering of the Mannion Clan, and he is a past director and chairman of Clans of Ireland.

In this new publication, he charts the episodic expansion of English rule into the lordships, while taking cognizance of major government initiatives such as the surrender and regrant programme of the early 1540s, the establishment of the Connacht presidency in 1569, and the composition of Connacht in 1585.

The difficulties experienced by the historically hostile political communities of Clanrickard and Hy Many as they endeavoured to accommodate the expanding Tudor state are analysed and discussed, as are the consequent changes in the political, social and economic fabric of the province of Connacht.

Published by Four Courts Press, it retails at €55 and will be for sale on the night, and then from all good bookshops – or directly from www.fourcourtspress.ie/books/2024/anglicizing-tudor-connacht/.

Pictured: Book launch…Dr Joe Mannion, seen here in front of the large turnout for the original Mannion gathering at Menlough Community Centre.

A 20-acre adventure park located in Moycullen has been shortlisted in the Small Business Marketing Award as part of the All-Ireland Marketing Awards that will take place on the 23rd of May.

Wildlands is the brainchild of brother and sister duo, David and Faye Bohan and their father Tim and employs 120 people with the aim of providing a space where anyone can reconnect with nature through adventure.

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The Small Business Marketing Award recognises and celebrates the small businesses that have cleverly leveraged limited resources and demonstrated creativity and flair in competing against larger and more powerful competitors.

The post Moycullen Business shortlisted for All-Ireland Marketing Award appeared first on Galway Bay FM.

Fine Gael Councillor Andrew Reddington has urged businesses and Galway County Council to engage regarding a one off Government grant that can help with increased costs.

A €257 million was announced by Minister Simon Coveney in the budget to help businesses but in county Galway, 4789 businesses had yet to make a submission for the scheme ahead of the May 1st deadline.

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Councillor Reddington said businesses should apply through the online portal at mycoco.ie if they need assistance, they can contact the County Council which has written to all rate payers with a Customer ID and pin.

Speaking to Galway Bay FM News, Councillor Reddington has called for an extension so that businesses can avail of the grant.

The post Councillor calls on Galway businesses to act and apply for government grants to help with increased costs appeared first on Galway Bay FM.

There will be temporary road closures on the Tuam Bypass over the next week.

From tonight (Sunday 21st) until Friday next, emergency resurfacing works will take place along the road.

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The sections closed are the Northbound Carriageway from Junction 20 Tuam to Miltown Roundabout and the Southbound Carriageway from Miltown Roundabout to Junction 20 Tuam.

While the Ballygaddy Junction – Northbound and Southbound On-Slips to the Tuam By-Pass will also be closed.

The closures will be in effect day and night, with traffic being diverted through Tuam town on the R939.

The post Traffic delays expected in Tuam due to temporary bypass closure appeared first on Galway Bay FM.

Atlantic Technological University has launched 60 new PhD tech and innovation scholarships.

They’ll be supported through the Research and Innovation Supporting Enterprise scheme.

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It aims to builds research capacity between academia and regional enterprises in the west and northwest.

The scholarships cover a range of disciplines including AgriTech, Audiovisual & Creative, MedTech, Renewable Energy, and Climate Change.

The post ATU announces 60 new PhD tech and innovation scholarships appeared first on Galway Bay FM.

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.

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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.