The Atlantic Masters Swimming Club along with the OMCSU & Galway RNLI Lifeboat Station have revealed details of its seventh annual Lifeboat Swim, set to take place on Saturday, July 5, at Renville Pier, Oranmore.

Open for entries now, the event offers a range of swim challenges, from a 250m Try-a-Swim for beginners to a more ambitious 2km swim for experienced open water swimmers.

Participants will have the unique opportunity to swim in the beautiful waters of Galway Bay, all while supporting two vital local search and rescue charities Galway RNLI and the Oranmore Maree Coastal Search Unit.

“We’re excited to celebrate the growth of our club, especially after our ten-year anniversary last year,” said Eimear Keane, Secretary of the Atlantic Masters Swimming Club.

“Open water swimming has grown in popularity, and our event caters to swimmers of all levels—whether you’ve just taken up swimming in open water or aiming to conquer the 2km challenge. We’ve made sure to create an inclusive and safe environment for everyone to enjoy,” she added.

The Atlantic Masters Swimming Club is a community-based swimming club focused on promoting open water swimming in Galway.

Established in 2014, the club has grown steadily, attracting swimmers of all ages and skill levels.

This 2km swim will take participants around swim buoys installed at Renville Pier, Oranmore. Swimmers will be provided with timing chips, and prizes will be awarded to the top three male and female finishers in both wetsuit and non-wetsuit categories.

Participants in the Try-a-Swim will receive a medal to commemorate their efforts.

Safety boats and kayakers will be stationed on the water to provide support throughout the day.

And in addition to being a fun and challenging event, the swim is a major fundraiser for the Oranmore Maree Coastal Search Unit and Galway RNLI.

Participants can register and find more details at www.atlanticlifeboatswim.com

Pictured: Launching the Atlantic Masters’ Lifeboat Swim which takes place on July 5 at Renville Pier, Oranmore were (from left) Eimear Keane, Secretary, Atlantic Masters Swimming Club; Galway RNLI volunteer crew Paddy Hennelly, Paul Carey, Darragh Heskin, Stefanie Carr and Máirtín Folan; and George Curley, Boat Officer/Senior Helm Oranmore Maree Coastal Search Unit. They are at the Galway Lifeboat Station which will benefit from the proceeds of the event.

Two young farmers from Galway have been chosen to take part in the new Kepak Young Sheep Farmer Forum – a dynamic new initiative designed to empower the next generation of Irish sheep farmers through innovation, sustainability, and leadership.

Aoife Mahony from Killimor runs a lowland flock with her sister and father. She is passionate about the sheep industry and works closely with farmers through her current placement with Sheep Ireland. Aoife has also been elected as Vice Chair of the Forum.

Morgan Neary from Creggs, runs a small pedigree flock. Through experience working in farming media, he brings a valuable blend of industry insight and hands on experience to the sector.

The Forum was officially launched by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, at an event hosted on one of Kepak’s supplier farms, owned by Damien Flynn in Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath.

Set against the backdrop of Teagasc’s 2024 National Farm Survey – which found the average age of Irish sheep farmers to be 56 – the Forum aims to inject fresh thinking and renewed energy into the sector.

Developed in collaboration with Bord Bia and Mountbellew Agricultural College, it brings together 15 young farmers from diverse educational and sheep farming enterprise backgrounds (including part-time and full-time farmers) to address the key challenges facing Irish sheep farming.

By actively engaging young people in the future of farming, the Forum supports Ireland’s wider goals around generational renewal; a critical priority for the long-term sustainability of rural communities and agricultural production.

The Forum is designed to be collaborative and solutions-driven, with strong partnerships across education and industry.

Participants have been selected from Kepak’s supplier base as well as students from ATU Mountbellew, ATU Letterkenny, Teagasc, UCD, University of Galway and other institutions.

The group will meet up to seven times over the course of 2025 to share knowledge, network with industry leaders, and co-create a roadmap for the future of sheep farming in Ireland.

Programme highlights include on-farm workshops and site visits where participants will gain hands-on insights through visits to research institutions such as Teagasc Athenry and to high-performing commercial farms, including Kepak suppliers.

Farmers will also engage directly with Bord Bia and Kepak to explore international market operations. A highlight includes a visit to Rungis, the world’s largest wholesale food market in France, where Kepak supplies Irish lamb and participants will meet key European customers.

And the programme will culminate in a focused discussion to shape a set of practical, farm-level policy recommendations. These will be submitted to the Department of Agriculture ahead of Budget 2026, ensuring that young farmers have a real voice in the future direction of the sector.

All of this comes against the reality that, as recently as 2023, less than half (46.5%) of farm holders had a succession plan in place, according to the latest data from the Central Statistics Office.

The initiative’s core mission is to make sheep farming more attractive and viable for young people, while promoting sustainable and profitable practices.

Through youth-led dialogue, hands-on experience, and access to industry networks, Kepak aims to support the next generation in shaping a future-focused and resilient sheep sector.

Minister Martin Heydon welcomed the initiative.

“The future of Irish sheep farming depends on our ability to inspire and support the next generation,” he said.

“Kepak’s Young Sheep Farmer Forum is a strong step in that direction. It’s encouraging to see industry leaders investing in young talent, fostering innovation, and creating real opportunities for engagement and leadership within the sector,” he added.

Applications for future Forum cohorts will open in 2026.

Pictured: The young sheep farmers visit the farm of Noel Grenham near Ballinasloe.

The Galway volunteer fundraising Branch of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind is running a whole series of events for Guide Dog Day on Friday, May 23 – and they are appealing for public support.

Launched by the charity’s ambassador Roy Keane, Guide Dog Day will see communities across the country come together through fundraising collections, Take the Lead Walks, and a special competition to win dinner with the football legend.

All funds raised will go directly towards transforming lives by providing highly trained service dogs, giving people with visual impairments, children with autism, and students greater independence and mobility.

The Galway Branch is led by Chairman and Ballinderreen native Kevin Quinn, Secretary Leyna Kennedy from Ardrahan and Treasurer John Gannon from Knockdoe.

They are joined by a growing and enthusiastic group of volunteers of all ages and walks of life including Guide and Assistance Dog owners, Community Dog handlers, Puppy Raisers, and their well-known Ambassador Dogs Feather (a twelve-year-old veteran) and more recent addition, Douglas.

“We’re kicking off our Guide Dog Day events on Friday, May 23 with our fundraising collection in the Corrib Shopping Centre, and then our Take the Lead Walk through Eyre Square and Shop Street that Sunday,” says Kevin.

“We will have lots of PAWsome merchandise and of course, there will be a chance to meet some of our four-legged friends. For all football fans there is also the chance to win dinner with our Ambassador Roy Keane!” he adds.

The Galway Branch also has a busy calendar of events lined up after Guide Dog Day and is looking for more people to get involved.

“We’re focused this year on strengthening our Galway community and expanding our reach throughout the county,” explains Kevin.

“We’ve dates lined up across the summer, including our second annual charity cycle which takes place on September 27 from the Connaught Hotel.

With nine Guide Dogs, five Assistance Dogs and four Community Dogs based in the county and an increasing demand for the charity’s service we’re really keen to get more people involved whether that’s by volunteering even an hour at one of our collections or considering becoming a puppy raiser to help a puppy in their first steps on their journey to changing someone’s life.

“It’s incredible to see the impact the dogs have on individuals and families and that’s all the motivation we need to do everything we can to change as many lives as possible.”

Costing over €5 million a year to run the organisation and with only 15% of funding coming from the government, the charity relies heavily on the generosity and support of the general public, corporates and gifts in wills.

All services provided by the charity are free of charge and the breeding, training and care of one dog costs €53,000. This year the charity is aiming to change the lives of 70 families.

If you’re interested in finding out more about the Galway Branch, email Galway@GuideDogs.ie or phone Kevin Quinn on 085 815 9132.

Pictured: Members of the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind Galway Branch at St. Patrick’s Day Parade.