Galway Bay fm newsroom – Plans are being made today to repatriate a Moycullen teenager who died in Croatia.
Eamon Buckley from Gortahalla, Moycullen drowned off the coast of Split yesterday morning.
He was part of a group of 40 young people who had travelled to Croatia for a music festival.
Eamon Buckley’s parents, Tom and Joy Buckley arrived in Split last night, having travelled from Ireland to Paris and on to Zagreb.
The young man had just finished his first year of a science degree at NUI Galway.
He was part of a group of 40 young people from Galway who had been attending a music festival in Split – they were due to return home today.
His body was recovered from the sea at around 9.45 yesterday morning off the Croatian coast.
Speaking to Galway Bay fm news, a parent of another member of the group said the young man died after falling off a yacht and hitting his head.
The Department of Foreign Affairs is providing consular assistance to the family.
Eamon is survived by his parents, Tom and Joy Buckley, his twin brother Liam, older sister Caoimhe and younger sister Roisin.

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A well known Galway businessman has been targeted by scammers.
Tommy Varden, who owns a catering wholesale business at the Tuam Road, says he’s been contacted by a number of businesses who’ve been approached by scammers, asking for money on his behalf.
He says the scammers have made up a story about his nephew being involved in a car crash.
Tommy Varden lost his six year old daughter Ava in a crash in Longford in 2009.
The claims being made by the scammers say his nephew has been involved in a car crash.
Gardaí say they are aware of the situation are looking into it.
Anyone who is cooncerned about the intentions of callers to their homes or businesses should contact Galway Gardaí on 091-538000.
Tommy Varden is appealing to his clients to be wary.

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Galway Bay fm newsroom – A County Councillor says beach by-laws need to be put in place across the county as a matter of urgency.
The issue has been raised at Athenry/Oranmore district level by Councillor Jim Cuddy.
Cllr Cuddy says recently there was an incident at the weekend near Kilcolgan, where a horse bolted while being bathed.
The Athenry/Oranmore councillors want to pass by-laws to prevent this activity along the waterways, but because of uncertainty over a possible overlap with the Loughrea district, the matter has been deferred.
The issue will come back before the district councillors in September for discussion.
If agreed, the by-laws may then be rolled out county-wide subject to approval by the full council.

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Galway Bay fm newsroom – Concerns have been raised over the visual impact of a planned Connemara windfarm development.
The matter was raised at day two of the oral hearing into the planned project led by Ardderroo Windfarm Limited.
The strategic infrastructure development sets out to build 29 wind turbines at Killaguille, Letter, Uggool, Ardderroo and Finnaun.
Addressing the hearing at the opening day yesterday, the applicant stated that the potential visual impact was not found to be significant.
Oldtown resident Sean O’ Muiri was one of the observers to address the hearing today with concerns over the visual impact of the proposed turbines.
He queried county council officials on their assertion that the visual impact was not significant from the local road network, asking which roads the site had been assessed from.
A local authority official said this conclusion was reached based on the visual impact assessment.
A spokesperson for the applicant said that a meeting was held with residents from Oldtown in 2014 as part of the public consultation process.
At that point, it was agreed that photo montages would be produced to highlight the cumulative impact of all such windfarm developments and a standalone montage for the Ardderroo project.
The applicant was also queried by Mr. O’Muiri on the number of turbines included in the project scope and the increase from an initial 26 to 29.
The client stated that entire project was subject to several revisions and did increase to 29.
The inspector suggested that the photo montages taken from homes in Oldtown be submitted with the consent of individual householders, so that this could be taken into account by the board.
The oral hearing led by An Bord Pleanála continues today at the Connacht Hotel before Inspector Sarah Moran where further observers will make their submissions.
It’s expected to conclude this week.

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Galway Bay fm newsroom – The air ambulance service for the West has been made permanent.
The scheme has been run on a pilot basis by the Air Corps and the HSE for 3 years – and operates out of Athlone.
It’s expected to cost 2-point-6 million euro to run the service each year – with the west coast and rural areas such as the Connemara coastline and the islands, the main focus.
Health Minister Leo Varadkar says the permanent air ambulance will prove to be a vital service in the years ahead.

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Galway Bay fm newsroom – Parents of children on the island of Inis Meáin say they will have to leave the island to get adequate schooling for their children if a second teacher is not reinstated.
Teachers, parents and legal advisers met with 6 Galway Oireachtas members in Dublin this afternoon in a last ditch attempt to save the island from depopulation.
Recent changes in staffing ratios mean that the only school on the island has now been reduced to a single teacher.
The nine children enrolled in the school for September range in age from 4 to 13 so the parents say the one teacher situation is unsustainable.
They made their case to TDs Eamon O Cuiv, Sean Kyne, Derek Nolan, Senators Trevor O Clochartaigh and Fidelma Healy Eames and Junior Gaeltacht Minister Joe McHugh
Ruairí de Blacam, a parent and business owner on Inis Meáin told Galway Bay fm news the reinstatement of a second teacher would ensure the survival of the school and the island.
Mr de Blacam said other islands are in the same position and the relatively small amount of €200,000 would solve the problems for all.

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15/07/2015 repro free. The Galway International Arts Festival launched Patricia Piccinini’s SKYWHALE over Galway City and County and will continue for the rest of the week weather permitting as the Galway International Arts Festival runs from July 13-26.Photo:Andrew Downes:XPOSUREPatricia is one of Australia’s most acclaimed artists.
15/07/2015 repro free. The Galway International Arts Festival launched Patricia Piccinini’s SKYWHALE over Galway City and County and will continue for the rest of the week weather permitting as the Galway International Arts Festival runs from July 13-26.Photo:Andrew Downes:XPOSUREPatricia is one of Australia’s most acclaimed artists.
15/07/2015 repro free. The Galway International Arts Festival launched Patricia Piccinini’s SKYWHALE over Galway City and County and will continue for the rest of the week weather permitting as the Galway International Arts Festival runs from July 13-26.Photo:Andrew Downes:XPOSUREPatricia is one of Australia’s most acclaimed artists.
15/07/2015 repro free. The Galway International Arts Festival launched Patricia Piccinini’s SKYWHALE over Galway City and County and will continue for the rest of the week weather permitting as the Galway International Arts Festival runs from July 13-26.Photo:Andrew Downes:XPOSUREPatricia is one of Australia’s most acclaimed artists.
15/07/2015 repro free. The Galway International Arts Festival launched Patricia Piccinini’s SKYWHALE over Galway City and County and will continue for the rest of the week weather permitting as the Galway International Arts Festival runs from July 13-26.Photo:Andrew Downes:XPOSUREPatricia is one of Australia’s most acclaimed artists.

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Galway Bay fm newsroom – A swimming ban has been put in place at Grattan beach in the city due to water contamination.
Routine bathing water testing earlier this week showed elevated levels of both E-Coli and Intestinal Enterococci bacteria.
The cause of the contamination is not yet known and investigations are ongoing.
Galway City Council has now posted “DO NOT SWIM” notices at Grattan Road Beach in line with agreed national protocols.
Re-sampling has taken place and it’s expected the results will be available on Thursday and it’s hoped the ban will be lifted at this point.
The Health Service Executive advises that swimming in waters with elevated levels of E-Coli and Intestinal Enterococci bacteria may cause illness.
The city council says results of samples at other beaches in the area including Blackrock, which was contaminated for a time last week, Silver Strand and Salthill beaches were well within the guidelines for safe swimming.

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Galway Bay fm newsroom – The German President today received an Honorary Degree at NUI Galway during the final day of his state visit to Ireland.
The Honorary Conferring and visit to the University by President Joachim Gauck included a round table discussion with key speakers on Development and Human Rights at the university based Irish Centre of Human Rights
President Gauck will now join the ranks of previous honorary alumni at the University – such as Nelson Mandela, Hilary Clinton, and Enya.

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Galway Bay fm newsroom – The Irish Council for Civil Liberties, in partnership with the Irish Human Rights and Equality Comission is hosting a human rights consultation session in Galway tomorrow.
The consultation will run from 2.30 to 4.30 in the NUI Galway Institute for Lifecourse and Society in Dangan.
The consultation is taking place in advance of Ireland’s second examination under the United Nations’ Universal Periodic Review of state’s compliance with human rights standards.
Pia Janning of the irish Council for Civil liberties says the consultation is an opportunity for members of the public to share information about human rights issues in Ireland.

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Galway Bay fm newsroom – A county Galway man jailed for raping his daughter has settled proceedings over the refusal of his request for disclosure of any documents the Garda Commissioner and DPP may have related to any other allegations made by his daughter.
Patrick Naughton was sentenced in April 2002 to 11 years in prison for raping and abusing his daughter Barbara over six years.
The Irish Times reports that the abuse began in 1987 when his daughter was aged nine.
She waived her right to anonymity after the trial.
The case came to public prominence in 2002 when it emerged someone representing Bobby Molloy, then a junior minister, had tried to communicate with the judge handling Naughton’s trial, the now-retired Mr Justice Philip O’Sullivan.
Someone representing the Galway West TD had sought to phone the judge to clarify if he had received letters from Naughton’s sister, Anne.
When passing sentence, Mr Justice O’Sullivan said it was “quite improper” any such approach should have been made. Mr Molloy resigned the next day.
Naughton of Camus, later lost an appeal against conviction.
Subsequently, in judicial review proceedings, he challenged a refusal of the Garda Commissioner of his request for disclosure of any other allegations that may have been made by his daughter.
After talks between Michael O’Higgins SC, for Naughton, and Shane Murphy SC, for the Garda Commissioner and DPP, they said the matter had been settled on confidential terms and on the basis of an agreed order, the terms of which were not disclosed.

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Galway Bay fm newsroom – A boil water notice has been put in place in Leenane.
Water must be boiled for drinking, the preparation of salads, brushing of teeth and ice making.
Water can be used for bathing and flushing toilets.
The notice has been put in place by Irish Water and Galway County Council following advice from the HSE.

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Galway Bay fm newsroom – A Ballygar farm machinery dealer has been fined 10 thousand euro for having a stolen tractor for sale at his business premises.
Imposing the fine on 68 year old James Hughes, of Ballygar Plant Sales, Cartron, Ballygar, Judge Rory McCabe said such crime strikes at the heart to the farming community.
Hughes pleaded guilty to the possession of a stolen John Deere tractor worth €35,000, at his business premises at Cartron, Ballygar on December 13, 2011, knowing it was stolen.
Prosecuting barrister, Conor Fahy, accepted the plea to the charge involving the John Deere tractor on the basis that Hughes admitted the facts in three other theft and handling charges.
These involved the possession of a stolen Deutz Fahr tractor worth €35,000; a JCB teleporter worth €19,500; and a JCB telescopic handler value €40,000, knowing they were stolen too.
Detective John Fahy said he received information on December 12, 2011 that stolen tractors might be located in Hughes’ yard at Cartron, Ballygar.
He obtained a search warrant and found the John Deere tractor with metal filings on the floor underneath it where someone had filed away its chassis number.
The tractor had been reported stolen from a farm in Co. Sligo the previous month.
Hughes told Det. Fahy he got the tractor from a Peter Kelly in Granard and Kelly had asked him to sell the tractor on for him for €20,000.
He said he was to get 10% of the sale price.
Hughes’ barrister admitted the name Peter Kelly was bogus.
It was given to his client by a third party and his client had assisted the Gardai in their wider investigations in relation to the matter.
Judge McCabe said this was a carefully-planned, premeditated, commercial enterprise which struck at the heart of the farming community, before fining Hughes €10,000.

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Galway Bay fm newsroom – Galway Gardaí are investigating a possible link between two city burglaries.
Two homes in the Renmore/Mervue area were broken into between 11am and 2pm yesterday.
A quantity of American currency was stolen from one house, while jewellery was taken from the second house.
Gardaí say they’re investigating the possibility that the two burlaries were carried out by the same culprits.
They say two men dressed in heavy clothing, despite yesterday’s good weather, were seen in the Renmore/Mervue area around the time of the burglaries.
Business owners are advised to look out for anybody who attempts to use American dollars, and report any suspicious behaviour to the Gardaí.
Anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the Renmore/Mervue area between 11am and 2pm yesterday is asked to contact Galway Gardaí on 091 538026 or 091 538000

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Galway Bay fm newsroom – A boil water notice has been put in place in Leenane amid Cryptosporidium fears.
Water must be boiled for drinking, the preparation of salads, brushing of teeth and ice making, but can be used for bathing and flushing toilets.
The notice has been put in place by Irish Water and Galway County Council following advice from the HSE, and affects 140 households.
Irish Water says difficulties have arisen with the cryptosporidium barrier at the Leenane Water Treatment plant due to recent weather changes.
These difficulties coupled with the fact that the Leenane water source has been identified as a high risk source for Cryptosporidium, has lead to the boil notice.

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Galway Bay fm newsroom – Patients waiting over 18 months for an outpatient appointment at Galway’s public hospitals have been offered private treatment in a bid to reduce waiting lists.
The Saolta Hospitals Group, which includes UHG, Merlin Park Hospital and Portiuncula Hospital says the initiative will be of benefit to patients who have been waiting for procedures.
The measures are being implemented nationwide in response to growing outpatient waiting lists.
In June, 30,322 patients were awaiting an outpatient appointment at UHG or Merlin Park Hospital – 81 patients were waiting for more than two years.
Some patients on the Galway list are waiting over four years for an appointment.
In a statement issued to Galway Bay fm news this afternoon, the HSE says anyone waiting over 18 months on the 30th of June has been offered private treatment.
Nationally, the HSE says around 20,000 people are being offered private appointments in a range of specialities.
It is estimated the private treatment will cost €25m.

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Galway Bay fm newsroom – The swimming ban put in place at Grattan beach due to water contamination has now been lifted.
Results from tests on bathing water taken yesterday have come back and are now shown to be at a safe level for both E-coli and Intestinal Enterococci bacteria.
The city council says results of samples at other beaches in the area including Blackrock, Silverstrand and Salthill beaches are well within the guidelines for safe swimming.
A do not swim notice had been in place for number of days at Blackrock, but it has since been lifted.
Spokesperson for Galway City Council Gary McMahon says they’re working on a strategy to stop further contamination.

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Galway United have a break from league action this weekend, but Tommy Dunne’s side still have a game to play as they welcome the Liverpool stars of the future to Eamonn Deacy Park for a friendly on Saturday (2pm).

The kick-off of the game has been brought forward to 2pm to facilitate those sports fans who want to attend both the United game, and the Galway Gaelic footballers All-Ireland qualifier against Derry in Pearse Stadium at 5pm.

Ahead of the game, Tribune Sport was granted exclusive access to the new facilities under the Comer Stand to get a glimpse of what awaits teams that visit the ground.

Tickets cost €15 for adults and €10 for all other categories (students, senior citizens and children under the age of 12). Tickets are available in the city from: O’Brien’s Newsagents, William Street; Foxes Bar, Eyre Square; Kennedy’s Bar, Eyre Square; Fibber Magees, Eyre Square; Hughes, Woodquay; Taafes Bar, Shop Street; The Dail Bar, Cross Street; Monroes, Dominick Street; The Galway Arms, Dominick Street; The Connacht Hotel, Dublin Road; and from Eamonn Deacy Park.

In the county, tickets are available from An Droichead Donn, Spiddal; Lowerys Bar, Clifden; The Arches Hotel, Claregalway; Clarkes Tavern, Corrandulla; and O’Brien’s Hardware, Loughrea.

Tickets are also available from Dominic Walsh in Medtronic (087-9163438); Stephen Madden in Creganna Medical (087-7388981); and from the Galway United Supporters Trust (087-6972823).

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Galway Bay fm newsroom – Galway City Council and Irish Water are working together on a new strategy to prevent water contamination at Galway’s beaches.
It’s after two ‘Do Not Swim’ notices were placed at city beaches in the last week.
A swimming ban put in place at Grattan beach yesterday has now been lifted.
Results from new bathing water tests have come back today, and that both E-coli and Intestinal Enterococci bacteria are at safe levels.
The city council says results of samples at other beaches including Blackrock, Silverstrand and Ladies’ beach are well within the guidelines for safe swimming.
A do not swim notice had been in place for number of days last week at Blackrock, but it has since been lifted.
Spokesperson for Galway City Council Gary McMahon says the local authority is working with Irish Water to improve infrastructure and prevent contamination.

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Galway Bay fm newsroom – Plans for a significant housing development in Mincloon in the city have been turned down.
The application led by Kenny Developments and Company Limited consisted of 58 residential units and was to be located at Clybaun Road and Mincloon Cross.
The project included 32 four-bed semi detached houses and 12 four-bed detached houses.
The development also provided for a new public footpath along the Clybaun and Rahoon Road at Mincloon.
In rejecting the application, city planners said a portion of the development site is located within the current emerging preferred route corridor of the N6 Galway city transport solution.
It’s also stated that the proposed development is premature pending the determination of a strategic road layout for the area.

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