Islanders on the three Aran Islands have expressed relief now that certainty has been given over the future of the air service.
Gaeltacht Minister and Galway West / South Mayo T.D Seán Kyne says Galway Aviation Services Limited (Aer Arann) has been selected as the preferred tender.
The Public Service Obligation contract will run from January 1st 2017 to December 31st 2020.
The tender deadline had been extended several times in the past over an impasse between Na Minna airport and the Department.
Cathy Ní Ghoill from the Comharchumann Forbartha Árann says islanders are relieved about the new air contract while the winter ferry service is still in limbo.
Minister Seán Kyne says the new contract will provide continuity of service for islanders and visitors.

Galway Bay fm newsroom – Gardaí are investigating alleged lamping in the Roscam area.
Lamping is night-time hunting, often carried out using greyhounds or lurchers.
A Rosshill resident says his land and that of his neighbours has recently been targeted by a group carrying out this activity, and the matter has been reported to Gardaí.
One resident discovered a dead fox in a shed, while another’s thoroughbred mare unexpectedly aborted a foal.
Galway Gardaí are investigating the matter to determine if any criminal offences – such as trespassing or firearms offences – have been committed.
Rosshill resident Eamonn Hogan says his animals are being terrorised, and it’s having a serious impact on local residents.

Galway Bay fm newsroom – Concerns have been raised over plans for a windfarm in Lisbeg in the Clonfert area.
A ten year permission for the project was approved by county planners in October subject to 24 conditions.
The project is led by Frank O Domhnaill and Richard Bourns.
It would see the provision of up to 5 wind turbines, new internal access roads and the upgrading of existing roads to facilitate delivery of abnormal loads.
In an appeal to An Bord Pleanala, locals have raised concerns regarding the development.
The group has submitted an independent scientific review of ecology in the Environmental Impact Statement, Natura Impact Statement and further information document.
The case is due to be decided in March 2017.

Galway Bay fm newsroom – Issues relating to Forum Connemara which has its head offices in Letterfrack are back before the Appeals Court in Dublin today.
The outcome of these Court proceedings could – potentially – mean an end to up to 9 jobs in Forum within a fortnight.
Forum Connemara lost out in its Court battle with Galway County Council last August.
The issues centred round the administration of what is called the SICAP programme in County Galway in the coming years; this is a 5 year EU assisted community development process. The Court decision effectively ruled Forum out of contention in Connemara and elsewhere.
Forum are lodging an appeal and one of todays High Court processes will be to set deadlines for evidence and a date for the appeal hearing.
A High Court stay…or order …has been in operation since Forum lost the case last August which means that the Department of the Environment must keep providing the money that maintains employment in Forum. This also comes up in the High Court today.
If the order was ended by the Court, it would mean that up to 9 jobs – that’s most of the permanent staff – would be laid off with immediate effect.

Two homeless charities will benefit to the tune of €273,000 from the auction of a holiday home on Inis Mór this afternoon.

The six-bed ‘Beach House’ at Kilmurvey was owned by Dragons’ Den entrepreneur Barry O’Sullivan, who decided last month to donate the proceeds of the auction to COPE Galway and Focus Ireland.

The property was part of this afternoon’s O’Donnellan & Joyce ‘Wild Atlantic Way’ auction in the Harbour Hotel, Galway.

It had an Advised Minimum Value of €300,000 and bidding opened at €210,000 before it eventually sold for €273,000.

Auctioneer Colm O’Donnellan described the donation as “an incredible gesture” and said the house is a “wonderful property looking right across the Atlantic”.

Press PLAY ► to listen to the audio clip from the auction.

The six-bed detached property, set on an elevated site, has magnificent views overlooking Kilmurvey Beach and is a 15 minute walk to the world famous prehistoric fort of Dun Aonghusa.  The natural rectangular cliff pool known as ‘The Wormhole’ is also nearby, made more famous in recent times with the Red Bull Cliff Diving event in 2012. above for the audio clip.

Mr O’Sullivan, a member of COPE Galway’s Board of Management said:  “I know from my work with COPE Galway the terrible trauma families who are homeless go through.  I also know charities like Focus Ireland and COPE Galway help many families and individuals to secure a home and escape from being homeless.”

€2.8 million in funding has been allocated to eight agri-food, marine and forest research projects in Galway.
The funding has been sanctioned by Agriculture Minister Michael Creed, and aims to further the sustainability, and competitiveness of the Irish agri-food sector.
The biggest Galway allocation has been awarded to NUI Galway’s Dr Dagmar Stengel, who is carrying out research on seaweed in food applications.

The two most senior local government officials in the county have been named as part of the group assigned to oversee a second review into the possible amalgamation of Galway City and County Councils – a merger that would almost certainly result in one or other losing their job.

That led to one County Councillor to claim that the City and County Council chief executives are there to protect their own jobs.

Independent Councillor James Charity is a strong advocate of both authorities merging as he believes that it would be save money, in that way providing more funds for both the city and county in terms of roads maintenance and general services.

“By amalgamating the two authorities we will have less councillors and less highly paid officials and I believe that there would be more money in the pot to spread around towards essential services”, he said.

But Cllr Charity said that by having the two top officials on the new review committee meant that the status quo would be maintained and that Galway County Council would be continually strapped for cash.

It has been confirmed that Galway County Council Chief Executive Kevin Kelly and Brendan McGrath, his Galway City Council counterpart, will be on the new review group to examine the potential merger of both councils.

The previous review group recommended that both councils amalgamate as a logistical step forward but this report was rejected by the majority of members of Galway County Council – many of whom felt that their rural area had nothing in common with many parts of the city.

A new review group is now being established and Mr Kelly informed members of Galway County Council through an email that he has been asked to be part of this body.

Recently there was overwhelming opposition to any amalgamation of the Galway County and City Council when councillors met to discuss the issue .

They were discussing a recommendation of a previous review group which suggested that an amalgamation of the two Councils was the preferred option. This is being resisted by members of both Councils.

Now another review group is being established and will include the two top officials in the city and county.

“Turkeys don’t vote for Christmas so it is hardly likely that the two managers will agree to an amalgamation which would mean that one of them would be demoted,” said Cllr Charity.

He has made the argument that the savings would be immense. He said that instead of having two managers – one for the city and one for the county – that this would be reduced to one while the number of officials could also be dramatically reduced.

“Having two local authorities in the one county simply does not make any sense. But having another review has all of the hallmarks of retaining the current position which I believe is a retrograde step,” Cllr Charity added.

The developers of Galway Wind Park in North Connemara have pledged to spend millions of Euros on local community organisations over the next 25 years.

SSE and Coillte say they want to leave a “lasting and enduring” legacy long after the windfarm is constructed by the end of next year.

The windfarm at Doon East, which is located in Rosscahill, two miles west of Moycullen, when finished will be the largest onshore windfarm in the country.

Once the park becomes operational, SSE and Coillte have vowed to “jointly establish a community fund to benefit the local community, as well as the wider area, over the 25-years life of the wind park”.

The exact amount of cash injection hasn’t been revealed but the two organisations say the fund “is expected to be split between a multi-million-euro local community fund and a multi-million-euro regional fund.”

During the construction stage, SSE and Coillte say they have already invested €150,000 to support over 30 local community projects, including sports teams such as Moycullen Ladies GAA, St Paul’s basketball team, Oughterard RFC, Moycullen Basketball, and Killannin GAA. Men’s Shed Moycullen, Killannin Scouts, Oughterard Scouts, Galway Hospice, and Moycullen Active Retirement, also benefited from funds from the developers.

The promise to pump millions of Euros into local community groups over the next two and a half decades was contained in the Galway Wind Park Sustainability Impact Report, which was officially launched in Moycullen last Thursday.

The report, commissioned by SSE and Coillte, claims that over 100 local businesses have provided products and services to the wind energy project, representing a €20m spend so far with the local supply chain in County Galway.

Nationally, Galway Wind Park has already contributed €88.7m to Irish Gross Domestic Product (GDP), according to the report.

When completed in late 2017, it will be the largest onshore wind farm in Ireland, with the capacity to generate enough green energy to power around 89,000 homes, equivalent to almost 80% of the homes in Galway.

Speaking at the launch in the Forge, Moycullen last week, County Councillor Noel Thomas, Cathaoirleach of Connemara Municipal District, welcomed the community-gain element of the project.

“The benefits to the local community from the development by both companies of Galway Wind Park have been very positive, with both short-term and long-term impacts,” said the Fianna Fáil Councillor.

“We have seen short-term benefits from employment during the construction phase, creating a great opportunity for local contractors to expand, invest in their businesses and provide significantly more employment in the area. Over the long-term there is going to be a major investment by SSE and Coillte in a community fund. This will be a multi-million Euro fund that will be available for local communities to draw down on, and this will have a very positive impact in the local community over the next 25 years,” he added.

The report quotes local suppliers, who are involved in the project. Niall Curran, of Niall Curran Plant Hire, Moycullen said he was very grateful for the opportunity to work on the project. “I’m happy to say that as a result of working on the project, not only have I been able to invest significantly in new plant machinery, I’ve been able to provide additional employment to six local people, not to mention the jobs created by other local businesses that I use to keep my machines working. As for the future, working on this project has already led to securing work elsewhere around the county,” said Mr Curran.

Tom Gilligan of Lydon Steel Ltd in Galway, which provides steel for the turbine bases, is also “delighted” to be part of the project.

“Not only has our association with the project allowed us to significantly grow our business somewhere in the region of 20%, but crucially we have been able to employ an additional three people, creating much needed employment in the local area. We are also proud to have contributed in some way to bringing a source of renewable energy to Galway,” said Mr Gilligan.

In advance of the launch of the report, representatives of SSE management met with Doon East residents in Killannin Community Centre. The meeting was called in response to repeated concerns expressed by locals in relation to how the project is being managed.

Residents have expressed concerns about impacts on their health from the construction, and traffic.

Speaking about the meeting with residents, Catherine Hannon, SSE Public Affairs Manager, said: “We are grateful for the ongoing support of the residents, communities and other stakeholders. We continue to engage with all stakeholders in the area to ensure the local benefits of the project are maximised and to minimise any disruption.”

An Garda Síochána has beefed up local drugs unit in big towns throughout the county in the ongoing ‘war on drugs’.

Garda Chief Superintendent, Tom Curley has confirmed that two Gardaí based in Loughrea have been reassigned and will now be dedicated to the issue of drugs in the Loughrea Garda District.

This is in addition to the two full-time Gardaí working on the drugs issue in Tuam and two full-time in Ballinasloe.

They complement the local drugs unit in Galway and Gardaí locally also have use and access to resources of the divisional and national drugs units.

Chief Supt Curley said Gardaí rely on intelligence from the community to spot grow houses. Rooftops without frost on them during frosty mornings, or buildings with curtains always closed could be signs that they are being sued as grow houses for cannabis.

He was speaking at the annual public meeting of the County Galway Joint Policing Committee (JPC) meeting in Shearwater Hotel, Ballinasloe on Monday where he urged the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to Gardaí.

In his Garda report, Chief Supt Curley outlined how in the first ten months of the year there were 33 seizures of drugs for sale or supply in County Galway, excluding the city and Salthill.

This represented a 13% reduction compared to the previous year.

There were 154 cases of simple possession, 21 fewer, representing a 12% reduction, compared with the first ten months of last year.

Cannabis with a street value worth €212,785 was seized during the first 10 months of 2016. Other drugs seized included: cocaine (€11,625); ecstasy (€8,420); and other (€2,535). There was no heroin seized in the county during that period, the report said.

Fianna Fáil Councillor Michael Connolly, the Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council, said there was “a lot of money involved” in the drugs seizures.

Cllr Connolly said drugs misuse was now impacting on every town and village in the county. “It is a scourge,” he said.

Chief Supt Curley agreed it was a problem and said people now had “more disposable income”, and as a result “more drugs are being used”.

He said each cannabis plant seized could be worth between €300 and €500.

He added his staff have been upskilled to deal with the drugs issue.

Galway is being lined up to become world-class destination – backed up by the Wild Atlantic Way and the new East Galway Lakelands brands – in a new tourism strategy being prepared for the next eight years.

And festivals – ‘hyped up’ to have international appeal – are seen as another key driver.

Galway City and County Councils are about to prepare ‘Galway to 2025: Preparing a Tourism Strategy for Galway’.

The proposed ‘vision’ for the region is to ensure “Galway will be a renowned world-class destination, offering exciting and unexpected experiences from the Wild Atlantic Way to its Lakelands – a great place to live, explore and immerse oneself and wish to return to”.

“As the capital of festivals, a small number of signature events must be elevated to have international appeal,” the document reads.

The strategy will also recognise the importance of the Wild Atlantic Way – almost 700km of Galway’s coastline runs along it, with the city and Clifden recognised as key hotspots and Salthill as the mid-way point.

However, it also recognises that inland, the same promotional opportunities do not currently exist.

“As the more inland areas of County Galway cannot directly compete with coastal areas, the focus must be on the provision of alternative experiences with excellent visitor managements and services, authenticity, less congestion and special interest breaks, etc.

“The east of the county offers opportunities of particular appeal to domestic visitors. A Lakelands brand will be developed to encompass the experiences of the midland counties and east Galway,” it reads.

The document adds: “Consistent marketing and branding will be needed (e.g. with a master brand logos, symbols, a digital hub, public street dressing etc) and opportunities to learn from international good practice examples and regions of comparable size must be grasped.”

Value for money is seen as a key driver for Galway to attract visitors.

“The tourism sector must remain value for money if it is to compete internationally. Despite their relative short stays, tourists are demanding and seek excellent products and joined-up holiday experiences.

“An understanding of what the market wants should guide the offering provided. Ongoing refinement will be necessary taking account of any changes in market profile, demands, preferences and lengths of stay,” it reads.

The document also notes the importance of small towns in attracting tourist revenue.

“The Gathering demonstrated how communities invest in tourism and support it. Their tireless efforts in organising festivals and events and maintaining their local area or presenting their heritage are tremendous. Small towns really do have big ideas for the future of their area.”

The local authorities have also said that capacity and access arrangements need to be planned in advance for the influx of visitors in 2020 for the European Capital of Culture, and if coach or cruise tourist numbers increase.

Nearly 2.25 million people visited Galway in 2015, spending close to €670 million. 11% of the total overseas visitors came to Galway (the third highest rate after Dublin and Cork) and spent €475m of that revenue.

Just under 10% of total domestic visitors came to Galway last year and generated €194m. It is estimated that 12-14% of Galway businesses are involved in tourism and it accounts for 10-12% of employment.

Among the biggest attractions last year were the City Museum (174,556); Connemara National Park (190,753) for free attractions. For fee-paying attractions, the biggest were Kylemore Abbey and Gardens (300,000 people); Dún Aonghasa on Inis Mór (120,104) and the Sheep and Wool Centre in Leenane (105,000).

Galway Bay Fm newroom:-Issues relating to Forum Connemara, which has its head offices in Letterfrack, will be back before the Appeals Court in Dublin next Wednesday when a decision is expected.
The outcome of these Court proceedings could – potentially – mean an end to up to 9 jobs in Forum within a fortnight.
Forum Connemara lost out in its Court battle with Galway County Council last August.
The issues centred around the administration of what is called the SICAP programme in County Galway in the coming years; a 5 year EU assisted community development process.
The Court decision effectively ruled Forum out of contention in Connemara and elsewhere.
Forum lodged an appeal in the High Court yesterday (Friday) regarding this issue.
Late last evening the High Court processes set next Wednesday as the deadline for evidence and for the appeal hearing.

OPW Minister and Galway East TD Sean Canney will officially open Milltown’s new wastewater treatment plant tomorrow.
Construction began last year following a 5 million investment by Irish Water in Wastewater Treatment Schemes for Milltown and Claregalway.
The works involve the provision of 4 new pumping stations, the upgrade of 3 existing pumping stations and the connection of housing estates to the new foul sewer collection system.
Previously, both areas relied on individual treatment systems within housing developments and septic tanks.
The official opening gets underway at 11 tomorrow morning.
Meanwhile, the Junior Defence Minister will visit the city tomorrow.
Minister of State Paul Kehoe will be at Dún Ui Mhaolíosa in Renmore, where he’ll present 1916 commemorative medals to serving members of the defence forces.
The event gets underway at 10 tomorrow morning.

The reading public in Galway is resisting plans to introduce ‘staffless’ libraries.

More than 2,700 people have signed a petition in Galway, calling on Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Simon Coveney to halt the roll-out of staffless libraries across the country.

The petition calls on the Minister to engage with stakeholders who have a vested interest in the future of public libraries before continuing with the introduction of an ‘open library’ policy.

Open libraries allow pre-registered library members to access library buildings and facilities outside of the normal staffed opening times.

Members must be vetted first before they are issued with a special access card. Security is provided by un-monitored CCTV cameras.

The scheme is being piloted currently in Sligo and Offaly; and there are plans to roll-out staffless libraries in 23 more libraries around the country, including in Ballinasloe and Oranmore.

Representatives of the Staff Our Libraries Galway campaign took to Shop Street in the city centre recently and garnered over 2,700 signatures, heaping pressure on the minister and Galway County Council to reverse plans to introduce staffless libraries here.

Members of trade union IMPACT, have already balloted on the issue of staffless libraries – more than 90% voted in favour of industrial action if the Local Government Management Agency does not engage with staff representatives.

“Surely library staff should not have to threaten industrial action just to have their voices heard,” said Michelle Walsh, of Staff Our Libraries, Galway.

Ms Walsh outlined the feedback the campaign has received on the streets of Galway.

“Many people shook their heads sadly and wondered what the government is likely to think up next. They described open libraries as ‘daft’ and ridiculous and expressed the fear that the scheme will lead to library closures down the line. Some went so far as to suggest that this might even be the whole aim of the policy, in order to save money on another public service” she said.

Ms Walsh added: “Everyone spoke of their anger and frustration at having to do more and more of their daily business through automated telephone answering systems and machines.

“When it comes to libraries, they felt it is vital to keep the personal touch and the human contact, and for people to have an opportunity to ask a question, or get a piece of advice. On the issue of safety and security, even grown men said that they would not feel safe going into unstaffed premises at night.

“The general view from all those who took the time to offer their opinions on open libraries was that, under this scheme, the ‘soul’, ‘character’, and ‘whole atmosphere’ of the public library service will be lost.

“Minority groups within the community are upset that, under the vetting scheme for open libraries, they may be denied access to library buildings, while library workers do not want to be in a position where they have to judge the worthiness, or unworthiness, of each applicant.

“The core principle of the public library service has always been that it is open and accessible to all. Libraries are places where everyone is treated equally.”

Galway county librarian Peter Rabbitt, who oversees 30 libraries across the city, county and islands with 40,000 members, has said on the record that the scheme is no cause for alarm for the future of our libraries. Oranmore has been approved for funding of €62,000 to introduce the technology while Ballinasloe, the county’s newest facility, will get over €18,000 to convert.

“There’s a bit of a misconception about this with people thinking it will lead to unstaffed libraries. It’s to add extra hours. It doesn’t mean we’re going to reduce staff,” he said.

After an unbroken 62 years of teaching and preparing her students for examinations, Athenry music teacher Ann Walsh has finally turned the key in her Yamaha piano and decided to call it a day.

Four generations of music students have studied weekly with Mrs. Walsh and she is rightly proud of the excellent results they have achieved in their Royal Irish Academy of Music examinations up through the grades to RIAM Senior Certificate level.

BY FRANCIS KENNEDY

Ann was born in Athenry, the daughter of Stephen and Ellen (nee Haverty) Jordan, and she began teaching music at the age of 19 in Loreto Convent, Killarney.

Having spent a few years in Kerry, she moved to Muckross Park Dominican Convent in Dublin where she spent four happy years.

She then moved back to Athenry where she met her future husband, Joe Walsh, who worked at Athenry Rail Station with C.I.E.

Before they married in 1961, Ann continued to teach privately from the family home in Davis Street where this writer was one of her students.

Setting up home on Church Street, Joe and Ann raised three children, Hilary, Catherine and Andrienne. She continued to teach piano, both from her new home and in two Mountbellew schools, Holy Rosary College and the primary school.

Her husband Joe died in 2001 and now and then she takes a trip to London to visit her children and their families.

She is happiest sitting at the piano and hers will never be locked. Occasionally she packs her keyboard in her car and drives to the local nursing home to play for the residents and staff.

“I’m sure I will miss the teaching”, Mrs. Walsh says, “but as I already devote a lot of my time to organising entertainment for the residents in Maryfield Nursing Home where I arrange all the musical afternoons, music will still play a big part in my life.”

On most Sundays throughout the year, Ann arranges for a group of musicians to entertain the residents for a couple of hours in the afternoon.

“I am very grateful to all the musicians who have obliged me over the past few years”, she says, “and now that I have more time on my hands, I hope to find even more musical volunteers!”

The ultimately successful campaign to locate a fire station to serve South Connemara is the subject of a new documentary which will be screened on TG4 just after Christmas.

Fir Dóiteáin, An Cheathrú Rua (the Carraroe Firemen) is an observational documentary that focuses on the training and setting up of the new station and we follow the firemen for the first ten months of operation.

But the saga goes back over 50 years with the people of South Connemara campaigning for a fire station given that the closest facilities to them were in Galway and Clifden – both nearly an hour away.

This was not practical in the event of an emergency and finally after all of those years they were granted their wishes and a new station was set up in Carraroe, which is central to their designated fire ground.

On February 22, the brand new Fire Station in Carraroe started operating in the south Connemara region.

Nine local men spent nearly a year training to be firemen to work in the Station; every one of them lives within five minutes of the station.

Initially it was predicted that the Carraroe Fire Station would get around 60 calls in the first year.

However they have been very busy, completing 90 calls in the first ten months.

They also serve a large geographical area that starts in Lettermullen in the west and heads east to Inverin, Carraroe in the south to Maam in the north – including Rosmuc and Kilkerrin.

And if there is an emergency on Inis Meáin and Inis Óirr, the Carraroe Firemen will be brought by the Coastguard helicopter from the football pitch in Carraroe to Aran.

This documentary – directed by Pat Comer and edited by Mikey Ó Flatharta – will be screened on TG4 on Tuesday, December 27, at 7.45pm.

The Garda text alert scheme in Moycullen has been hailed a huge success, and is expected to expand further next year.

Galway County Councillor Noel Thomas said hundreds of people have signed up to the Garda ‘text alert’ scheme in Moycullen.

He said there was “massive interest” in the community scheme, which was established last February.

The Fianna Fáil elected representative said people were alerted to the presence of a suspicious white van calling to doors in the Moycullen area last week.

“It’s a great scheme,” he said.

Cllr Thomas was speaking at the annual public meeting of the County Galway Joint Policing Committee, which was held in Shearwater Hotel in Ballinasloe.

Afterwards he explained that some 237 people in Moycullen have signed up to the text alert scheme. Mary Dunne was the driving force behind the scheme, along with local Garda Barry Donoghue.

“The first phase was the setting up of the text alert; now the plan is to expand. It is hoped that next year we will be able to buy some carbon monoxide alarms and to install additional locks and security in vulnerable people’s homes in the area,” he said.

Some of the leftover money used to set up the text alert scheme will be diverted to purchasing carbon monoxide alarms and locks, he said.

The text alert schemes aim to bring communities together to identify suspicious activity or vehicles in an area.

Working with Gardaí, the community uses mobile phones to monitor suspicious activity in an area in an effort to reduce rural crime, such as burglaries.

Gardaí will also use texts to alert community of crime prevention measures, or to ask them to keep an eye out for things, for example, if they are looking for a particular vehicle in an area.

Scores of schemes have been rolled out in communities right across Galway in recent years.

The Health Minister has cancelled a visit to University Hospital Galway planned for tomorrow.
Simon Harris was due to attend the facility to make an official announcement on plans for a new Emergency Department.
It was widely expected that Simon Harris would face tough questions at UHG tomorrow following an extremely challenging week at the hospital.
A record breaking 71 patients were waiting for admission on trolleys or in over-capacity wards this week, as the hospital faces a third month of a near-constant ‘code black’ situation.
The INMO says current conditions at UHG are ‘horrendous’ and represent a serious risk to patient and staff safety – and it’s warning that industrial action is looking ‘increasingly likely’.
The Health Minister was expected to officially announce plans for a long awaited new emergency department when he visited the hospital tomorrow afternoon.
However, that trip has now been postponed until the new year – and Minister Harris has instead indicated that he will visit UHG in ‘very early’ January.
The cancellation will come as a disappointment to many, who were hopeful that Simon Harris would officially get the ball rolling on a badly-needed new emergency department before year’s end.

1 of 4

City Council Chief Executive Brendan McGrath has said he will use his emergency powers if necessary to build two controversial new Traveller halting sites on the western side of the city next year.

One of the ‘temporary’ hardstands will be built on Council-owned land behind Westside Shopping Centre opposite the astro turf pitch, while three sites are being looked at on the Ballymoneen Road in Knocknacarra for the second hardstand.

The Knocknacarra sites are on the Upper Ballymoneen Road – the first is at Keeraun on land purchased by the Council for housing at the height of the property boom for €11 million. The site is to the right of the road (when leaving Knocknacarra) close to the T-junction.

The second site is adjacent to the Maigh Búrca estate on land where 14 social houses are to be built next year. There is planning permission on the site for a total of 69 social housing units.

Director of Services for Housing, Tom Connell, told a City Council meeting that while Phase 1 (14 homes) of that site will go ahead, a hardstand could still be built on the land which is earmarked for the other 55 homes.

The third site is at Ballyburke to the right of the access roadway to the new Coláiste na Coiribe.

At a local authority meeting on Monday, angry councillors complained there has been no consultation on the matter.

Councillor Mike Cubbard told the Galway City Tribune that the first councillors heard about the plan was when they went into the Council chamber before the meeting and saw a one-page document on their desks.

Tom Connell wrote in the document: “The capacity situation that has now developed at the Cúl Trá site cannot be allowed to continue. The site is grossly overcrowded in the extend that health and safety concerns exist and accordingly in advance it is necessary to bring forward proposals to address the current unacceptable situation.”

It is also proposed to advance plans for the development of City Council-owned lands in Oranmore.

Mr Connell told the meeting that emergency issues highlighted in the fire safety report for Cúl Trá “should have been acted on years ago” – there are 18 families in a hardstand designed for six.

“We now have to go and look at our landbanks on the Ballymoneen Road, assess the most appropriate and bring forward proposals,” he said, adding that a similar proposal will be brought forward for land adjacent to the Westside Shopping Centre.

“Emergency health and safety issues at Cúl Trá have to be addressed. This report is to give you advance notice. There will be detailed consultations,” said Mr Connell.

Chief Executive Brendan McGrath said the matter will require “difficult and brave decisions”, but ultimately, he has the power to approve the plans, regardless of councillors’ opposition.

“We’re at a point where we’re running out of options. There is a housing crisis in Galway City. Ultimately, it will require difficult and brave decisions.

“I have the powers. That’s not the way I want to do business, but if I have to, I will. Whatever solutions are ultimately proposed, somebody won’t like them.

“I don’t want to have to use the emergency powers vested in me. I’m not one bit afraid to act, I will invoke those powers, but I would rather work with yourselves,” Mr McGrath told councillors.

Reacting at the meeting, Cllr Billy Cameron said he could not carry on in any debate on the matter because no maps of sites had been provided to councillors.

Cllr Donal Lyons said that in previous consultations, there was never any mention of a hardstand for the Ballymoneen Road, it was always “Traveller-specific group housing”.

“The consultation process is a sham. By opening further hardstands, we’re kicking the can down the road. Cúl Trá was supposed to be the solution.

“There are nearly 5,000 on the housing waiting list in the city. Social housing should be built on all Council land and Travellers should be accommodated in social housing.

“These [Keeraun] lands cost €11 million initially. Now part of the land will be taken by the N6 (new outer bypass) and part is landlocked, so you’re left with a very small area of land. For €11m.

“There has been no consultation with local residents, there are no maps here. It’s not good enough,” said Cllr Lyons.

Cllr Mike Cubbard said the crisis at Cúl Trá needed to be dealt with, but at public consultations and meetings with local area councillors, there was never any mention about the Westside area.

He said that six weeks ago, he asked Mr Connell if there were any plans for that site and he was told there weren’t.

“This won’t happen on the Westside site on my watch,” he said.

Cllr Padraig Conneely said: “The [Keeraun site] land at Ballymoneen cost €11m and now you want to put a temporary hardstand on it. I could not agree to that. You dropped this bombshell on us tonight in a one-page letter,” he said.

Cllr Niall McNelis said the matter was being pushed through very quickly, and queried what constituted ‘temporary’.

“The temporary site on the Curraghline is there six years – that’s not temporary to me,” he said.

Cllr Peter Keane queried if the Diocese wanted its land in Lower Salthill back.

Mr Connell replied that the Diocese had written to the Council, advising the 25-year lease on the Cúl Trá land is due to end in March 2019, and that the Council is not in compliance with terms of the lease, and how it proposes to ensure compliance.

He said the Council has replied to the Diocese advising it is aware of the issues and has asked for a meeting.

Cllr Cameron asked: “How can I or any other person put faith in the Director if this is the way he behaves? We’re not given the truth at committee meetings. It will be hard for me to attend them anymore. They need to be in public and transparent. Let us have openness and honesty which we’re not getting here.”

Mr Connell replied: “I don’t want it said that I treat members in a disrespectful way. There are serious health and safety issues at a site and I’m trying to look at solutions. We’re looking at an emergency situation – all sites have to be on the agenda.”

The matter will be discussed again at the next Council meeting on January 9.

A shoplifter who held a scissors to a store manager’s chest in a threatening manner, will avoid a five-month jail term if he is deemed suitable to carry out community service instead.

Adrian Comiza (22), 52 Fearan Rí, Doughiska, had denied a charge of producing the scissors, which was sharply pointed, to intimidate and threaten staff at Aldi, Westside on April 14 last, when he appeared before Galway District Court.

He did plead guilty to stealing food items worth €7.06 on the same occasion.

With the help of a Romanian interpreter, Comiza also pleaded guilty to stealing €101 worth of clothing which he and and his future brother-in- law, Remi Macula, had packed into a suitcase they had taken off a shelf before walking out of Penney’s at Galway Shopping Centre on March 29 last – two weeks before the Aldi shoplifting offence.

Macula was sentenced to four months in prison for that offence last July at Galway District Court and lodged €700 cash in court at the time to appeal the severity of the sentence to the Circuit Court at a future date.

Comiza further pleaded guilty this week to driving without insurance, tax or a driving licence near his home on February 14 last.

The manger at Aldi, Westside, and a security guard gave evidence in relation to the contested charge that they noticed a group of people acting suspiciously in the store and they watched them on security cameras.

Comiza was seen placing food items into a small pouch or “man bag”   which was tied around his waist, before they all left the store.

Both staff members followed him outside and asked him to return to the store, but they then noticed he was waving a scissors at them.

Store manager, Stephen Shannon, gave evidence that while he was asking Comiza to come back into the store, Comiza held a pair of scissors up to his chest.  “He was just two feet away from me,” Mr Shannon said.

The store’s security guard, Paul Sylvester, said he advised Mr Shannon to step back from the accused.

Mr Shannon said the people who were with Comiza, (which the court later heard included his partner, Violeta Macula, and an older couple), surrounded them and started to push them so that Comiza could get away.

Comiza jumped over a railing and ran while both men shouted at him to stop.

A student, who happened to be walking by, tried to apprehend him but Comiza punched him in the face.

Both store staff caught up with Comiza, restrained him and brought him back to the store’s office.

Defence solicitor, Michael Cunningham said his client had no money to buy food that day for his partner.  He said Comiza had instructed him that he waved a shiny pencil at the men and never took the scissors from his bag.

Garda Fitzmaurice, who was called to Aldi that day, said Comiza admitted that he had produced the scissors to intimidate staff so that he could get away.

Judge Mary Fahy observed that Comiza’s partner, Violeta Macula – who was present in court  – had a lot of previous convictions for shoplifting offences. “I’m concerned about the company he is keeping,” the judge said.

Hearing Comiza had no previous convictions at the time of these offence, Judge Fahy convicted him of the contested charge.

She remanded him on continuing bail to January 30 for a Community Service Report and said that if he was deemed suitable by the probation service he was to carry out 150 hours’ community service in lieu of a five-month prison sentence for that offence.

The judge convicted and fined him €500 and disqualified him from driving for two years for driving without insurance.  She imposed a €200 for not having a driving licence.

City councillors have paved the way for a house on the outskirts of the city to be used as a Muslim place of worship and congregation, despite strong objections from the Council executive and local residents.

Members voted 11 in favour, and seven against, a material contravention to the City Development Plan in which the Council would consider the use of the dwelling house on agricultural land at Mincloon.

There were 17 submissions made since this amendment to the draft plan went on public display in the autumn – all against the change, on the grounds of the area being an inappropriate location for a place of worship, and would lead to increased traffic congestion.

In July, when the matter first came before councillors, they were told that a decision in favour of the proposal would put the planning process head over heels.

Director of Services, Joe O’Neill, warned that it was “effectively saying the use of the property is to be changed.”

Executive planner, Diane Egan, explained to members that the Muslim community had been granted ‘retention of alteration’ in 2010, with restrictions on how the house was to be used.

“It was to protect the residential amenity of that area,” she said.

Galway City Council’s Chief Executive, Brendan McGrath, added: “Condition 2 of this permission stipulates that … the dwelling shall not be used as a place for public assembly, a public hall, place of worship, bed and breakfast, or for any commercial purposes, other than use as a single private dwelling house.

“It wouldn’t be granted if they applied for planning permission,” he told members.

However, a majority of Councillors were inclined to disagree with his recommendation, as was the case when it came back before them last week.

Cllr Cathal Ó Concuir proposed that the alteration be accepted, which was seconded by Cllr Niall McNeilis – the latter said it would be a parish house, in keeping with this being a multicultural city.

On the other hand, Cllr Colette Connolly, supported by Cllr Michael Crowe, proposed the CEO’s recommendations that there be no change.

And so began a very heated debate, fuelled by Cllr Pearce Flannery’s suggestion that the members supporting this were only doing so because they got a free dinner from the applicants.

Cllr Peter Keane described this as “the most appalling thing I’ve heard in entire duration of this Plan.” Cllr Flannery was asked to withdraw his remark, but he refused.

Cllr Frank Fahy, who had received a text message prior to the vote saying “I trust that Galway is a fair city,” said that a vote in favour of this alteration was the right decision for the 3,000 Muslims living here. Furthermore, he said, business and sports clubs had been operating from the area for many years, and the roads had been able to accommodate this usage.

Cllr John Walsh, voting with the submission, said that any issues with the traffic and infrastructure was not the applicant’s problem, but the Council’s or the NRA’s.

Cllr Terry O’Flaherty said that the larger gatherings would be in Westside, and not in Mincloon, so she was supporting the applicant’s submission.

However, Cllr Michael Crowe said that a vote against the applicants should not be seen as being anti-Muslim.

“I’m against it, not because of any religious reason or another, and if Bishop Eamon Casey came through the door wanting to do the same for the Catholic religion, I’d say the same,” he said.

“I get the impression that there may be some offence caused by voting one way or another. But the Mosque in Ballybrit is a purpose-built facility, it met all the requirements. Here, they are looking to change a house into a church, and it simply isn’t suitable.”

Senior planner, Caroline Phelan, agreed that this was a zoning issue, rather than an assessment of something being good or bad.

“The City Council has spent a lot of resources pursuing unauthorised developments,” she said.

“We highlighted all along that they shouldn’t invest money in something that is prohibited. This unauthorised development has been pursued since 2012 … four years of resources have been invested into something that is prohibited. Some of the inspections on this property were done up to midnight. There is a mosque on residential lands in the city.”

The members who voted in favour of the submission were: Billy Cameron, Cathal Ó Conchuir, Padraig Conneely, Mairead Farrell, Peter Keane, Noel Larkin, Declan McDonnell, Niall McNeilis, Terry O’Flaherty, John Walsh, and Mark Lohan.

Against were: Colette Connolly, Michael Crowe, Ollie Crowe, Mike Cubbard, Frank Fahy, Pearce Flannery, and Donal Lyons.

After the vote, Cllr Colette Connolly, said that the decision defied logic.

“It beggars belief, given that the dwelling was granted planning permission, with specific planning conditions attached that expressly forbade the use of the dwelling as a place of worship,” she said.

“This was because of its location in G zoning where all development is restricted to that pertaining to agriculture. The dwelling in Tonabrucky borders onto a very narrow road in close proximity to a junction, where a number of accidents have occurred, according to residents of the area.

She described the rezoning in the City Development Plan to insert the specific objective of a mosque as “a circumvention of the planning laws” and a misuse of the CDP planning process.

“It undermines the Planning Department of Galway City Council, who have effectively now wasted scarce staff resources and taxpayers’ money, thanks to the decision of some councillors, in pursuing enforcement action over the past four years in order to achieve compliance with the original grant of planning permission,” she added.

“I deplore the fact that councillors are portrayed as pro or anti-Muslims, when in fact the issue is simply one of planning.”

She rejected any assertion that she was not for a ‘fair and tolerant Galway’.