There were heated scenes at County Hall today as councillors discussed a recent suggestion that elected members should hold a third level qualification.
Angry words were exchanged as Councillor James Charity was accused of wanting to return the local authority to the ‘days of the 19th century’ when only the elite were involved in politics.
The remarks in question were made during an interview on Galway Bay fm’s FYI Galway programme on Monday.
This afternoon’s meeting is being held to discuss flooding across the county – but the first order of business was a demand by Councillor Donagh Killilea that Councillor James Charity apologise to the chamber for his recent remarks.
He told Councillor Charity to ‘come down off his pedestal,’ and to stop dragging down the good name of Galway County Council and the hard work it carries out.
Councillor Frank Kearney remarked that Councillor Charity is keen to revisit the days of the 19th century, when only the rich and priviliged were involved in politics.
He asked if Councillor Charity was going to suggest next that only the educated be allowed to exercise a vote.
Councillor Shaun Cunniffe said that Councillor Charity had raised valid issues, and asked why the chamber couldn’t have an open debate on the effectiveness of the council.
Councillor Charity expressed bemusement at the debate, and said it was unprecedented that comments made outside the chamber would be subjected to debate on the chamber floor.
He said that he once received advice that he would never have friends in the Council Chamber, only colleagues.
He told his colleagues that they lived in a democracy and everyone is entitled to their opinion – and he would never seek the approval of the members before expressing his own views.

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Galway Bay fm newsroom – NUI Galway has moved into the Top 200 list of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
This ‘international outlook’ indicator used in the compilation of the list acknowledges universities’ ability to attract the highest calibre of staff and students.
The rankings look at both the diversity of a university’s student body and the extent to which its academics collaborate with international colleagues.
Dr Jim Browne, President of NUI Galway says the ranking is an affirmation of the university’s focused approach to developing its international reputation.

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It’s been confirmed this evening that Fine Gael TD Brian Walsh has resigned from the Dáil.
The Galway West TD’s resignation was announced in the chamber just before 5.
The Fine Gael deputy had been due to run for re-election this year, but pulled out in November due to a personal illness.
The news was announced by the Ceann Comhairle, Sean Barrett, who said Walsh would be sadly missed in public life.

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Galway Bay fm newsroom – It’s been confirmed this evening that Fine Gael TD Brian Walsh has resigned from the Dáil.
The Galway West TD’s resignation was announced in the chamber just before 5pm.
The Fine Gael deputy had been due to run for re-election this Spring, but pulled out in November due to a personal illness.
However he told Galway Bay fm at the time that he would see out his term until the Dail was dissolved.
Deputy Walsh has not said why he has departed earlier than planned.
FYI Galway has established that he was in Leinster House today, and had been speaking to some members of the media but did not tell them of the impending resignation announcement.
He was not in the chamber for the announcement as he was at that point no longer a member of Dail Eireann.
The news was announced by the Ceann Comhairle, Sean Barrett, who said Deputy Walsh would be sadly missed in public life.
It’s not known at this point what happens his seat although it seems most likely it will remain vacant for the few weeks remaining before the election, thought to take place at the end of February.

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Galway Bay fm newsroom – Over 43 thousand households across Galway city and county have received the €100 water conservation grant from the government.
887,010 householders across the country have claimed the grant so far, and a small number of others are still being processed.
Up to 1.6 million householders were eligible for the grant showing more a significant portion did not claim the grant from the Government.
According to the Irish Times, Longford and Carlow had the lowest number of claims, while the most claims came from Dublin.

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Galway Bay fm newsroom – Irish Water says the controversial temporary traffic light systems in place in Oranmore village are a health and safety requirement.
It’s after the utility came under fire from a Galway Senator for what’s being described as a series of ‘pop-up’ roadworks.
Galway Senator Fidelma Healy Eames says she’s been contacted by a number of local business-owners who are concerned that ongoing works are having a negative impact on their business.
In a statement to Galway Bay fm news, Irish Water says there are no road closures in Oranmore.
The utility says temporary traffic lights are being used to comply with health and safety regulations while it connects customers to the village’s new watermain.
The commissioning works will continue for a number of weeks until all properties are connected.
Once connections are complete, the company will permanently reinstate the road through Oranmore.
Irish Water says it will continue to keep customers updated on the works being carried out in the area.
Photo by @runningmatters_ on Twitter

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Galway Bay fm newsroom – Night-time road closures will begin in the coming weeks at Portumna Bridge to facilitate essential maintainance works.
The closure is set to come into effect from Monday the 25th of January and will remain in place until the 5th of February.
The bridge road will remain open during the day, but will close between 7pm and 6am.
Councillor Anne Rabbitte has criticised the move, she says that the County Council has failed to give proper notice of the works.

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Galway Bay fm newsroom – A Galway senator says the choice of route for the highly-anticipated Gort to Tuam motorway, is ‘akin to putting a brick on a wet sponge.’
Labour Senator Lorraine Higgins was reacting to comments made by Professor Paul Johnston of Trinity College Dublin, who claims that the parties involved in building the motorway knew the route was prone to flooding.
Parts of the partially-constructed 57km route have been affected by recent flooding in the Labane, Cahermore and Ballynasteigue areas.
Senator Higgins says the chosen route travels through a series of turloughs.

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Galway Bay fm newsroom – The cost of clean-up across the county in the wake of recent flooding is now set to reach up to 15 million euro.
The figure was revealed during a presentation given to a special sitting of Galway County Council to discuss the flooding experienced in recent weeks.
14.7 million euro – that’s what Galway County Council is now estimating the clean-up across the county will cost after the severe flooding of recent weeks.
Previously, the local authority had estimated that the total cost would be some 12 million euro – and with South Galway still experiencing serious flooding, the figure is likely to continue to rise.
The biggest cost of the clean-up is the repair of roads, which is set to cost the local authority over 8 million euro.
The repair of bridges, culverts and drainage channel repairs will cost a further 4 million – while the emergency response to the floods will cost almost 2 and a half million euro.
50,000 sandbags have been used in fighting rising water levels, the majority of those in South Galway – with one home requiring 2000 sandbags alone to keep the water out.
Last evenings meeting heard that 63 homes were saved by protection measures, while 62 homes were flooded, with 14 of those rendered uninhabitable
Director of Services Liam Gavin told Councillors that trying to solve flooding in South Galway is an extremely complex issue due to the topography of the land and the complicated nature of how floodwater reaches the sea.
However, he also told councillors that while the situation has improved, South Galway is still in crisis mode.

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Galway Bay fm newsroom – The Galway city branches of HMV and XtraVision are to close by the end of the month.
It’s been just over two years since a number of HMV and XtraVision stores in Ireland were reopened under new owners Hilco.
The Galway branch, which is based at Edward Square, currently employs 10 people, and was among several regional branches to reopen in September 2013.
It’s expected that further jobs will go at the XtraVision branch at Galway Shopping Centre.
Management at HMV has taken to social media to announce that the stores will close by January 31st, but an official closing date has not been confirmed.
They’re calling on customers to use any giftcards for HMV or XtraVision as soon as possible.

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Galway Bay fm newsroom – Galway Pro Choice campaigners will hold a demonstration in the city this evening.
The group says its protest is part of a national series of events being held in solidarity with a 21 year old woman who is facing prosecution in Northern Ireland on charges of procuring an abortion.
Galway Pro Choice says the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861 is ‘archaic,’ and the abortion provision of the act should be repealed in Northern Ireland as it has been in the rest of the UK.
The demonstration will take place at Galway Courthouse at 6 this evening.

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Galway Bay fm news – Headford’s revised Local Area Plan has been published today, following a series of changes made by the Environment Minister.
The plan, which has been in effect since October, has been altered as the result of a ministerial direction issued by Minister Alan Kelly.
The direction was issued in relation to zoning of land in Headford and the surrounding area.
The revised plan has been published online today at galway.ie

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Galway Bay fm newsroom – Groups across Galway have handed over 15 thousand euro in charity donations to Temple Street Childrens’ Hospital.
Over 71 Trick or Treat parties were held across Galway city and county last year.
Nationally, 2,300 people signed up around the country to host Halloween parties and over 300 thousand euro has been raised for the hospital.
The funds raised from ‘Trick or Treat for Temple Street’ will help construct a new Neurology and Renal Outpatients Unit.
Photo: Oisin & Anthony Redmond, Dangan.

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The Transport Minister says opening Galway’s bus lanes to peak-time commuters would not solve the city’s traffic problems.
The issue has been raised in the Seanad by Galway Senator Fidelma Healy Eames, who says immediate solutions to Galway’s traffic congestion problems are needed.
She’s backed recent calls to allow car-pooling commuters to use bus lanes in the city and the surrounding areas during peak times.
Speaking in the Seanad, Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe says opening bus lanes to commuters is not a feasible solution.

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Galway will be formally designated a bilingual city in March, thanks to a marathon initiative spearheaded by Gaillimh le Gaeilge over the last ten years.

City councillors agreed a motion last September and will officially declare bilingual status for the city in March.

Early this week, members of Gaillimh le Gaeilge delivered a presentation before members of the City Council outlining the potential benefits of bilingual status for Galway.

Chairman of Gaillimh le Gaeilge, Iggy Ó Muircheartaigh, revealed independent research to Councillors, which showed that the Irish language is worth €136 million to the city economy per annum.

Furthermore he declared that, in terms of tourism alone, Irish is worth €40 million per annum to Galway city and county.

Galway City Mayor Frank Fahy remarked that being awarded bilingual status was a ‘fitting tribute’ to centenary celebrations as well as coinciding with Galway’s bid for European Capital of Culture 2020.

“Beidh bronnadh an stádais seo ina ‘chomhartha ómóis’ do chomóradh Céad Bliain ar Éirí Amach na Cásca agus ina bhuntáiste dúinn chomh maith chun stádas Príomhchathair Chultúir na hEorpa 2020 a bhaint amach do Ghaillimh” a dúirt sé.

Mayor Fahy expressed the importance of the Irish language as central to the Easter Rising – not just our national language but a central part of our identity as a nation. He concluded by saying that Éamonn Ceannt and Pádraig Mac Piarais would be proud of the strength and support for Irish in this city.

“Bhí an Ghaeilge lárnach i gcroíthe ár Laochra in Éirí Amach na Cásca agus beidh ról lárnach aici sa cheiliúradh… Measaim go mbeadh Éamonn Ceannt agus Pádraig Mac Piarais bródúil as chomh láidir agus atá an Ghaeilge agus an tacaíocht atá ar fail di sa chathair.”

Bríd Ní Chonghóile, Senior Executive of Gaillimh le Gaeilge, has been at the forefront campaigning for bilingual status for Galway over the past ten years – and she maintains that recognition is about ownership and celebration of our authentic cultural identity.

Recent trends indicate a cultural “reawakening” according to Bríd who remains optimistic that Irish culture and language are experiencing resurgence in popularity.

Statistics released by Údarás na Gaeltachta reveal that Galway’s Gaeltacht, with a population of 48,907 represents 48.5% of the total Gaeltacht population. Moreover, approximately 15,300 of this population currently reside within Galway city.

A special meeting of the City Council will take place on March 7 to formally mark Galway’s bilingual status with a ceiliúradh – or celebration – afterwards.

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Every weekend as young soccer enthusiasts tune into the Premier League action, they dream of what it would be like to live the life of a sporting superstar.

But what they see on Sky Sports is a far cry from the reality enjoyed by one Tuam native who took the plunge this time last year to play soccer in England – albeit in the fourth tier of the game.

It was nonetheless a dream come true for Rory Gaffney when he was discovered by scouts and signed an 18 month contract with Cambridge United.

Rory played Gaelic football, but soccer was always his passion.

Starting with Tuam Celtic, he went on to play League of Ireland with Mervue United and Limerick City before moving cross-channel.

To the football fan, this would seem like the golden ticket to a life of riches, fast cars and luxury houses.

But the 26 year old was level-headed enough to know that the reality would be very different – all he wanted was play football in England and see how it went.

He drives a seven year old Volkswagen Golf, lives in a house with five other players and in his spare time he is studying accountancy for the fateful day when professional football isn’t an option anymore.

Rory does not see a role for himself in football after his career comes to an end but in the meantime he simply wants to enjoy the experience of playing in England.

And it started with a bang – because when Rory signed for Cambridge this time last year he was on the bench for an FA Cup tie against Man United.

But he’d only made a handful of first team appearances for Cambridge before suffering an ankle injury which required surgery.

He resumed training and towards the end of last year went on loan to Bristol Rovers where he scored four goals in two games to put the side into the top five of League Two.

He admitted that it was an opportunity to prove his potential and was delighted with what he achieved.

“Over here you are in competition with five or six strikers – even in the fourth tier of English football. That is how difficult it is,” he told The Connacht Tribune.

Rory trains at around 8.30am every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and then mentally prepares for the possibility of being selected for a match the following day.

Training ends at 1.30pm after which they have to ‘knock in’ the rest of the day either by reading, sleeping, watching TV or walking around the city.

Asked about his ambitions and if he would like to join a club in a higher league, his response was unbelievably rational that it would be a lesson for anyone with ambitions of playing football in England.

“You cannot think like that. You are as good as your last game. If the goals start coming then there will probably be attention from other clubs but we will never hear this because we are tied to contracts.

“Equally, if you are not scoring then it is a completely different situation so nobody at this level can start thinking above their station. But don’t get me wrong, I am loving every minute of it,” Rory added.

He earns a decent living but nothing like those in the higher leagues. He doesn’t get home to Tuam as often as he likes and even when he does, it is often for just a night or two to his parents James and Kathleen.

But he is anxious to see out his professional career in England and ‘challenge myself’ over the coming years.

“It is my intention as well as being an expectation that I keep scoring goals and if that happens, then who knows what lies ahead but you have to stay grounded.

“I enjoyed playing League of Ireland football but I always wanted to take it to the next level and I am delighted that I have achieved this. It is what I always wanted and would not give it up for anything,” he says.

Rory hopes that he can continue playing in England until he is 30 or 31 and after that he has to concentrate on embarking in a different direction which is why he is studying accountancy.

However, after his professional career comes to an end in England, he would not be averse to a couple of seasons with Galway United and, indeed, has not completely ruled out a stint playing Gaelic football with Tuam Stars.

But that, he hopes, is a long way down the line yet.

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A public appeal to name an abandoned donkey – found on the side of a hill in treacherous weather conditions in Spiddal last week – has come up with one that reflects his dramatic rescue.

The animal, described as having a sweet and gentle demeanor, will be known as Salvus – a Latin word that means ‘alive and free from difficulties’ – according to the Donkey Sanctuary which is now restoring him to full health at its Cork facility.

Salvus was spotted by several members of the public, who reported his whereabouts to the Donkey Sanctuary as he was abandoned in a mountainous area with no access to food or shelter.

The Donkey Sanctuary’s Welfare Advisor, Ian Colton, was aided in his search for the donkey by the Gardaí from Spiddal and Salthill.

The location of the donkey on a hill made him clearly visible to road users and led to a huge public reaction, according to Mr Colton.

“I received more complaints from members of the public in relation to this donkey than any other in 2015,” he said.

Following a Facebook campaign to name the donkey, Salvus was chosen. The Latin word – meaning ‘alive and free from difficulties’ – was deemed particularly appropriate given the conditions in which he was found and his sweet personality. That is according to The Donkey Sanctuary’s Public Relations Officer, Tríona O’Mahony.

Salvus is now receiving much-needed care and attention at The Donkey Sanctuary in Co Cork.

When he arrived, he was in poor condition and his neglected hooves were said to be causing him a lot of pain.

“He’s doing well now; it’ll be slow for him to regain trust in humans but he’s a lovely, sweet and gentle donkey,” said Ms O’Mahony.

This was the first time that a donkey was rescued in Co Galway under new EU Identification of Equidae Regulations 2014.

Once Mr Colton had located the donkey and found that he was not micro-chipped, he could then, along with the Gardaí, give notice that the donkey would be seized.

The Facebook campaign asked for name suggestions to be texted to the sanctuary, along with a €4 donation. This helped to raise vital funds for the sanctuary, which rescued over 500 donkeys last year alone.

Ms O’Mahony estimated that it would cost in the region of €3,000 to get a donkey, in the condition that Salvus was found, back to full health when all veterinary, farrier and chipping costs are included. There are also costs to be considered even after their health is restored. “To care for one healthy donkey per year, it’s about €1,500,” said Ms O’Mahony.

Ms O’Mahony warned that without the help of the public, The Donkey Sanctuary would not be able to carry out their work.

“It is important that the public let us know because without them, we don’t know where the donkeys are. We rescued over 500 donkeys last year and we have the public to thank for that,” she said.

If you wish to make a donation, visit The Donkey Sanctuary.

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Transport Minister Pascal Donohue has been asked to ‘call a halt’ to plans for a new Galway to Oughterard greenway, until affected landowners are properly consulted.

Senator Fidelma Healy Eames, an independent general election candidate, has also urged the county’s top public servant to resist lodging a planning application for the project before the route is agreed with those impacted.

Senator Healy Eames has written to Galway County Council Chief Executive, Kevin Kelly, and Minister Donohue, not to proceed to the planning stages until locals’ fears are addressed.

The Oranmore-based politician warned there would be serious consequences if officials ignore the views of landowners, property owners and communities impacted by the greenway.

“The proposed route is causing too much grief and concern and if it proceeds will lead to divisiveness and trouble. No Council or Minister should want this to happen,” she said.

Senator Healy Eames said the “unanimous view” of a meeting of property owners in the Oranmore Lodge Hotel last week was that the project should not go to planning. About 30 were in attendance.

Senator Healy Eames said the ‘good news’ is that the ‘Galway Cycleway group’ has been formed comprising property owners, farmers and cycling interests from the east and west of the county including Galway city, has formed. The group is in favour of a cycleway would be “properly planned, she said.

The new group’s mission is, “to achieve a properly designed cycle network for Galway which has the support of communities adjacent to any route and is achieved without Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) and with the permission of affected property owners.”

Senator Healy Eames welcomed the development, and urged the ‘powers that be’ to engage with the group. She said the model of “imposing” a greenway on locals was “failed”.

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Galway Bay fm newsroom – The contractors working on the Gort to Tuam motorway are to undertake an immediate review of drainage along the length of the route.
It follows concerns that the development of the M17 is having a significant impact on flooding across the county.
The finger has been pointed at the Gort to Tuam Motorway in recent days for severe flooding experienced across the county over the past number of weeks.
Senator Lorraine Higgins claims that the planned route is akin to ‘putting a brick on a wet sponge’ – and indicates ‘stupidity of the highest order’.
A recent meeting of Galway County Council was told that vast tracts of North Galway that had never experienced flooding before are currently underwater.
The motorway itself has been badly affected by the flooding, particularly in South Galway – and the extent of the impact will not be known until water levels recede.
Following a meeting between Galway County Council, Direct Route Consortium and Transport Infastructure Ireland, a full review of the drainage system for the motorway will now be carried out.
Galway County Council says the review is to begin immediately, and will examine the full length of the long-awaited 57km motorway.

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Galway Bay fm newsroom – There was a large crowd in attendance at a meeting held at Cartymore last night to discuss the proposed closure of a section of the R339.
Up to 150 people attended the meeting amid significant local concern over the planned closure of the R339 between Cartymore Cross and Raftery’s Cross in Cashla.
A petition created in opposition to the works has so far gathered over one thousand signatures, and is set to be handed into County Hall in the coming days.
It’s understood that an objection may also be lodged against the road closure.
At a public meeting last week, locals claimed there has been a lack of consultation with residents or businesses which stand to be affected by the closure.
Local businessman Paul Farnan says that the message from last nights meeting is clear – the road must stay open.

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