Galway Bay fm - News

City and County Council publish latest draft Residential Zoned Land Tax maps

Galway TD calls for public information campaign on measles vaccine

A Galway TD is calling for a major public information campaign on the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles. 
It's as figures show a 45-fold increase in measles cases in Europe, as well as a drop in the uptake of the MMR vaccine. 
Deputy Ciaran Cannon has told the Dáil we live in a world full of misinformation, fallacies, and conspiracy theories. 
He said the UK is about to embark on a major public information campaign - and Ireland needs to desperately do the same. 
Speaking in response, Minister Eamon Ryan said he fully agrees - and took aim at a subsect of the population he said subscribe to a "nihilistic populist creed". 

Barna has one of the highest rates of volunteering in Ireland

Barna has gotten a special mention by the CSO for being one the towns with the highest rate of volunteering in Ireland.
Among the 164 towns with a population of between 1,500 and 10,000 people, 19 percent of people in Barna, and in Crosshaven in Cork, are doing at least one voluntary activity.
Meanwhile, 16% of people in Galway County and 13% in Galway City, participate in one or more voluntary activity.  
This compares to a national average of 14%, and Sheelagh Bonham, with the CSO, outlines some of the other main findings 

Tractor protest from Carnmore Cross into the city

Up to 100 farmers are expected to take part in a tractor protest due to pull out shortly from Carnmore Cross into the city
The Irish Farmers Association has organised a series of protests across the country to show support this evening for their European colleagues. 
They've been fighting against European environmental rules which they say will 'regulate them out of business'
The protest in Brussels has become quite heated - fireworks, eggs and beer bottles have been thrown at police
Farmers have also set hay bales on fire and blocked off huge parts of Brussels with their tractors. They're protesting outside the European Parliament, arguing it's becoming harder to make a living because of rising energy and fertiliser costs. They also want to see action on climate change, claiming extreme weather's destroying their crops.
Back home, the IFA isn't ruling out a full-scale protest in the future
Our reporter Josh Byrne is in Carnmore, and has been speaking to farmers as they get ready to pull out

Plans move forward for major multi-million euro redevelopment of The Shambles in Tuam

Plans for a major multi-million euro redevelopment of The Shambles Car Park in Tuam are moving forward. 
At a special meeting of councillors today, there was an unanimous vote of approval for the project. 
It aims to maintain The Shambles as an improved car park, but also allows for a covered casual trading area and an all-weather community space. 
The plan will now be submitted for financial support from Government
Councillor Stephen McHugh proposed the approval - in what was his last meeting as a replacement for his sister, Karey McHugh, who's on maternity leave. 
Our reporter Kevin Dwyer spoke to architect Brent Mostert before he made a detailed presentation this afternoon. 

Galway public share mixed views on new supermarket recycling scheme

People in Galway have been sharing their mixed views in relation to the Deposit Return Scheme, which has just gone live today.
A deposit of 15 to 25 cent is now applied to cans and plastic bottles - in what is the biggest change in recycling since the plastic bag levy 22 years ago.
Customers can then return the empty products - as long as they are clean and undamaged - at one of 1-thousand-800 reverse vending machines
Our reporters Sarah Slevin and Joshua Byrne asked people in Galway city what they think of the scheme:

Nonie Cosgrave also has 13 grandchildren and 16 great-children, the newest of whom was born just last week.

City woman celebrates 100th birthday today

A city woman is celebrating her 100th birthday today. 
Nonie Cosgrave, originally from Knockdoe, is now living at Circular Road. 
She was involved in the Cosgrave family farm at Dangan, and also worked at Moon's - now Brown Thomas - in the 1980s. 
Nonie comes from a large family of nine girls and six boys - and has four daughters of her own with her late husband Jackie, who she married in 1948. 
A huge celebration is planned from today into the long weekend, with family traveling from as far as Australia and Canada. 
Her daughter Imelda Hickey says Nonie's in excellent health, and she remains active in the Bushypark Active Retirement Club. 

Galway TD calls for urgent review of Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant

Traffic chaos expected in city this evening as farmers plan tractor protest over EU rules

Traffic chaos is expected around Galway city this evening, as farmers will carry out a tractor protest starting at Carnmore Cross at 5PM
The Irish Farmers Association has organised a series of protests across the country to show their support this evening to their European colleagues. 
They have been fighting against EU environmental rules which they say will 'regulate them out of business'
The Galway demonstration will begin at 5PM, and will see up to 50 tractors travel from Carnmore Cross through Lough Atalia and into the city
Speaking to Keith Finnegan, County IFA Chair Stephen Canavan says farmers are at their wits end.