Galway Bay fm - News

Calls for City Council to host in-person public consultation for infastructure projects

There are calls on Galway City Council to host public consultations and information days for future big infrastructure projects across the city.
Councillor Alan Cheevers says it would allow the public to see detailed drawings of projects and ask engineers and design teams more questions.
He adds that the public consultation process is currently reliant on social media, newspaper advertising and flyer drops.
He believes an in-person consultation would help residents get a better understanding on how projects in their area will affect them:

Fitzmaurice on teenager with severed finger being turned away from UHG

Meanwhile, Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice said the incident is a shocking indictment of healthcare in the North-West region. 

Dáil hears teenager with severed finger turned away from UHG

The Dáil has heard that a teenager who presented at UHG with a severed finger was turned away and told to come back in the morning. 
Marian Harkin told the chamber the teen was initially brought to NoWDOC in Carrick-on-Shannon and then sent to Sligo, where he was bandaged and told to travel to UHG. 
She alleged the 17 year old was advised in Galway to get a bed and breakfast as there was no-one to see him until the morning, and there were no trolleys available. 
Opening her speech, Deputy Harkin apologised for her voice, as she's recovering from laryngitis - but assured the chamber this matter cannot wait. 

Latest Ballybrit-winning lotto ticket makes it 3 big Galway wins in 2 weeks

Luck is certainly with Galway lately as the National Lottery has announced the third half a million euro win in the county in just two weeks.
And one local family can be thanked for making Galway one million euro richer  - with two of the winning tickets sold by stores owned by the McGreal family.
Last night's Euromillions winning ticket was sold in McGreals Mace in Ballybrit, while their EuroSpar store in Townparks in Ballinasloe had a €500,000 win last week.
Ballinasloe had just celebrated a half a million euro win on the 30th June, with that winning ticket bought in Corrib Oil in Brackernagh.
Both Ballinasloe winners have made contact with the National Lottery - with the search still on for last night's winner.
The winning numbers in that EuroMillions Plus draw were: 01, 07, 13, 14, 46.
Speaking to Galway Talks, Beatrice McGreal, says they're hoping the money is staying local:

Galway is top staycation destination according to PayPal study

A PayPal survey has revealed Galway is the top staycation destination in Ireland this summer.
22 percent of people surveyed are planning a trip to Galway - that's followed by Cork, Dublin and Donegal on 20 percent.
Despite the cost-of-living, travel remains a priority for 62% of consumers, with many people making cutbacks to priortise getting away.
The average holiday spend in 2023 is €2,320
Despite the interest in staycations, PayPal's Jenna Thompson-Nurse says 80 per cent of us are planning an overseas break.

Gardai urge Galway householders going on holidays to follow the home security check-list

New University of Galway Student President puts fees and accomodation at the top of his agenda

American visitors to Galway mark Independence Day

Ahascragh-native Senator says RTE salaries should be capped at €195k

Salaries at RTE should be capped at €195k, to match the salary of the Minister for Communications in Government. 
That's according to Ahascragh-native Senator Ronan Mullen, who says he's not interested in witch-hunts - but public trust has to be restored in the state broadcaster. 
It's after he introduced a bill into the Seanad last week which would impose the maximum salary ceiling of €195k. 
Speaking to Galway Talks, Senator Mullen says while the move wouldn't please everyone, some kind of limit has to be introduced. 

University of Galway researchers recommend a name-change for Obesity

Researchers at University of Galway and University College Cork are recommending a name-change for obesity.
They say it's a complex disease that centres on a number of factors including environmental, genetic and physiological, not on body weight or on BMI.
Researchers at both universities found that conflicting understandings of the word ‘obesity’ jeopardise diagnosis and treatment.
Postdoctoral researcher in UCC’s School of Public Health, Dr Margaret Steele, says obesity is not about how big you are or what your Body Mass Index is