Galway Bay fm - News

60km memorial walk for children who died at Tuam Mother and Baby Home as excavation to begin

A 60km memorial walk will take place on Sunday for the children and babies who died at the Tuam Mother and Baby Home site but have no burial record.
It comes as long awaited and extremely complex excavation works to identify remains buried there are set to begin in the coming weeks.
Relay walkers will travel 62km, carrying lanterns to highlight the 796 missing children and babies.
They'll start at Jack's Old Cottage in Islandeady near Castlebar at 7am - and are expected to arrive in Tuam around 7.30pm.
A guard of honour will be formed by the public for local campaigner and historian Catherine Corless, who'll walk a leg of the relay.
Speaking to Galway Talks, organiser Valerie Jennings said people remember the babies for the right reasons:

€3m announced for a major new visitor centre on Inis Mór

Funding of €3m has been announced for a major new visitor centre on Inis Mór. 
'Árainn - Place of Stone Visitor Centre' will be located in the former Aran Islands Heritage Centre in Cill Rónain. 
It'll aim to provide visitors with a richer, deeper understanding of the islands history, traditions and natural environments. 
The project will also include a café, visitor orientation area and changing facilities - and hopes to become a cultural hub for both locals and tourists. 
As well as the €3m for the Inis Mór project, a further €1m has been announced for Cléire Island in Cork. 
Miriam Kennedy, Head of the Wild Atlantic Way at Fáilte Ireland, says these investments will bring in visitors from around the world. 

Former Mayor says proposed "Tourism Tax" in city would "send out wrong message"

Former Mayor of Galway, Councillor Eddie Hoare, says a proposed "Tourism Tax" in Galway City would "send out the wrong message". 
It's as Galway City Council is considering a pilot for short-term accommodation, with the aim of supporting sustainable tourism development. 
The motion was brought forward by Labour Councilor Helen Ogbu at a recent meeting and was widely supported by councillors. 
But speaking to Galway Talks, Fine Gael Councillor Eddie Hoare said tourism is a vital cog in our local economy. 
And he claimed introducing a tax like this right now - as people are feeling cost of living pressures - is just not a good idea. 

New 3-day Galway City Climate Festival kicks off today

A new climate festival for Galway city is officially kicking off today
The aim of the festival is to engage the arts and cultural strengths of Galway to create positive climate actions within the city. 
The three-day event, starting this afternoon, will deliver pop-up street theatre, performances, and games - all aimed at inspiring climate conversations.
Tiarnan McCusker, Environmental Awareness Officer with Galway City Council, explains why art can be so powerful:

Traffic sensors causing delays on Cong Road in Headford to be replaced next week

Issues are still ongoing with traffic sensors on the Cong Road in Headford, which are causing long delays in the area.
The sensors are set to be replaced in works starting Monday, with traffic delays on the road still expected until then.
While Councillor Andrew Reddington also says other works, such as line marking, have been ongoing for some time, which is adding to the delays.
The Fine Gael councillor says over thirteen thousand people travel through Headford on the Cong road every week:

Councillor welcomes enhanced Gort-Loughrea bus route but says more city services needed

A local councillor says it's positive there will be enhanced bus services between Gort and Loughrea, but more city services are needed.
TFI Local Link Galway has announced that Route 934 will now operate three daily return services Monday to Friday with peak-time services for commuters.
The route will offer improved connectivity to the regional bus and rail services and the villages and areas of Peterswell, Castledaly and Kilchreest.
While Loughrea area Fianna Fáil councillor Shane Curley says it's a good move, there's still a major issue with connectivity between the city and Loughrea:

City councillors set to vote on Dublin Road cemetery before end of year

Galway City councillors are set to vote on the Dublin Road cemetery development before the year is out. 
At a meeting this week councillors were shown the design, which has now entered public consultation as part of the planning process. 
The plans call for 350 trees to be planted, providing privacy for almost 3,000 burial plots, of which half will be traditional graves with the remaining fit for urn burials. 
Concerns have been raised around parking and traffic flow - however officials claim the 112 parking spaces provided will be enough, even during peak hours. 
Speaking to our reporter Chris Benn, Fianna Fáil Councilor John Connolly outlined the process for public submissions.

Supermacs owner Pat McDonagh says Galway would be 'laughing stock' if tourism tax is introduced

County Galway now qualifies for Rent Pressure Zone status

County Galway now qualifies for Rent Pressure Zone status, according to a new report.
Rent Pressure Zones are parts of the country where rents are highest and rising, and where households have the greatest difficulty finding affordable accommodation. 
They are intended to moderate the rise in rents in these areas and create a stable and sustainable rental market that allows landlord and tenants to plan financially for their future. 
Galway County is one of two areas to qualify, alongside the Carrigaline area in Cork.
Rosemary Steen, Director of the Residential Tenancies Board, says it's also publishing a second set of data today:

Mayor of Straubing, Germany, eager to visit Tuam as part of Town Twinning

The Mayor of Straubing in Germany is eager to pay a visit to Tuam, as part of the twinning relationship between the two towns.
That's what was relayed to members of Tuam's twinning committee on their recent visit to the southern German town.
The Twinning relationship dates back to 1991, and Galway County Council is being asked to include the cost of hosting the mayor in the budget plans for the next year
Fine Gael Councillor Ollie Turner says Tuam should embrace the opportunity to host Mayor Markus Pannermayr next year: