Galway Bay fm - News

Galway Honours Little Blue Heroes - Mayor Peter Keane

Galway Honours Little Blue Heroes - Gda Brian O'Donnell

Galway Honours Little Blue Heroes - Gda Damian Carey

Galway Bay FM News wins GOLD at the 2024 IMRO Radio Awards

Galway Bay FM has returned with several awards at the Oscars of the Radio industry, the IMRO Radio awards, held in Kilkenny last night.
The Galway Bay FM News department won gold in the Best News Programme, regional and local category, for FYI Galway with Q102 taking silver and BBC Radio Foyle the bronze. 
On the Move presenter, Kayte O Malley won bronze in the Irish Music Programme or Initiative Category with her Plugged In Lyra Special. 
Head of News at Galway Bay FM Bernadette Prendergast said that it was wonderful to be recognised and acknowledged. 
 

Perspective-shifting art installation in Salthill Park offers glimpse of future

As part of the 'Architecture on the Edge' Festival, UrbanLab have unveiled Samhlú Salthill, a perspective-shifting art installation.
With the help of local schoolchildren, the art piece reimagines the surrounding area - providing a glimpse of the potential future. 
Our reporter Chris Benn was at the launch in Salthill Park and spoke to University of Galway's Dr Pat Collins about the aim of the installation.

Dáil hears Galway "far behind the curve" in delivering affordable housing

The Dáil has heard that Galway is "far behind the curve" when it comes to offering affordable housing. 
Independent Deputy Sean Canney said there's just one single affordable housing scheme in the entire county, including the city. 
That's the Garraí na Gaoithe estate in Claregalway, with the first homes to go on sale next month. 
Deputy Canney - who has a background in construction - outlined a range of reasons for why the housing crisis is as bad as it is. 
They included lack of wastewater capacity to enable greater development in rural towns and villages. 
Speaking in response, Tanaiste Micheal Martin said Deputy Canney had raised a very valid point. 

Exhibition launched at Galway Museum marks Positive Aging Week

A special exhibition has been launched at Galway Museum to mark Positive Aging Week.
It aims to highlight the positive aspects of ageing - and recognises 27 Local Heroes from across Galway city and county for their positive promotion.
They include Renmore's Joe McCarthy, Stephanie O'Regan from Athenry, Peter Kelly from Clarinbridge, Mary Anne Wangari-Mullen from Westside and Cregmore's Donal Ryan.
Speaking to Chris Benn at the launch, they offered some advice to the younger generation.

Catherine Connolly critical of Government's "empty rhetoric" on growth of Galway

Galway West TD Catherine Connolly has hit out at the Government's "empty rhetoric" on the future growth of Galway and balanced regional development.
Speaking in the Dáil, she raised the issue of lack of wastewaster capacity in the Galway metropolitan area - including Merlin Park, Oranmore and Barna.
She said the lack of this basic infrastructure is strangling growth, impacting on planning permissions - and projected growth simply cannot happen.
Deputy Connolly acknowledged the Mutton Island plant has plenty of capacity - but the major problem is the wider network connections.
She said there are a myriad of serious problems, and Government is aware of some of them for almost 20 years.

Connemara-based dog rescue charity MADRA conducts national census of homeless dogs

There are almost 3-thousand dogs housed in rescues and pounds across Ireland, according to a census carried out by Connemara based dog rescue charity MADRA.
It was conducted in partnership with Galway County Council and the Department of Rural and Community Development.
The results have been published ahead of World Animal Day tomorrow.
Dawn Divilly, MADRA Director of Operations, says the figures show animal rescue centres are working at capacity:

NASA Astronaut to visit Galway Atlantaquaria for Space Week

A retired NASA astronaut is visiting Galway as part of Space Week 2024.
Steve Swanson will make a stop at Galway Atlantaquaria during a road trip to mark the global annual celebration of space, which runs from tomorrow (October 4th) until Friday of next week
This year's theme is Space and Climate Change, and the oppportunity to attend workshops at the aquarium is open to schools only.
The Blackrock Castle Observatory in Cork is organising events, and is also teaming up with Galway city libraries throughout the week.
Rob O’ Sullivan, National Outreach Coordinator for Space Week Ireland spoke to Sarah Slevin about the link between climate and space: