Galway Bay fm - News

Portarlington woman wins coveted Best Dressed title on Ladies Day at Ballybrit

Laois woman Davina Knight from Portarlington has won the coveted Best Dressed title on Ladies Day at Ballybrit.
Her black two piece of a puffed sleeve top and ballet length full skirt, teamed with a large bow-style net hat, has won her ten thousand euro in cash.
Best Hat this year has gone to Eva Hayes Morrissey, a secondary school teacher from County Limerick.
Her winning Cathriona King creation was a side-disc hat with a gold embellished trim, teamed with a red two piece jacket and skirt has won her three thousand euro cash.
The judging team comprised Head Judge Mandy Maher, Kieran O'Malley of the sponsors the Connacht Hospitality Group and guest judge Michelle Regazzoli-Stone, the Mrs Glam brand co-creator.

Galway teacher's research on remote learning published by Hibernia College

A Galway teacher has had her research on remote learning published by Hibernia College in Dublin.
Rosaline Keane Kelly is a teacher at Galway Educate Together Secondary School in the city.
Her research focuses on the effect of remote learning on students taking subjects like maths and science. 
It's now been published by Hibernia College which is Ireland's leader in pioneering new education technology. 
Rosaline has been speaking to FYI Galway reporter Chloe Nolan about the project:

Galway becomes first Irish participant of global timber conservation programme

Galway has become the first Irish participants of the global timber conservation programme.
This programme aims to conserve tropical forests and reduce carbon dioxide in the air.
Students from ATU visited protected Guatemalan community forests of over 300,000 acres. 
This was part of their sustainable tropical wood skills project and the items are on display in ATU Connemara campus for public exhibition.
Galway County Council Climate Action Officer Rebecca Mooney speaks about the importance of the programme:

€4 million for Nun’s Island Theatre and Church House

Just shy of four million euro has been secured to renovate the Nuns Island Theatre and Church House in the city.
The works will add around 1,800 square feet of cultural space in the city and represents a significant boost to the arts community. 
The funding, secured under THRIVE, the Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme, was awarded under Ireland’s two European Regional Development Fund Regional Programmes.
Minister and Galway West TD Hildegarde Naughton says this new creative space is much-needed for Galway: 

High interest in Ladies Day competition as registration deadline approaches

Today is Ladies Day at the Galway Races, and entries for the competition have been flooding in.
Online registration opened at 6PM yesterday, and closes at 11AM this morning for judging, and the winner will be announced after 3PM.
There is a €13,000 on offer between the Best Dressed Lady and Best Hat Competitions, sponsored by The Connacht Hospitality Group.
Head Judge Mandy Maher says they are always keeping an eye out for style around Ballybrit, but she still recommends registering:

Activities throughout Galway next month for HER Outdoors Week

A wide variety of activities have been planned across County Galway for HER Outdoors Week.
The aim of the week, running from August 12th-18th, is to encourage women to spend time outdoors and try some new activities
There will be snorkelling events in places like Carraroe and on Galway Bay, along with kayaking in Loughrea, Ballinasloe and Portumna.
Karen Concannon, Community Sport Development Officer with Galway Sports Partnership, has been speaking to Sarah Slevin.

150 new jobs to be filled ahead of opening of Radisson RED Hotel in Mervue

150 new jobs are to be filled ahead of the opening of the new Radisson RED Hotel in Mervue later this year. 
The 177 bedroom hotel at Crown Square - which boasts a rooftop bar and restaurant - is to be the groups first Radisson RED Hotel in Ireland.
They're described as upscale boutique hotels, tailored around the millennial mindset with art, music and fashion.
Open recruitment days will take place on Thursday August 8th and Friday 9th from 11am to 6pm, for a wide range of positions. 
Madeline Riley, CEO of Radisson RED Galway, explained to John Morley what's on offer.

NTA says reports 'ruling out' double tracking on Galway to Athenry rail line are "incorrect"

The National Transport Authority says recent reports on double tracking on the Galway to Athenry rail line are "incorrect". 
It's after a recent article claimed that the NTA has ruled out a dual track between Athenry and Galway City. 
It's now confirmed to Galway West TD and Minister Hildegarde Naughton that it hasn't even started a planned survey on boosting capacity that would be needed to make that decision. 
The NTA says until this survey is completed, no prior decision will be made on double tracking. 
That survey on capacity is separate to plans for a 1km passing loop and second platform at Oranmore Train Station - and that project is still moving forward. 
Fine Gael Minister Naughton says a double track between Athenry and Galway City is still very possible. 

Call for public toilets at Loughrea Lake to open additional three months

Galway County Council is being urged to trial extended opening months of the public toilets at Loughrea Lake. 
At present, the facilities are only open in June, July, and August. 
But at a meeting this week, Councillor Moegie Maher asked if it was possible for them to be opened from April to September. 
Fine Gael councillor Maher says the demand is very much there for what's considered an "essential service" . 

Ballygar man to do charity cycle with kidney dialysis machine in tow

A Ballygar man says he wants to highlight how organ failure can affect young people, by going on a 240 kilometre cycle with a dialysis machine in tow.
Peter Conboy will set off tomorrow morning (10.30) from Temple Street Children's Hospital in Dublin, where his wife Liz was a patient more than 20 years ago.
She was hit by kidney failure when she was a teenager, and had to go on dialysis before getting a life-changing transplant.
Peter says he has many motivations for his five-day "Cycle of Life" from Dublin to Galway: