Galway Bay fm - News

University of Galway launches oral history archive of Irish showbusiness

The University of Galway is launching an oral history archive of Irish showbusiness people as part of National Heritage Week.
It aims to celebrate the lives and legacy of Irish performers from travelling cinemas, fairgrounds, circuses and sideshows.
The archive 'Voices of the Showmen' is a partnership between the UG Library, Irish Street Arts, the Circus and Spectacle Network, Archives Ireland and The Irish Showmen's Guild
The Guild's Selma Fox McFadden believes it's vital to document the lives of veteran Irish showpeople:

Galway Deputy asks Minister to intervene on situation regarding school transport for Colaiste Na Coiribe.

A Galway Deputy has asked the Minister with direct responsibility for School Transport to intervene with the Department of Education towards sanctioning a further Bus Service for students attending Colaiste na Coiribe.
It has emerged that some pupils had enrolled in the school only to find that no transport had been provided.
Speaking to Galway Bay FM News, Deputy Connolly, who is the Fianna Fail Spokesperson on Further and Higher Education, said that several parents had contacted him on the issue and had been in touch with Minister Michael Moynihan. 

Galway West Deputy John Connolly welcomes 10% pay rise for Irish Language Assistants

Language Assistants are to receive a 10% pay rise as part of a €1.964m nationwide package for the 2025/26 school year.
The Language Assistants Scheme, managed on behalf of the Department of Rural and Community Development by Muintearas in the Western Region, Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne in the Southern Region, and Glór na nGael in Gaeltacht Service Towns and Irish-Language Networks, is also being extended by one year.
As a result of this funding, the hourly pay rate for Language Assistants will increase from €23.20 to €25.52 from the beginning of the new school year.
The announcement of the pay rise has been welcomed by spokesperson on Further and Higher Education and TD for Galway West, Deputy John Connolly, who spoke to Galway Bay FM News this morning.

MEP warns that over 5,000 Galway Farmers could be forced out of Farming under New EU CAP proposals

Midlands North West MEP Ciaran Mullooly has warned of a deeply concerning development under the European Commission's proposed reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy or CAP.
Under new proposals, farmers reaching the State Pension age of 66 could not receive a single farm payment from 2028.
Speaking to Galway Bay FM, MEP Mullooly said that if these proposals went ahead, more than 5,000 farmers in Galway would be affected.
Has called for the introduction of a new early retirement package before the proposals come into effect.

Thousands attend public rally in Ballinasloe over downgrading of maternity services at Portiuncula Hospital

A large crowd, estimated in the thousands, took to the streets of Ballinasloe this afternoon for a public rally over the situation with maternity services at Portiuncula Hospital.
A local group was set up last month following a decision to transfer high-risk pregnancies from the hospital, following a review into the care being provided.
The Portiuncula Maternity Alliance says thousands of people have already signed a petition, with the next step being the public rally. 
Ballinasloe local Ciaran Keighery was at the rally and he spoke to John Mulligan on lunchtime news.
John first asked him about the turnout.
 

Galway v Cork Commentary

Minister welcomes Cabinet approval of government investment in Electricirty infrastructure

Galway East TD and Minister of State for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports Sean Canney has welcomed Cabinet approval for up to €3.5 billion in Government equity support for ESB and EirGrid - unlocking over €18 billion in electricity grid investment between 2026 and 2030.
The investment includes up to €2 billion in equity support for EirGrid to develop Ireland's offshore electricity grid including delivery of the new Phase 1 and Phase 2 offshore wind connections and up to €1.5 billion for the ESB to invest in the onshore transmission and distribution network to meet growing electricity demand.
Speaking to Galway Bay FM News, Minister Canney said it is vital that this money is put to use quickly to deliver the infrastructure required.
 

Midlands North West MEP calls for dedicated funding for sport in next EU Budget

Midlands North West MEP Nina Carberry has called on the European Commission to earmark dedicated funding for sport and physical activity in the next long term EU Budget.
Ahead of the Commission's official Budget publication on 16 July, Carberry joined her EPP party colleague Nikolina Brnjac, Croatia's former Minister for Sports, in writing to Commission Vice-President Raffaele Fitto, urging the inclusion of a dedicated allocation for local sports infrastructure across the EU.
Speaking to Galway Bay FM, MEP Carberry said that 45% of Europeans do not engage in any form of sport or physical activity, a trend she says is a ticking time bomb for healthcare systems.

Claregalway Castle to host unique cultural event tomorrow evening

The historic medieval Claregalway Castle is to host a unique cultural event tomorrow evening with a Summer Salon Concert that will feature an enchanting evening of opera headlined by Galway-based soprano Helen Hancock.
The concert programme will span from the Baroque to the Romantic era and promises a rich and varied selection of operatic favourites, featuring works by composers such as Mozart, Puccini, Handel, Dvořák, Monteverdi, Vivaldi and many others.
Helen will also be joined on stage by rising soprano Anna Rose Marshall, a recent graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.
Helen spoke to John Mulligan during rehearsals and he asked her what we can expect tomorrow evening.

Visitors for Race Week encouraged to visit and enjoy the city's summer vibes festival

With Race Week getting underway tomorrow, visitors are being encouraged to visit the city to enjoy the week's festivities.
Summer Vibes will run from tomorrow morning until Wednesday evening, bringing the pulse of the party right into the heart of the city with pop-up gigs, fashion shows, yoga sessions, walking tours, and even disco bikes lighting up the Westend after dark.
New this year is a curated trail linking Galway's most iconic venues, from classic pubs to buzzing cafés and indie food spots. Bars across the city centre will be alive with sound, from trad sessions and late-night bands to mellow acoustic sets.
Chairperson of the Latin Quarter Edel O'Connell gives us a small taste of what will be happening over the next three days.