Galway Bay fm - News

Food on the Edge returns to ATU Galway for 10th Anniversary

The award winning Food On The Edge symposium will return to Galway for it's 10th Anniversary. 
The symposium, with Evolution as it's central theme will be held in ATU Galway on the 27th and 28th of October. 
Since its inception, Food On The Edge has become a global meeting point for chefs, food activists, authors, educators, producers and innovators, gathering to debate and explore the future of food, both within the industry and for the wider world. 
This year's programme will feature an impressive roster of international culinary leaders, including Christian Puglisi, Adam Byatt, Will Goldfarb and Charmaine McHugo.
Founder of Food on the Edge JP McMahon told Galway Bay FM News that it is great to have reached the milestone of ten years. 

MEP Claims SME's in the West region are at risk of being unfairly excluded from EU supports

SME's and social enterprises in the West are at risk of being unfairly excluded from vital EU supports.
That's according to local MEP Ciarán Mullooly, who says it's due to unclear rules that Ireland has failed to fix.
He says the issue centres on a test in EU law called the "undertaking in difficulty" test, which prevents state aid going to firms that are collapsing.
Independent Ireland MEP Mullooly argues the way it's applied in Ireland is far too narrow and can lead to healthy ventures being deemed at risk and denied support.
He says one example is community and voluntary contributions being considered as debt.

41st Conamara Sea Week begins today in Letterfrack

The 41st annual Conamara Sea Week Festival begins today in Letterfrack in north-west Connemara.
The festival celebrates the unique and rich environment, marine life and cultural heritage of the region and this year's programme has events and activities to suit all ages, with workshops, art, music, talks, walks and much more.
The festival also shines a light on climate action and biodiversity, highlighting the importance of local action in combating global challenges.
Dermot O'Donovan, Chairperson of Conamara Sea Week, gave us a rundown of what people can expect during the week.
 

Step forward for major wastewater schemes in Mountbellew and Ballygar

There has been a step forward for major wastewater schemes, worth a combined €40 million, in Mountbellew and Ballygar.
The tender process for a contractor is well underway for both projects, with planning in place for Ballygar and planning submitted for Mountbellew,
Uisce Eireann says construction on both projects is expected to begin in the second half of 2026, subject to statutory approvals.
Galway East TD and Junior Minister Sean Canney says the projects are crucial for both areas.

Dáil hears Tuam-Athenry area being "bombarded" with wind farm developments

The Dáil has heard that the Tuam-Athenry area is being "bombarded" with planned wind farms.
Raising the issue, Fine Gael Deputy Pete Roche said he wanted to "shine a light" on the issue and find out the reasoning behind it.
He was told the matter would be raised with Environment Minister Darragh O' Brien.
Deputy Roche argued it's the worst impacted area in the country.

Sweet Mother Of Jesus

Ollie Turner

Galway Deputy welcomes announcement that a new veterinary school is to be established at ATU

Ministers James Lawless TD and Martin Heydon TD have announced that Atlantic Technological University has secured Government approval to establish a new School of Veterinary Medicine, with the first students due to begin in 2026.
The initiative, part of the Government's Veterinary Places Activation Programme (VPAP), will deliver 80 new veterinary student places nationally each year - 40 of which will be at ATU, with the remainder at SETU.
This announcement has been welcomed by Fianna Fail Deputy for Galway East, Albert Dolan who told Galway Bay FM News this morning that the move will be a game changer for Galway and the West of Ireland.

Galway East TD calls for NCSE Guidelines for the Review of SNA Allocations to be scrapped.

Sinn Féin TD for Galway East, Louis O'Hara, has called for the NCSE Guidelines for the Review of SNA Allocations 2025/26 to be scrapped.
The proposal would reduce the application window for additional SNA support to just six weeks, a definition Deputy O'Hara says is much narrower, and would unify mainstream and special class allocations.
Deputy O'Hara added that Ministers McEntee and Moynihan must abandon the regressive changes included in these new guidelines, saying they will have negative effects on children with additional needs and whole school communities.

Galway City Hosts World Oyster Opening Championships This afternoon

Representatives from 15 countries are in Galway this afternoon for the 2025 World Oyster Opening Championships.
This year’s event will take place on Lower Cross Street at 3 pm on a stage hosted by the Latin Quarter to determine who wins the title, with Ireland represented by Michael Moran, who won the national title last night at the Kings Head.
The championships are part of the 71st Galway International Oyster and Seafood Festival, which runs throughout the weekend at venues throughout the city and will begin with the Parade of Flags for each of the competing countries from Eyre Square at 2.15 with the St Patrick's Brass Band and Drumadore, led by Mayor of Galway Mike Cubbard and town crier Liam Silke.
The championships will be streamed on the Galway Oyster Festival YouTube Channel.
The top three finalists in the Irish and World Oyster Opening Championships will receive a bottle of An Dúlamán Irish Maritime Gin, with the winner set to receive a specially commissioned Connemara Blue glass trophy, handmade in Clifden.
Councillor Neil McNelis told John Mulligan that it is an exciting event for Galway City.