Galway Bay fm - News

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.

Young Galway farmers urged to apply for new targetted scheme

Young farmers in Galway are being urged to apply for a new support scheme.
The Long Established Young Farmers, or Forgotten Farmers, scheme aims to recognise farmers under 40 in 2015 who started farming before 2008.
€5 million has been allocated in the Budget to fund the initiative, and the deadline to apply on Agfood.ie is 5:30PM on August 13th.
Headford area Fine Gael Councillor Andrew Reddington says this scheme will be of huge value to young local farmers

Tánaiste encourages Galway residents to check passports and renew online

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Harris TD, is today reminding citizens to check their passports are up-to-date before making travel plans and to apply for their passports online well in advance of their holiday departure date.
The Tánaiste also took the opportunity to update on the number of passports issued per country, stating that 16,962 passports were issued in the twelve months up to the 30th of June.

City event to honour Irish who died on UN missions and past conflicts

A ceremony is being held this weekend to honour the Irish men and women who died during UN Peacekeeping Missions or past conflicts. 
The annual event gets underway at the University of Galway on Sunday at 11am, as part of the National Day of Commemoration.
Members of the Defence Forces, next-of-kin of those who died, religious leaders and local politicians will be in attendance.
Mayor of Galway City Mike Cubbard is encouraging people to attend the event, saying it offers time for quiet reflection.

Galway and Roscommon politicians meet with local young people to discuss Budget 2026

Young people from Galway discussed their experiences and priorities for Budget 2026 with local politicians at the recent launch of spunout’s pre-budget submission.
spunout is Ireland’s youth information and support platform.
The pre-budget submission was created in collaboration with its Youth Action Panel, a diverse group of over 200 young people from across Ireland, focusing on their lived experiences.
Topics highlighted by these young people and featured in the submission include mental health, youth work, a lack of third spaces, housing, climate action, transport, apprenticeships, and healthy relationships.
Galway-based Action Panel member Peter O’Neill met with local politicians Claire Kerrane TD, Senator Shane Curley, Albert Dolan TD and Senator PJ Murphy, who attended the lobby day in Buswells Hotel, to discuss these issues.
Sinn Fein Deputy Claire Kerrane told Galway Bay FM News that a good conversation was held on the issues highlighted.

Galway Public Representatives attend Oireachtas Information Clinic organised by Failte Ireland

Public representatives from across the political spectrum learned first-hand of the work done by Failte Ireland in driving sustainable tourism, grow visitor numbers, increase tourism revenue, and supporting jobs across the constituency and region.
An Oireachtas Information Clinic for TD’s and Senators was held in Buswells Hotel near Leinster House and was attended by Deputies Pete Roche, John Connolly and Louis O’Hara and by Senators Anne Rabbitte, Ollie Crowe and Sean Kyne.
All representatives were provided with county-specific details on The National Tourism Development Authority’s investment programmes, destination development work, digitalisation, business and skills supports, festival funding and its work promoting tourism as a career.
Deputy Pete Roche, who attended the clinic, said that it was very informative. 

Councillor issues update on Community Transport Study for Headford

Councillor Andrew Reddington has confirmed that Galway County Council are to move forward with the Community Transport Strategy for Headford.
Following approval of the Kinvara Community Study for publication and consultation, the Council will now concentrate on the Headford Strategy, which is a priority among the remaining five studies.
Speaking to Galway Bay FM News, Councillor Reddington said that site visits have already been completed, and the information needed has been provided to draft a community transport plan for Headford.

Galway Deputy tells Dail that Western Rail Corridor must be delivered within lifetime of this Government.

The Dail has been told by Sinn Féin TD for Galway East, Louis O'Hara, that the Western Rail Corridor is a shovel-ready project which must be delivered within the lifetime of this Government.
O'Hara was speaking in the Dáil during statements on the All-Island Strategic Rail Review recommendations and also called for double-tracking of the Athenry-Galway rail line to be made a priority.
Deputy O'Hara said that the Western Rail Corridor is critical to the region.