Galway Bay fm - News

Galway County Council has honoured Galway Bay fm's Keith Finnegan with a civic reception for his 34 years of distinguished service to the radio industry
Hosted by County Cathaoirleach Liam Carroll, it was held in the Oranmore Lodge Hotel this afternoon as part of the monthly council meeting
Keith will be honoured by the City Council on Friday week with the Freedom of the city, at a ceremony in the Hardiman Hotel in Eyre Square
The 63 year-old Mervue native retired from the station last month, but will be back on air over the next fortnight to moderate the local and European election debates, being broadcast each evening from 6 to 8
The first one, featuring the Connemara North candidates goes out this evening 
Just after the civic reception and ahead of this evening's 6 o'clock broadcast Keith told David Nevin that he found today's Reception and all the good wishes since his retirement, humbling

Galway County Council has honoured Galway Bay fm's Keith Finnegan with a civic reception for his 34 years of distinguished service to the radio industry
Hosted by County Cathaoirleach Liam Carroll, it was held in the Oranmore Lodge Hotel this afternoon as part of the monthly council meeting
Keith will be honoured by the City Council on Friday week with the Freedom of the city, at a ceremony in the Hardiman Hotel in Eyre Square
The 63 year-old Mervue native retired from the station last month, but will be back on air over the next fortnight to moderate the local and European election debates, being broascast each evening from 6 to 8
The first one, featuring the Connemara North candidates goes out this evening 
Just after the civic reception and ahead of this evening's 6 o'clock broadcast Keith told David Nevin that he found today's Reception and all the good wishes since his retirement, humbling

There's frustration over the continued lack of public transport in Claregalway - despite the rapid growth of the village. 
The matter was raised at County Hall this week by Athenry/Oranmore Councillor David Collins. 
He was also critical of long-running plans for Park and Ride facilities around Knockdoe and Carnmore - which seem to have made no progress. 
Councillor Collins told David Nevin local residents are very frustrated. 

There's a call for community CCTV grants to be 'fast-tracked' to urgently tackle anti-social behavior and illegal dumping across Galway. 
Government has announced €1m for the development of council led CCTV schemes in specific communities. 
Applications are now open - and Councillor Shelly Herterich Quinn says they need to be submitted and approved as quickly as possible. 
The Athenry/Oranmore councillor says the grant could also cover the upgrade of out-of-date existing systems. 

Rents across County Galway are rising slightly faster than those in the city.
The latest Rent Price Report from Daft.ie shows in the City, rents have risen by 5% in the last year and the average rent is now €1861.
While in the rest of Galway, market rents were on average 8.9% higher - the average listed rent is now €1,472.
Author of the report, economist Ronan Lyons, says certain areas are suffering from lack of availability more than others:

The European Union has lost its 'moral compass' - and no longer shows an understanding of the concept of morality at all.
That's according to Galway West TD Catherine Connolly, who's reacting to a new report from the European Ombudsman.
Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Connolly said the report described the EU as having built a garden, and everything outside that garden is designated as jungle.
She further noted the EU reaction to the drowing of 600 migrants last year when a single boat capsized near Greece was "a shrug of the shoulders".
Deputy Connolly also took aim at the EU stance on Israel - and argued the it has lost it's moral compass.
 

Record numbers are expected in Claregalway this weekend for the Fleadh Cheoil na Gaillimhe 2024.
It's being hosted by Lackagh Comhaltas, and will see participants from Comhlactas branches right across Galway.
A weekend of competitions and entertainment will kick off after this evening's opening ceremony, which takes place at 7:30at Claregalway Castle.
Marie Walsh, PRO of Galway Comhaltas, paints a picture of the jam-packed weekend ahead:
 

The solutions needed to tackle the traffic chaos in Galway cannot be decided in Dublin, and can only be delivered by Galway's local authorities. 
That was the opinion expressed by Transport Minister Eamon Ryan today, as he officially opened three new active travel schemes in the city. 
They are the new pedestrian footbridge at Wolfe Tone Bridge, the Eglinton Canal Active Travel Scheme, and a Safe Routes to School project at Scoil Iognaid. 
Speaking to David Nevin at Galway City Museum, Minister Ryan said more active travel schemes and improved public transport is the only way forward. 

Councillors have failed to come to a resolution with the County Council over issues with traffic lights at the West Bridge in Loughrea.
The sequence for the lights was changed almost a year ago, which both councillors and locals claim is causing traffic gridlock caused by the move.
Speaking at the final Loughrea MD meeting of this term, Councillor Moegie Maher says the current system is not working, and they should be turned off altogether.
While this was initially backed up by felllow councillor Declan Kelly, both eventually councillors retracted their suggestions after safety issues were cited by Galway County Council.
However, Councillor Maher spoke to Sarah Slevin about the ongoing saga: