Breaking News
5 year old girl critical in Dublin hospital following M6 crash
Galway Bay fm newsroom – A five year old girl is in a critical condition in Temple street hospital in Dublin following a three car crash on the M6 last night.
The collision happened on the motorway westbound between Athenry and Oranmore at about 7pm.
This section of motorway is still closed to allow for a forensic collision examination.
It’s understood one of the cars spun out of control after being hit by another car along the motorway westbound at Newford, Athenry at about 10 past 7.
It then crashed into another car.
Five people were taken to hospital – the drivers of all three cars and a 5 year old girl and a 9 year old boy who were passengers in one of the cars.
The five year old girl was later transferred to Temple Street hospital for treatment of her injuries.
Gardaí are describing her conditon as ‘critical’
The three drivers and the boy have since been discharged from hospital.
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to contact them at Milstreet on 091 53 8000 or at Athenry on 091 844016.
Meanwhile, Gardaí and emergency services attended a collision on the M6 near the Loughrea junction this afternoon.
It’s understood no-one was seriously injured in the collision, but Gardaí are advising motorists to be extremely cautious, especially on a treacherous stretch of the motorway between Athenry and Kiltullagh.
Breaking News
Death announced of former Bishop of Galway
The death has occurred of the former Bishop of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora Martin Drennan, six years after he announced his retirement on health grounds. He was aged 78.
The Galway Diocesan Office confirmed the death this (Saturday) afternoon of the Bishop and Apostolic Administrator Emeritus, who oversaw the Diocese for eleven years.
Born on January 2, 1944 in Piltown, County Kilkenny, he studied for the priesthood at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, from where he was ordained to the priesthood in 1968. His brother Michael is also a priest.
Following his ordination, he continued his studies in Rome where he was awarded a Licentiate in both sacred theology and sacred scripture. He returned to Rome in 1980 to become spiritual director at the Pontifical Irish College for the next five years.
He became a lecturer in sacred scripture at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, where he continued to teach until his appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin in 1997 with responsibility for East Wicklow and South Dublin.
Following the retirement of Bishop James McLoughlin, Bishop Drennan was appointed Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh and Apostolic Administrator of Kilfenora and he was installed on July 3, 2005 in Galway Cathedral.
Connacht Tribune
O’Flaherty’s promising start
Outgoing Cllr Terry O’Flaherty (Ind) is on course to retain her City Council seat – and top the poll in City East.
With 33% of the boxes tallied, Cllr O’Flaherty is polling strongly, particularly in Renmore.
Michael John Crowe is ahead of his running mate Alan Cheevers for the Fianna Fáil vote, according to the early figures, although that could change when Doughiska and Roscam boxes are opened.
The Green Party’s Claire Hillery is on about 7%, with Fine Gael on 10% and Sinn Fein on 5%.
Connacht Tribune
Tallies underway as votes are sorted
The opening of boxes for the local elections began at 9am this morning in Leisureland when the tallymen (and women) kicked into gear.
As regards the Galway County Council elections, the smaller areas are being opened first which means that the four-seater Connemara North boxes will be first in the pecking order.
It will be followed by Gort-Kinvara (5 seats), Connemara South (5 seats), Athenry-Oranmore (7 seats), Ballinasloe (6 seats), Loughrea (5 seats) and finally Tuam (7 seats).
The boxes in these areas will be opened and tallied in that particular order before being transferred to the Galway Lawn Tennis Club on Threadneedle Road where the counting will commence around mid-morning.
That is when the fun will really begin – although the tallies should give a good indication as to where most of the seats are destined.
As regards the city, the Galway City East boxes were opened first, followed by Galway City Central and finally Galway City West. These votes will be transferred to the Westside Centre by around 11am for counting.
There are 39 seats on Galway County Council to be filled with 18 on Galway City Council. The City Council count is expected to conclude on Saturday night but the County Council count – with seven electoral areas to be filled – could well go into Monday.