Breaking News
70 new apartments planned for west of the city
Galway Bay fm newsroom – 70 new apartments could be built in the west of the city in the coming month.
The city council has given approval for one development, while another two applications are currently under consideration.
Approval’s been given for a new residential development at Taylors Hill.
Declan Taite and Anne O’ Dwyer as Joint Receivers over certain assets of The Model Investment Partnership, had sought planning permission for the development at Taylor’s Hill Court.
It will comprise a block of 8 duplex apartments and maisonettes with revised parking.
City planners have given the green light with 15 conditions attached including a stipulation that the developer must pay a development contribution of over 58 thousand euro.
Meanwhile, there are plans for another 47 apartments at Clybaun Road.
Oak Ventures Ltd has applied for planning permission for the development at Mincloon.
The project would involve the construction of two to four storey blocks containing 47 apartments, as well as bin stores, substations, landscaping and a new entrance road.
A decision is due from city planners in July.
The planning team is also considering an application to demolish two derelict houses on the Cappagh Road to make space for new apartments.
Joint receivers Declan Taite and Anne O’ Dwyer – who’ve already secured permission for the Taylor’s Hill project – have also applied for permission to demolish two homes at Lenabower, and build 2 new duplex blocks.
The first will consist of 4 two-bed units and 4 one-bed apartments, while the second will have 2 two-bed units and 3 one-bed apartments.
City planners are due to make a decision on the Cappagh Road project in the coming weeks in June.
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.