Galway Bay FM News Archives
City could be Olympic base for Filipino boxing team
Date Published: 30-May-2011
BY CIARAN TIERNEY
The Philippines’ Ambassador to Ireland expressed an interest in bringing his country’s boxing team to Galway for acclimatisation training ahead of next year’s Olympic Games in London during a visit to the city on Friday.
Ambassador Ariel Y Abadilla was said to be impressed by an information pack given to him by a delegation from the Galway Chamber of Commerce and Industry which highlighted the city’s advantages as a pre-Olympics base for national teams.
Mr Abadilla acknowledged the advantages of using Galway as a base, due to the city’s sports facilities and proximity to London, for athletes who will need to acclimatise after making a long journey for next summer’s games.
He met up with Carmel Brennan and Maeve Joyce of the Chamber during a day-long visit to the city which included meetings with the City Manager, Joe O’Neill, and Mayor Michael Crowe, and visits to the Claddagh National School and the Marine Institute in Oranmore.
“We have a committee in the Chamber which is tasked with having a look at the whole Olympics scenario and how Galway could benefit from it,” said Ms Joyce yesterday.
“We have sent an information pack to every embassy in Ireland, but we made a special presentation to the Philippines Ambassador to mark the occasion of his visit. He said he was very impressed by the sports facilities on offer here, but said that his main focus would be on the boxing team.”
Other countries have already expressed an interest in Galway, particularly due to the water sports facilities here, with the Chilean team considering the city for a pre-Olympics base and ‘feelers’ having been sent out to other countries including Brazil and Kenya.
Mr Abadilla’s Galway visit was organised by City Councillor Niall McNelis (Labour).“He told me that the Olympic team would need to acclimatise after such a long flight before the Olympics and said that we were the first city in Ireland to suggest being used as a base next year,” said Cllr McNelis.
Read more in today’s Connacht Sentinel
Galway Bay FM News Archives
Galway has country’s largest population of young people
Date Published: 07-May-2013
Galway has a population of young people which is more than twice the national average.
According to information gathered by the Central Statistics Office, Galway’s population of 20 to 24 year olds is more than twice the national average.
The number of 25-34 year olds in Galway is also more than the norm nationally, with the two main colleges thought to be the main reason.
However immigration in Galway is much higher than in other areas at 19.4 percent, compared to the national average of 12 percent.
Galway Bay FM News Archives
Call for direct donations to city charity shops
Date Published: 07-May-2013
A city councillor is encouraging people to donate goods directly to charity shops.
It follows allegations of thefts from clothes banks in Galway and across the country in recent months.
However, cameras are in place at some clothes banks and surveillance is carried out by local authorities.
Speaking on Galway Talks, Councillor Neil McNeilis said the problem of theft from clothes banks is widespread.
Galway Bay FM News Archives
Galway ‘Park and Ride’ could become permanent
Date Published: 07-May-2013
A park ‘n’ ride scheme from Carnmore into Galway city could become a permanent service if there is public demand.
That’s according to the Chief Executive of Galway Chamber of Commerce, Michael Coyle.
The pilot scheme will begin at 7.20 next Monday morning, May 13th.
Motorists will be able to park cars at the airport carpark in Carnmore and avail of a bus transfer to Forster Street in the city.
Buses will depart every 20 minutes at peak times and every 30 minutes at offpeak times throughout the day, at a cost of 2 euro per journey.