Breaking News
City official defends future flood defences at Leisureland
Galway Bay fm newsroom – A city official has defended the future flood defences of the Leisureland complex.
Director of Services Tom Connell brought a report on the Salthill flood damaged amenity to a special meeting at City Hall last evening.
The Director detailed flood defence measures such as the development of an earth mound on Rockbarton Road and the provision of flood gates across the pedestrian access along the Prom.
Independent Cllr Catherine Connolly questioned if flood defences would be sufficient and if a pumping system would be put in place for any future events.
Sinn Fein Cllr Cathal O’Conchuir queried where water run off would go if flood gates are installed across the pedestrian access at the prom raising concerns for nearby residential areas.
Mr Connell said such water can be managed and will be dispersed without causing issue in other locations.
He said there is no pumping system in place but that under the emergency plan, that option will be examined.
Fine Gael Cllr Padraig Conneely argued that a better business approach was needed based on a report which, he claimed, found the facility had a more ‘civil service’ approach.
Labour Cllr Billy Cameron shared this management concern and queried why it couldn’t be run in a similar basis to the Town Hall or the Black Box.
He said a new vision was needed to bring it back to the standard it had when it initially opened over 40 years ago.
Members were also advised that there is money outstanding from the former operators of the amusement park after the query was tabled by Fine Gael Cllr Pearce Flannery.
Director Connell conceded this was being pursued through the relevant channels.
The final target date for the completion of all rehabilation works is early Decemeber.
Detailed costings could not be provided as the insurance claim is being processed.
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.
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%.
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.
Families queue up for school’s offer of free house
West has lower cancer survival rates than rest
Galway minors continue to lay waste to all opponents
Gardaí and IFA issue a joint appeal on summer road safety
Marathon Man plans to call a halt – but not before he hits 160 races
