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Councillors express full confidence in Galway 2020 following chaotic meeting
Galway Bay fm newsroom – City councillors have passed a motion of full confidence in the leadership of Galway 2020 following a chaotic meeting at City Hall last evening.
The meeting was requested following concerns over an alleged lack of information in recent months on the progression of the €45m project – which is expected to generate around €400m for Galway’s economy.
The theme of Galway’s designation as European Capital of Culture for 2020 is ‘making waves’ – but it was a storm that threatened to brew at City Hall last night.
Chairperson Aideen McGinley and Chief Executive Hannah Kiely were both on hand to brief councillors on what has been achieved to date and offer a timeline in the run-up to 2020.
It was admitted last evening that there were some ‘bumps in the road’ in the project – but an assurance was given that Galway 2020 is fully on track to be delivered as planned.
However, many councillors were less than impressed with the presentation and the questions and answers session that followed.
Key concerns included the availability of detailed figures on how much money has been spent so far, what it has been spent on – or what funding has been received to date.
The Chair and CEO pledged to return to City Hall with in-depth figures – and an assurance was given that the Galway 2020 team has strict audit and transparency measures in place.
This was supported by City CEO Brendan McGrath, who also sits on the board of Galway 2020
Another key issue raised was the lack of awareness among the public regarding the project and how many communities across Galway seemingly still know nothing to little about it.
Ultimately, the end result of last evening’s often chaotic meeting was a vote of full confidence in Galway 2020 and its leadership – with an agreement that more frequent – and more detailed – presentations will be given in future.
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.
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