Connacht Tribune
Further exploration for minerals in Connemara heartland
A Canadian mining company has heralded its intention of following the tracks of potentially valuable minerals deep into the heartland of Connemara in the coming years.
The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment has given public notice that he “intends to renew the prospecting licence for Base Metals and Silver” held by MOAG of Toronto in the Carna area.
Scientific reports already show that there are significant – possibly commercially viable – quantities of molybdenum close to Mace Head in Carna. This location is the primary focus of the molybdenum search which is described in company circles as the “Irish Moly” project.
According to its accounts, MOAG has already spent in excess of $1.5m. Canadian dollars in surveying and boring into the ground at the site, going as deep as 150 metres with some of its drill holes.
MOAG has also carried out some surveying work at another site in Murvey in Roundstone which is also known to have traces of molybdenum. This mineral is used for adding to the texture and pliability of steel and other materials. One of its primary strengths is that it has great resistance to erosion and can withstand extremes of temperature.
The main body of the surveying work in Carna has been carried out by S.L.R. Consultants on behalf of MOAG. This company has offices in Dublin, Belfast and Scotland. An Údarás na Gaeltacht industrial building in Carna has been their local base and they continue to hold a lease on that premises.
The samples taken at various underground levels in Mace have been stored in this premises where initial assessments and categorisation has taken place.
More minute scanning and examination of the samples from Connemara have confirmed a significant level of molybdenum but its commercial status remain subject to further intensive and costly investigations.
MOAG confirmed last year that it intended carrying out more intensive examinations of the molybdenum deposit at Mace Head. But any such work was, and is, dependent on investors backing up the project.
MOAG financial statements last year contained the following information: “As of March 31, 2017 the company had working capital deficits of almost 13 million Canadian dollars”.
Mineral exploration is notoriously risky and venture capital has been difficult to come by. Company sources said that the cost of taking the next exploratory step would run into millions.
The development of various types of projects – both land and marine based – in Connemara has been very difficult from an investors point of view and environmental considerations could enter into any mining project.
However, MOAG, appears intent on following through on its exploration, finances permitting. The increased demand and price for Molybdenum has also buoyed interest in the mineral. The latest prices for molybdenum on the markets is United States $13 per pound which is double the price the mineral was three years ago; molybdenum had hit a low at that stage due to economic changes in China, in particular.
Significant state investment is required to address ‘shocking’ inequalities that leave cancer patients in the West at greater risk of succumbing to the disease.
A meeting of Regional Health Forum West heard that survival rates for breast, lung and colorectal cancers than the national average, and with the most deprived quintile of the population, the West’s residents faced poorer outcomes from a cancer diagnosis.
For breast cancer patients, the five-year survival rate was 80% in the West versus 85% nationally; for lung cancer patients it was 16.7% in the west against a 19.5% national survival rate; and in the West’s colorectal cancer patients, there was a 62.6% survival rate where the national average was 63.1%.
These startling statistics were provided in answer to a question from Ballinasloe-based Cllr Evelyn Parsons (Ind) who said it was yet another reminder that cancer treatment infrastructure in the West was in dire need of improvement.
“The situation is pretty stark. In the Western Regional Health Forum area, we have the highest incidence of deprivation and the highest health inequalities because of that – we have the highest incidences of cancer nationally because of that,” said Cllr Parsons, who is also a general practitioner.
In details provided by CEO of Saolta Health Care Group, which operates Galway’s hospitals, it was stated that a number of factors were impacting on patient outcomes.
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Galway 3-18
Cork 1-10
NEW setting; new opposition; new challenge. It made no difference to the Galway minor hurlers as they chalked up a remarkable sixth consecutive double digits championship victory at Semple Stadium on Saturday.
The final scoreline in Thurles may have been a little harsh on Cork, but there was no doubting Galway’s overall superiority in setting up only a second-ever All-Ireland showdown against Clare at the same venue on Sunday week.
Having claimed an historic Leinster title the previous weekend, Galway took a while to get going against the Rebels and also endured their first period in a match in which they were heavily outscored, but still the boys in maroon roll on.
Beating a decent Cork outfit by 14 points sums up how formidable Galway are. No team has managed to lay a glove on them so far, and though Clare might ask them questions other challengers haven’t, they are going to have to find significant improvement on their semi-final win over 14-man Kilkenny to pull off a final upset.
Galway just aren’t winning their matches; they are overpowering the teams which have stood in their way. Their level of consistency is admirable for young players starting off on the inter-county journey, while the team’s temperament appears to be bombproof, no matter what is thrown at them.
Having romped through Leinster, Galway should have been a bit rattled by being only level (0-4 each) after 20 minutes and being a little fortunate not to have been behind; or when Cork stormed out of the blocks at the start of the second half by hitting 1-4 to just a solitary point in reply, but there was never any trace of panic in their ranks.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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GARDAÍ and the IFA have issued a joint appeal to all road users to take extra care as the silage season gets under way across the country.
Silage harvesting started in many parts of Galway last week – and over the coming month, the sight of tractors and trailers on rural roads will be getting far more frequent.
Inspector Conor Madden, who is in charge of Galway Roads Policing, told the Farming Tribune that a bit of extra care and common-sense from all road users would go a long way towards preventing serious collisions on roads this summer.
“One thing I would ask farmers and contractors to consider is to try and get more experienced drivers working for them.
“Tractors have got faster and bigger – and they are also towing heavy loads of silage – so care and experience are a great help in terms of accident prevention,” Inspector Madden told the Farming Tribune.
He said that tractor drivers should always be aware of traffic building up behind them and to pull in and let these vehicles pass, where it was safe to do so.
“By the same token, other road users should always exercise extra care; drive that bit slower; and ‘pull in’ that bit more, when meeting tractors and heavy machinery.
“We all want to see everyone enjoying a safe summer on our roads – that extra bit of care, and consideration for other roads users can make a huge difference,” said Conor Madden.
He also advised motorists and tractor drivers to be acutely aware of pedestrians and cyclists on the roads during the summer season when more people would be out walking and cycling on the roads.
The IFA has also joined in on the road safety appeal with Galway IFA Farm Family and Social Affairs Chair Teresa Roche asking all road users to exercise that extra bit of care and caution.
“We are renewing our annual appeal for motorists to be on the look out for tractors, trailers and other agricultural machinery exiting from fields and farmyards,” she said.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
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
