Galway Bay FM News Archives
Garda plan crackdown on illegal gambling in pubs
Date Published: 31-Mar-2011
By Declan Tierney
Pubs and betting offices in Galway City have been accused of operating illegal gambling by featuring poker and slot machines without having a licence to do so.
Galway Gardaí have confirmed that three businesses in the city face prosecution this month for illegally having gaming machines on their properties.
It was alleged this week that several pubs and bookmakers in the city have poker machines on their premises and were breaking the law in the process.
It was also claimed that some of the machines are capable of taking €50 notes and that gambling addicts could lose this amount in a matter of minutes.
Gardaí say that they take his matter very seriously and will confiscate poker machines from premises once they are made aware of their presence.
“If a pub or any other premises has a machine that pays out money, then it is illegal and should be reported to the Gardaí. At the moment we have three prosecutions pending and they will be coming before the courts during April.
“The casinos in Salthill have a licence under the Gaming and Lotteries Act to have machines that pay out money, but they are illegal in pubs or betting offices,” the Garda spokesman added.
A caller to the Liveline programme on RTÉ this week claimed that there were poker and slot machines in several pubs and bookmakers in Galway City.
“I am a full-blown poker machine addict,” the caller admitted, and said that he could not go into a pub or betting office in Galway because of the fear of coming across one of the machines.
He claimed that in one betting office, he put in a €50 note into a poker machine, bet up to €2 a hand and his stake was gone in a couple of minutes.
For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.
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.
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.
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.
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