Connacht Tribune
Key tips for students seeking accommodation in Galway
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Finding the right place to live is crucial to a happy university experience. University of Galway are there to offer support and advice on making the right choice.
The accommodation shortage in Ireland is impacting almost every part of society. President of University of Galway Students’ Union, Sai Gujulla says, “We are facing the worst housing crisis in recent times. When choosing from different types of accommodation, tenancy rights are the most important thing.”
Universities and colleges are an asset to Ireland’s towns, cities and regions. Director of Student Services, John Hannon says, “Students are our future leaders… the people who sustain a region like Galway. They ensure our city is one of Ireland’s most multicultural and vibrant regions.”
Finding student accommodation is the most important thing you will need to plan for whilst at university. We have put together our top tips for choosing your home.
- Visit nuigstudentpad.ie
The search portal at nuigstudentpad.ie is the most secure way to search for private student accommodation in Galway. Click here to start your search, or visit the NUI Galway website for more information.
You can also search through other websites, however – do not part with any money until you have seen the property in person. - Get informed on your options
There are options both in the City Centre and in residential areas. Learn more about accommodation options across Galway here.
Most rental properties are houses with 3–5 bedrooms, and larger houses generally offer cheaper rooms through house-share. There is also the option of digs/community accommodation, where a student pays a homeowner for accommodation. - Search smart
Always meet a prospective landlord in the accommodation to be rented and keep copies of receipts and correspondence. Ensure that keys fit, and rental contract is signed, prior to paying a deposit.
Get a receipt for the deposit paid and rent in advance. Damage of property is a regular reason for losing a deposit. Make a list of furniture and appliances with the landlord. If there are any outstanding repairs, ask the landlord to state in writing that they will be repaired.
You can learn more about tenancy safety from the Residential Tenancies Board, An Garda Síochána and threhsold.ie and learn more about your rights here. - Budget
What you can afford to spend on accommodation each month is important – consider your other expenses.
Here is a useful link to an overview of the cost of living in Galway.
- What is included in the rent?
Most accommodation offers all-inclusive packages. Check whether bills are included in the rent and factor it into your budget. - Start as early as possible
Start refining your choices now. If you are travelling to Galway from abroad, you can book short-term accommodation for your arrival.
Some CAO places have already been offered, two rounds of offers are yet to be issued. Key dates to keep an eye on are:
> Thursday, 8 September at 2pm | Round One offers
> Monday, 19 September at 10am | Round Two offers
Galway homeowners – room to spare?
Would you like to earn up to up to €14,000 tax free?
Sign up for the rent-a-room scheme now and advertise your space to 19,000+ students for free.
The rent-a-room scheme offers a way to earn extra income, while helping a student to find their feet.
Find out more at NUI Galway Rent-a-Room.
It is advisable to create a rental agreement that sets out the expectations of both homeowner and tenant.
What have other homeowners said?
Claire, Maunsells Rd | Homeowner
“It was great to have some company while she was finishing her PhD.”
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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.
Get the full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune, on sale in shops now, or you can download the digital edition from www.connachttribune.ie. You can also download our Connacht Tribune App from Apple’s App Store or get the Android Version from Google Play.
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.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
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Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
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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.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
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
