Breaking News
Protests planned for Galway, Limerick and Dublin in support of Margaretta Darcy
Galway Bay fm newsroom – MEP Paul Murphy is writing to Justice Minister Alan Shatter calling on the Government to permit a Presidential Pardon for Margaretta D’Arcy’s release from Limerick Prison
There will also be solidarity protests in Galway, Dublin and Limerick tomorrow
The 79 year old anti-war campaigner was arrested at her home in Woodquay in the city yesterday and was taken to Limerick prison to serve a sentence.
A three month suspended sentence handed down at Ennis District Court in December was activated after she refused to sign a bond to uphold the law and keep away from unauthorised zones at Shannon Airport.
MEP Murphy says the incarceration of Margaretta D’Arcy, a peace activist of 79 years of age, who is being treated for cancer, is an utter disgrace.
He says the real criminals who deserve to be in the dock are those in the Irish establishment who have over the last thirteen years permitted the US military to use Shannon in its so called war on terror.
He points out that Ms D’Arcy is a long-time acquaintance of President Higgins who himself spoke at protests in Shannon during the Iraq war.
Galway Sinn Féin Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh raised the case of Margaretta D’Arcy in the Seanad today. (16/1)
During the order of business, Senator O Clochartaigh asked for clarification from the Justice Minister, about the circumstances around Ms Darcy’s detention and to ensure her health and welfare are being properly attended to.
Meanwhile, the Galway Alliance Against War is to hold a demonstration in the city tomorrow demanding Margaretta’s release
The ‘Free Margaretta’ protest will take place outside the constituency office of Galway West Labour TD Derek Nolan at Bothar na Long, New Docks at 1 tomorrow afternoon.
A protest will take place in Dublin from 1 to 1.45 pm outside the Dept of Justice and the Limerick protest will be held at 5 tomorrow evening outside Limerick prison
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
