Connacht Tribune
Van, HGV and coach sales booming in Galway
More than 4,200 new cars were registered in Galway in the first seven months of this year – down by around 170 vehicles on the same period in 2017 – according to new industry figures.
And a strong indicator of the ongoing economic recovery could well be the boom in van sales – up more than 9% to 840 so far this year, while HGVs and coaches are up around 2.7% to 1,945.
Used car imports from the UK and Japan are continuing on an upward trajectory, with 3,790 registered from the start of the year until the end of July, which is up more than 10% from 3,434 in the same period last year.
The statistics from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) show there were 4,247 cars on ‘181 G’ and ‘182 G’ plates in Galway at the end of July, down almost 4% on the 4,414 during the same period last year.
January sales were down 5.2%; February down 2.6%; March down 11.7%; April down 2.2%; May was up more than 6.8%; June down 22.6% and July, the first month of the new 182 G plates was up 2%.
The Hyundai Tucson SUV continues to be Galway’s most popular car, with 182 units sold in the first seven months, followed by the Nissan Qashqai (150); Toyota Yaris (142); Skoda Octavia (134); Toyota Corolla (129); VW Tiguan (110); Ford Focus (108); Kia Sportage (105) and VW Golf (98 units).
Grey, black, blue, red/maroon and white/ivory were the most popular colours.
Light commercial vehicle sales are also up 9.4% from 768 in the first seven months of 2017 to 840 during the same period this year.
The most popular are the VW T6 (86 units); VW Caddy (80); Toyota Landcruiser commercial (67); Ford Transit Connect (53); Ford Transit van (44); VW Golf van (39); Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (39); Citroen Berlingo (35) and Renault Trafic (27).
Registrations of new heavy commercial vehicles were up 2.7% from 1,894 units to 1,945. The most popular were the Scania 3-axle tractor (195 units); 149 Volvo buses and coaches; 127 Volvo 3-axle tractors; 118 Scania 2-axle tractors and 97 DAF 2-axle rigids.
Used car imports – when buyers turn mainly to the UK in search of higher ‘spec’ models than those available on the Irish market – were up more than 10% from 3,434 to 3,790.
The most popular imports were the VW Golf (225 units); Ford Focus (200); Hyundai i30 (173); VW Passat (142); BMW 5 Series (114); Audi A4 (108); Skoda Octavia (106); Nissan Qashqai (105); Ford Mondeo (91) and Mercedes-Benz E Class (89).
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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.
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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.
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
