Breaking News
Water supply restored to Carraroe; bottled water on way to Inishbofin; burst main in Williamstown
Galway Bay fm newsroom – Full water supply has been restored to Carraroe following restrictions on the scheme.
The reservoirs have filled sufficiently to allow supply to return however, due to increased demand restrictions will be in place again tonight and for the next few nights until demand regularises and the water treatment plant can meet the demand needs. It may take several hours for all sections of the network to get water supply.
Water supply to the village and the nursing home is being maintained at all times.
Irish Water is grateful to Galway Fire Service who delivered bottled water out to Carraroe yesterday evening on behalf of the utility and the local fire service distributed it to vulnerable customers.
Across Co Galway customers are being advised that due to the extremely cold weather conditions and exceptionally high water demand, water treatment plants are struggling to keep up with supply demands.
Customers are being asked to conserve water to avoid reservoirs emptying and water pressure to homes and businesses being affected.
Night time restrictions on the Tully and Letterfrack supplies has enabled the reservoirs to refill to some degree and full supply has been restored this morning. Irish Water would like to thank customers supplied by these schemes for adhering to our water conservation notice yesterday. There will be further restrictions on this scheme tonight.
Water levels on Inishbofin are critical following a mechanical failure at the water treatment plant. A repair crew travelled to the island this morning (Saturday) to carry out repairs. Customers on the island are urged to conserve water. Bottled water is available at Inishbofin pier from 12.30pm.
Williamstown is suffering a major water supply issue and leak repair crews will be undertaking work in the town today to try to restore supply. Customers in some areas supplied from Kilnalag Reservoir have no water at present.
In East Galway customers are again urged to conserve water by turning off taps in properties and farm buildings, not running dishwashers or washing machines where possible and taking showers instead of baths.
The following areas are experiencing low pressure and/or loss of supply due to an increase in demand and some issues at treatment plants: Kilkerrin/Moylough, Mountbellew, Dunmore/Glenamaddy, Ahascragh, Williamstown and Tuam.
Irish Water working in partnership with Galway County Council would like to apologise to customers for the inconvenience this is causing and assures customers that repairs will be completed as soon as possible. Irish Water would also like to thank the local authority staff for their efforts in keeping water supplies running in very difficult conditions.
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.
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