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Widespread disappointment as Apple officially abandons Athenry data centre project
Galway Bay fm newsroom – There’s widespread disappointment in Athenry and across the west this evening after the announcement that Apple is officially pulling out of its plans for an 850 million euro data centre in East Galway.
The data centre – which was set to create hundreds of jobs – has faced lengthy legal efforts in the Supreme Court to block it on environmental grounds.
Discussions will take place with Apple to urge the company to consider selling the site of a planned data centre in Athenry to another company.
That’s according to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar following the announcement that Apple is abandoning plans for the multi-million euro project.
The tech giant says delays in the approval process have forced it to make other plans.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar says all possibilities for the site will now be looked at.
He says that it’s too easy to undertake a Judicial Review in this country.
Minister for Business Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys says Apple’s decision is disappointing but other opportunities are now being sought.
Paul Keane from the group ‘Athenry for Apple’ says its devastating that Apple is abandoning its plans.
While local Councillor Peter Feeney says Apple can’t be blamed for making a commercial decision to build a data centre elsewhere given the delays the project has faced.
In a statement to FYI Galway, Galway Chamber of Commerce says today is a sad day for Galway.
The business group says the decision of Apple to scrap its Athenry plans means the region has lost a significant source of investment and job creation.
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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