There are major power outages and severe flooding affecting parts of the county this morning as a result of the stormy weather conditions.
1,200 homes in the Athenry area were without electricity for a time last evening and into this morning – this is now down to 222 homes.
MET Eireann’s highest weather warning, a status red alert, remains in place for Galway and much of the west of Ireland today.
95 homes are without power in Claregalway, and a further 46 are still without electricity in the Woodford area near Portumna.
There’s 47 houses without power in the Glenamaddy area, and a further 21 on the east side of the city.
Nationally, almost 3 thousand homes across the country were left without power due to Storm Desmond.
ESB says the ongoing stormy conditions are making repairs difficult.
Traffic lights in Moycullen are currently out, but a repair crew is on site.
Salthill Gardaí say there’s still very high winds along the promenade.
Heavy rains are causing severe flooding in lands across the county, and there’s flooding on roads in many areas.
These include the R446 between Oranmore and Ballinasloe, the Maree junction at Oranmore, and also in Ahascragh, Kilrickle and the surrounding areas.
There’s also flooding at Abbeyknockmoy after a stream burst its banks.
There’s severe flooding around Claregalway – the river has burst its banks and Gardai are at the scene.
The N17 at Claregalway is currently partially closed as crews work to pump away the flood waters.
Also, the N59 near Glenlo Abbey is flooded, and motorists are asked to reduce their speed when approaching the area.
There’s a lot of surface water in Loughrea town and the surrounding area.
Clifden Gardaí say there’s a lot of surface water on the Inagh Valley road between Renvyle and Recess in Connemara.
In Gort, the road at Kiltartan near the railway crossing is currently flooded, but passable.
Barriers along the Curraghline are loose as a result of high winds, and motorists are advised to travel with extreme care.
Motorists are also advised to be on the alert for debris, fallen trees and powerlines.
The status red weather warning, the highest and most severe on Met Éireann’s weather warning scale, will remain in place until the early hours of tomorrow.
Galway County Council has this afternoon issued a ‘code red’ weather alert.
The council is urging people to drive with care or avoid travelling if necessary.
It’s asking motorists to be aware that there are people working on the roads, and to expect delays in all areas and allow extra time to get to your destination.
COUNTY ROADS UPDATE:
N59 Traffic lights repaired and in situ at location of roadworks, 1 lane traffic
N84 – Caution advised at existing roadworks
N66 Gort to Loughrea Road – severe flooding in some parts – avoid travelling on this road
N17 Claregalway- 1 lane traffic only – traffic lights will be in place shortly, expect delays
N59 West of Glenlo Abbey Hotel – 1 lane traffic only – proceed with great caution
R336 Ballinahown – 1 lane traffic only – caution advised
R336 Barna to Spiddal Road – only drive on this road if essential to do so, proceed with caution
N17 Cloonacauneen Castle/Ballindooley – Local roads in the area are flooded
North of New Inn, in the townland of Waterloo – Local roads in the area are flooded
Barnaderg, Tuam – car park and road are flooded
PRESS PLAY TO VIEW THE VIDEO ABOVE
Spiddal to Moycullen Road – road flooded near playground in Moycullen – road is impassable at this location
Derrymullen, Deerpark – Road flooded
Camus-Maam Road – Road flooded, proceed with caution
Ballygar – Local roads flooded
Gort area – Localised flooding
Cois Carrig Crescent Estate – houses flooded
R446 between Oranmore and Ballinasloe
Maree junction at Oranmore
Ahascragh, Kilrickle, Caherlistrane, Barnaderg and surrounding areas
Gort, in particular the N66 to Gort-Loughrea road – currently impassable at Castledaly
Claregalway: temporary traffic lights in operation after river burst its banks
Significant flooding on N59 near Glenlo Abbey
A lot of surface water in Loughrea town and surrounding area
Surface water on Inagh Valley road between Renvyle and Recess
Very high crosswinds on the Maam Cross road to the Maam Valley in Connemara, Gardaí dealing with an overturned trailer
Barriers along the Curraghline (N84) are loose as a result of high winds
Flooding on Roscommon-Galway road near Turloughmore
Road from Castleblakney to Caltra currently impassable
Significant flooding on N17 at McHugh’s pub
Kiltullagh to Carrabane road currently impassable
Gurteen to Attymon road also impassable
Power outages in Mervue/Ballybane, Glenamaddy, and Cornamona.
A number of roads across the county are impassable, as torrential rain and strong winds continue to batter Galway.
Homes in the Cois Carraig estate in Loughrea have also been flooded.
Meanwhile, the Status Orange wind warning – due to end at 6pm – has been extended to 3am tomorrow.
Winds speeds of up to 75km/h and gusts over 100km/h are set to continue through the night, while the Status Red rainfall warning continues.
Further accumulations of 60mm are expected in Galway.
Eglinton Street in the city blocked this evening due to falled Christmas lights (Photo: Craig Flaherty)
In the past hour, gusts of slightly more than 100km/h were recorded at Mace Head.
The following is the latest situation on the roads around the county, as of 5.30pm.
Connemara
R336 Maam to Casla closed as impassable.
There’s flooding on the N59 Galway – Moycullen road at Bushypark/Gortacleva – the road is down to one lane as a result.
The N59 near Glenlo Abbey is flooded, and motorists are asked to reduce their speed when approaching the area.
High crosswinds on the Maam Cross road to the Maam Valley in Conamara, motorists are advised to avoid the area if possible.
The N59 near Roscahill is flooded.
Flooding in vicinity of playground in Maigh Cuillinn (Moycullen)
Significant surface water on the Inagh Valley road between Renvyle and Recess
The R336 Maam Cross to Casla road is impassable in sections. There’s also an overturned trailer on the road, so avoid the area if possible.
There’s a slight landslide on the R336 at Finney, near Maam – motorists are advised to avoid the area if possible.
The road at Oughterard Church is almost impassable.
Loughrea / Gort
Flooding at Kilnadeema Bridge, advisory markings in place.
N66 Gort to Loughrea road currently passable at Castledaly, but caution is required.
Roads around Gort are significantly flooded, drive with extreme care.
There’s a lot of surface water in Loughrea town and the surrounding area.
There’s severe flooding on the Abbey-Gort Road at Ballinakill
Ballinasloe:
The R357 closed due to flooding. Major flooding on all roads in Ballinasloe area
Severe flooding around Ahascragh and Caltra, some roads in the area are barely passable – proceed with extreme caution.
The R355 Portumna to Ballinasloe road at Ballycrissane is flooded, but remains passable
Roads in the Ballymacward and Lowville, Ahascragh area are also flooded
Athenry / Oranmore / Claregalway.
Flooding at Castle Ellen – currently passable but motorists are being advised to approach the area with extreme caution.
N17 flooding in Claregalway (Baile Chlair) temporary traffic lights in operation, motorists advised to remain on N17 due to severe flooding on local roads in the vicinity.
The R348 Athenry to Kilconnell Road is impassable in spots.
Tuam:
N63Galway/Roscommon at Abbeyknockmoy is severely flooded, water being pumped off the road.
The Anbally Road near Corofin is current impassable.
There’s also severe flooding in and around Barnaderg, avail of alternative routes if travel is essential.
Road users are reminded to avoid all unnecessary travel and obey signage and not to drive into floods unless they are certain that it is safe to do so.
Met Eireann rain charts show that some of the heaviest rainfall will be around 1am tonight (Saturday), while gusts continue to top 100km/h at Mace Head.
Here is the latest on the roads situation across Galway as of 8.30pm:
TUAM / HEADFORD
Tree down on the R332 Tuam/Kilmaine Rd near Ballygaddy, avoid route.
Road between Milltown & Dunmore blocked by a fallen tree, avoid route.
A number of local roads are under flood waters in the Caherlistrane area.
A number of roads reported as being impassable in Headford area due to level of flood waters.
N63 Galway/Roscommon at Abbeyknockmoy is severely flooded, water being pumped off the road.
The Anbally Road near Corofin is current impassable.
There’s also severe flooding in and around Barnaderg, avail of alternative routes if travel is essential.
ATHENRY / ORANMORE / CLAREGALWAY
Heavy flooding in the vicinity of McHugh’s Bar & Restaurant on the N17. Local roads off the N17 in the area at Cloonacauneen Castle/Ballindooley are also flooded.
Flooding at Castle Ellen – currently passable but motorists are being advised to approach the area with extreme caution.
N17 flooding in Claregalway (Baile Chlair) temporary traffic lights in operation, motorists advised to remain on N17 due to severe flooding on local roads in the vicinity.
The R348 Athenry to Kilconnell Road is impassable in spots.
Extreme caution required on Athenry/Monivea road to due to significant flooding at several locations.
BALLINASLOE:
Significant flooding report in the New Inn & Ballymacward areas.
The R357 closed due to flooding. Major flooding on all roads in Ballinasloe area.
Severe flooding around Ahascragh and Caltra, some roads in the area are barely passable – proceed with extreme caution.
The R355 Portumna to Ballinasloe road at Ballycrissane is flooded, but remains passable.
Roads in the Ballymacward and Lowville, Ahascragh area are also flooded.
LOUGHREA / GORT / PORTUMNA
Craughwell Village on the R446 (Old N6) is now impassable due to flooding.
Caution required in Kilrickle and Kilchreest areas due to reports of flooding on local roads.
Spot flooding on the N18 Limerick/ Galway Rd between Labane and Kilcolgan.
The R446 at the turn off for the Meadow Court Hotel is barely passable.
There is flooding on the Portumna/ Gort Rd (R353); especially at Ballinakill. The Portumna/ Ballinasloe Rd (R355) at Ballycrissane is flooded in parts. Care is also needed on the Portumna/ Tynagh Rd.
Flooding at Kilnadeema Bridge, advisory markings in place.
N66 Gort to Loughrea road currently passable at Castledaly, but caution is required.
Roads around Gort are significantly flooded, drive with extreme care.
There’s a lot of surface water in Loughrea town and the surrounding area.
Exercise caution on the N67 Kilcolgan/ Kinvarra Rd in the vicinity of roadworks.
CONAMARA
High crosswinds on the Maam Cross road to the Maam Valley in Conamara, motorists are advised to avoid the area if possible.
The N59 near Roscahill is flooded.
Flooding in vicinity of playground in Maigh Cuillinn (Moycullen).
Significant surface water on the Inagh Valley road between Renvyle and Recess.
The R336 Maam Cross to Casla road is impassable in sections.
There’s a slight landslide on the R336 at Finney, near Maam – motorists are advised to avoid the area if possible.
The road at Oughterard Church is almost impassable.
It is costing Galway City and County Councils €105,000 to lease Galway Airport to a commercial operator, which is making €10,000 alone in landing fees from private jets.
The Carnmore site, which was leased to Carnmore Aviation until December 15, was jointly purchased by the two local authorities from the Galway Chamber of Commerce when subsidies were withdrawn from Aer Arann to operate commercial flights there.
Oranmore Councillor Jim Cuddy asked what the loan repayments were and how much money the council was getting from leasing the facility at the budget meeting of Galway County Council.
He said 58 private planes had landed there since January and were being charged a landing fee of between €120 and €160 – amounting to nearly €10,000 in income. The facility had also been used by the Air Corps and Irish Coastguard to refuel.
He also queried Galway Flying Club’s contract to use the runway and what progress had been made regarding a proposal to turn the 115-acre site into an international hub for drones testing, which could generate 100 jobs.
“Is it true some of the assets on the site are for sale on Done Deal? That’s absolutely scandalous considering those assets were bought by the taxpayer,” he stated.
Interim Chief Executive Kevin Kelly said a lease agreement was put in place which saw the two councils pay €105,000 per annum to keep the facility open for aviation. At the expiration of the lease, the council was willing to enter a new agreement for 11 months but on the basis the local authorities would break even.
He did not want to replace an airport which had been subsidised by the Government with an aviation facility subsidised by the councils.
“Discussions are ongoing with interested parties. It remains to be seen whether there’s an outcome,” he explained.
“My understanding is the Galway Flying Club are independent of any other activity. We’re open to have that used . . . but I was not open to paying for the privilege of having someone on site.”
Cllr Cuddy told the Connacht Tribune the agreement was strange.
“We are actually paying them to be there – I’ve never heard of a property being leased to a commercial company that is costing us. This is also costing the council for repayments of the €1.1m loan, just how much I never got an answer about from the Executive,” he stated.
“Galway Chamber sold off that equipment at €500,000 – a knockdown price before the deal was done with the councils and a lot of that equipment was bought by the taxpayer.
“One fire tender alone cost €240,000 when it was bought. The runway cost €300,000. It was a good deal to buy the facility but they need to be more forthcoming about what it is being used for.”
He pointed out that a film company was currently renting out one of the hangars to film a 1916 series, the proceeds of which would go to the Carnmore Aviation rather than the council.
“I believe some form of aviation should be retained at Galway Airport because it’s vital for rescue services, it’s being used to transfer vital organs and the multinationals are using it to bring in their top executives and they’re a very important part of Galway commercial life.”
Cllr Joe Byrne proposed a motion – passed without a vote – calling on the councils to extend the current lease arrangements with Carnmore Aviation for a minimum of 11 months.
“The purpose of this motion is to ensure that we don’t have a situation on December 16, that the gates are closed, IAA licencing agreements expired and we are all asking how did we allow a situation develop which sees the end of a service for facilitating our multinational companies, Coastguard and Air Corps landings.”
He pointed out that the €105,000 from the councils was a contribution for matters relating to security, maintenance and insurance.
Singer-songwriter Jamie Harrison is going back to school – to perform for students at his alma mater.
The 24-year-old musician, whose stock continues to rise, will return to Calasanctius College in Oranmore to perform two concerts on Tuesday.
Among the songs Harrison will perform is his debut single, ‘If I Only Knew Your Name’, which was released recently.
Harrison, who won an All-Ireland hurling final with Galway in 2009, always had a grá for music, and he nurtured that during his days at secondary school.
When in Calasanctius College at the age of 15 and 16 his band Amoeba, meaning ‘single cellular organism’ – “not very Rock ‘n’ Roll”, he admits “but we liked the sound of it” – played Vicar Street in Dublin.
The band also got to the All-Ireland finals of the Battle of the Bands competition. Harrison started out as a rocker, and was interested in AC/DC and heavy rock but he mellowed out “and then I came to the realisation that I love pop music.”
His debut single – recorded with Grammy Award-winning producer Ken Nelson (Coldplay) in Grouse Lodge Studios – is the very essence of pop. And the video for the single, which was filmed in September in Los Angeles with director Nicholas Lam and cinematographer Alexander Nikishin, is polished. Lam has worked with Nicole Scherzinger and Nikishin has teamed-up with Mary J Blige.
The video delves into the mind of a young man, as he imagines a day-long adventure with a girl he doesn’t know. But, after dreaming about cruising in an open top, vintage car, through the sun-soaked highways and byways of LA, enthralled in each other’s company, his fantasy comes to an abrupt end as he watches his dream girl drive away, never to be seen again.
Harrison, who lives in Maree, Oranmore, was a busking regular on the streets of Galway during his college years. Many people will remember Harrison from his charity busking on the city’s streets in 2012, when he raised over €6,000 for Claregalway girl Lily Mae Morrison’s fight with cancer.
He subsequently sang and played on the charity single ‘A Song For Lily-Mae’ which was a cover of Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer”. The song reached the number one spot at Christmas 2012 following an appearance on The Late Late Show.
As well as a concert in Oranmore on Tuesday, Harrison is working on his debut EP, which will include his distinctive blend of soul, pop, rock, and folk. It is due for release early in 2016.
There are so many dogs in County Galway that households should be restricted to a maximum of two pets.
This was stated at a meeting of Galway County Council during an animated debate on littering and illegal dumping.
Several councillors complained about dog fouling on the beaches in Connemara and the owners not cleaning up the mess.
This prompted South Connemara councillor Joe Folan to suggest that no household should have any more than two dogs.
And he added that this could be monitored by the local authority who issue dog licences. The independent councillor said that nobody should get more than two.
The matter was raised by Cllr Eileen Mannion from Clifden who said that dog fouling on beaches had to be addressed and there needed to be stronger enforcement of the laws.
The Fine Gael councillor said that it was a major problem on all beaches in Connemara and could have an adverse impact on tourism.
Cllr Mannion said that there used to be three community wardens serving Connemara and the islands, but now there was just two. She asked officials to rectify this situation.
It was also stated that the problem with illegal dumping is so bad across County Galway that there is a need for CCTV cameras to monitor some of the worst-affected areas.
Sinn Fein’s Cllr Tom Healy said that there needed to be cameras installed on some of the litter blackspots and signs erected warning those responsible for illegal dumping that they are being monitored.
He said that it would create paranoia among those who are dumping illegally and it might make them think twice about causing a litter problem.
Fianna Fail’s Cllr Sean O Tuairisg asked when was the promised civic amenity site at Casla in South Connemara being provided.
“I don’t think there is a bog road in Connemara that there isn’t dumping along the sides. But from what I have seen, 90% of the illegal dumping is plastic and could be recycled. That is why we need this centre open as soon as possible.
“I support the concept of CCTV cameras, but the only reservation I have is that it might move the problem to another location. This is a very difficult problem to address and we have a job on our hands,” Cllr O Tuairisg added.
He said that some of these plastics were blowing in the wind and ending up in lakes and rivers and this was causing another problem.
The army has been deployed in Ballinasloe this morning to help with sandbagging as water run-off from high ground causes the river levels to rise.
Members of the Civil Defence and volunteers have been working through the night to help protect homes and businesses in the centre of the town.
Seprately, a ‘Formal EFAS Flood Notification’ has been issued from the European Flood Awareness System (EFAS) predicting a high probability of flooding on the River Shannon beginning on Monday 7th December with a peak predicted on Thursday 10th December.
Meanwhile, some roads and villages are still hit by the severe flooding this morning with Craughwell being one of the worse hit as the village is still closed.
Gort Gardai say that looks likely to be the situation for another 24 hours.
PRESS PLAY ▻ TO WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE
Meanwhile on the Loughrea to Athenry section of the motorway is flooded eastbound, while westbound, the hard shoulder is flooded.
The R446 from Craughwell to Loughrea remains closed.
In other areas around the county many sideroads in places such as St Clerans, Ballymana, Clostoken, Castledaly, and Ballinakill are severely flooded as are parts of the road south towards Kinvara.
The Gloves to Athenry Road was also impassable earlier today but elswhere the main routes, such as the N17 which was severly flooded at Claregalway last evening, is now back to normal with only some minor spot flooding there and at Two Mile Ditch.
The ESB say that about 90 homes, mostly in the Lettermore area, and about 20 north of Tuam, off the Dunmore Road, are still without power this morning but crews are working to have power restored to those areas.
The County Council have issued the following update and flooding advisory:
Flood levels remain significant across the road network rising in some instances due to run off/rising river levels.
National routes across the county continue to be impacted by flooding incl. the N17 Galway/Tuam, N18 Oranmore/Gort, N59 Galway/Clifden/Leenane, N63 Galway/Roscommon, N65 Loughrea/Portumna, N66 Loughrea/Gort, N67 Kilcolgan / Kinvara & N84 Galway/Headford. Please observe signage and temporary traffic controls in place.
Regional Roads in Conamara, Loughrea, Athenry/Oranmore, Tuam and Ballinasloe continue remain impacted by flood levels and continued caution is required.
Flooding also remains on local roads, while some roads may present as impassable with caution/detours required.
Emergency crews are continuing to respond to incidents and hazards including flooding, debris etc across the county.
Motorists are advised to continue to exercise extreme caution when driving and obey all signage regarding closed roads and flooding. In particular do not enter roads which are flooded, unless you are aware of the depth of the floods and that it is safe to drive through them.
Please take the time this morning to check in with elderly relatives, friends & neighbours in the aftermath of Storm Desmond.
Please observe the following advice in the interests of your own and others safety:
•Don’t try to walk or drive through floodwater – 150 mm (six inches) of fast flowing water can knock you over and 600mm (two feet) of water will float your car.
•Don’t walk on sea defences, riverbanks or cross river bridges – they may collapse in extreme situations or you may be swept off by large waves.
•Take care when walking through shallow water – manhole covers may have come off and there may be other underwater hazards.
•Avoid contact with floodwater – it may be contaminated with sewage.
• Never try to swim through fast flowing water – you may get swept away or struck by an object in the water.
• Beware of flooding at dips in the roads, bridges and low spots – turn back if the road is flooded.
• Beware of pebbles and stones being thrown up by waves – they may hit you, your car or your home.
• Try to keep calm, and to reassure others – especially children.
Conditions are treacherous on the M6 motorway between Junctions 16 and 17 – emergency services are at the scene of a collision this lunchtime.
Here is the latest from the County Council:
Ballinasloe Town Centre under threat of flooding, council staff and civil defence sandbagging with support from the Army.
M6 Motorway: Collision on M6 eastbound at J16 Loughrea. Gardai at scene.
N17 Galway/Tuam now back to two lanes at Claregalway, please continue to exercise caution with spot flooding still reported, impacting hard shoulders.
N59 Galway/Clifden flooding has subsided at Glenlo Abbey, near Galway City and between Oughterard and Maam Cross. N59 Leenane/Westport remains impassable due to flooding.
The R446 (Old N6) Loughrea/Oranmore Rd remains impassable at Craughwell due to flooding, Please avail of alternative routes including the M6 Motorway, please note reports that the left lane of the M6 Galway/ Dublin Rd is flooded eastbound between J17 Athenry and J16 Loughrea and the westbound on the route the hard shoulder is flooded between J16 and J17. Please reduce speed and take extra care.
The Maam Cross/ Screebe Rd (R336) is impassable due to flooding.
Reports of flooding on minor roads, with some remaining severely flooding, with caution required, while some may remain impassable with extreme caution/detours required.
A ‘Formal EFAS Flood Notification’ has been issued from the European Flood Awareness System (EFAS) predicting a high probability of flooding on the River Shannon beginning on Monday 7th December with a peak predicted on Thursday 10th December
You can monitor the current River Levels at all OPW gauging stations on the following website: www.waterlevel.ie
Motorists are advised to continue to exercise extreme caution when driving and obey all signage regarding closed roads and flooding. In particular do not enter roads which are flooded, unless you are aware of the depth of the floods and that it is safe to drive through them.
A renewed warning has been issued to motorists to avoid any unnecessary travel overnight and in the morning, as many road remain flooded and in dangerous condition.
Meanwhile, there are fears about flooding in Portumna, as water levels on the River Shannon continue to rise.
A spokesperson for Galway County Council said: “If travelling is essential, please exercise the utmost caution, obey all signage and do not drive through any floods unless you can establish that it is safe to do so. Please slow down.
“Please be extra vigilant at night time, due to poor visibility, it will be difficult to judge the levels of floods.”
A Formal Flood Notification from the European Flood Awareness System (EFAS) has been issued for a high probability of flooding on the Shannon from tomorrow, with a peak on Thursday.
PRESS PLAY ▻ TO WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE. VIDEO: JOE O’SHAUGHNESSY, CONNACHT TRIBUNE
Meanwhile, a Boil Water notice is in place for people on the Ballinasloe Public Water Supply and includes all areas supplied by the scheme i.e. Clontukert, Kiltormer, Laurencetown, Eyrecourt who must boil water before use.
Please note the status of the following roads in the county this evening (Sunday):
Roads Closed and impassable:
R336 Maam Cross to Casla
R446 Craughwell to Loughrea – road closed at Craughwell, divert to Motorway, some flooding on Motorway, drive cautiously
R461 Scarriff Road at Ballynakill
R462 Tulla Road at Loughcutra
R358 Ballinasloe-Ahascragh-Caltra closed at Ahascragh
Milltown – Dunmore Road, divert via Irishtown or Garrafrauns
LS8527 at Thoor Ballylee
LP4511 at Blackrock, Peterswell
LP4507 at Leah North, Kinvara
LP4520 at Lackan, Ardrahan
LS8514 at Drummin, Kilbeacanty
LP4512 at Grannagh
LP4502 at Caherpeak, Kilcolgan
LP4505 at Cloghballymore, Ballinderreen
LP4519 Tirneevin to Gort
Severe Flooding – extreme caution advised:
N65 at Portumna
N18 Labane to Ardrahan
Streets in Ballinasloe town
Tynagh to Portumna – just passable, with care
Deerpark Road, Ballinasloe
Spot Flooding – proceed carefully:
N66 Gort to Loughrea
N63 West of Abbeyknockmoy
N84 at Corrandulla Barracks to Castlecreevey
R355 Portumna to Ballinasloe
Spiddal Road out of Moycullen at the playground
Roads at Ballygar
Note that this does not include all roads, flooding is to be expected on all routes.
The Civil Defence and army are providing assistance to the Council in providing sandbags where deemed necessary.
The Council also wishes to acknowledge the support of local communities in providing assistance
The acute psychiatric unit at University Hospital Galway (UHG) has had a new security camera system installed in recent months.
The revelation emerged at a HSE West Regional Health Forum meeting following queries about the CCTV system at UHG.
Fine Gael Councillor Padraig Conneely tabled questions about how many faults were reported since the beginning of the year and how much money was spent on repairing and upgrading the system in the last 11 months.
He was told there was an annual service and maintenance contract in place in relation to the CCTV system in UHG, which identifies faults and repairs required.
There had been five instances of repairs being carried out to the cameras since the beginning of the year, costing nearly €13,000.
Cllr Conneely said it was his belief there were a lot more than five incidents where the system was not working.
“It has been well publicised by the media issues in relation to patients being out of the psych unit and the CCTV not working,” he remarked.
Chief operating officer for the Saolta Hospital Group, Ann Cosgrove, said the Department of Psychiatry had a new CCTV system installed in recent months and were operating under a separate service contract to the rest of the hospital.
“We have a service contract that carries out an annual report. We’re about to do an audit on site…the plan is to do an audit to ensure no camera is out of order,” she told the meeting.
There have been three high profile cases where vulnerable patients wandered out of the unit, two of them resulted in deaths by suicide. In one, a patient was found in his pyjamas walking along roads late at night in Menlo.
In another, the family of a high risk patient who absconded and took his own life was denied access to crucial CCTV footage. This case is being investigated by the Mental Health Commission.
The operating company for the Leisureland complex in Salthill racked up a loss of more than €1 million last year, according to newly-filed accounts.
The Companies Registration Office filings for Galway Salthill Fáilte Ltd add that the loss of €1,053,000 for 2014 had been “absorbed” by the City Council.
The local authority has also given a commitment to support the business for at least the next twelve months.
The facility closed for more than a year from the beginning of January 2014, due to serious damage caused by flooding in winter storms.
According to the accounts (for the year-ended December 2014), the loss compared to almost €370,000 recorded for the previous year.
The accounts show an income of €192,000 and expenditure of more than €1.2m for 2014, while creditors were owned almost €240,000 (including €208,000 to the Council and €10,000 to trade creditors).
The directors pointed out that Leisureland’s business model is changing in response to industry changes.
“The company’s income is exposed to fluctuations in the general economic conditions in Ireland and to the changing cost structures of the leisure and entertainment industry.
“The company has considered the risks prevalent and are in a position to change the emphasis of their entertainment and leisure offering in response to changes.
“The company operates under licence for Galway City Council. To date, the Council has absorbed all surpluses and losses accumulated and the company is dependent on that continuing support.
“The Council has undertaken to continue to support the company for a period of not less than 12 months from [September 2015],” the directors said.
Anyone caught driving while under the influence of alcohol should be charged with ‘attempted murder’.
This was the strong view voiced by the chairman of the city’s latest Joint Policing Committee (JPC), which heard that the number of drink driving incidents in the city is increasing.
Galway City Councillor Mike Cubbard (Ind) said the rise in drink driving incidents in the city and Salthill was “disgusting”.
He said there was no excuse for drink driving in the city, and added: “Anyone that takes a drink and gets behind the wheel of a car should be charged with attempted murder.”
Cllr Cubbard said that there should be zero tolerance of driving while drunk, not just at Christmas, but throughout the year.
Chief Superintendent Tom Curley told the JPC that the number of drunk drivers detected in the 10 months to the end of October of 2015 has increased by 8% compared with last year.
He said there were 137 people detected driving over the limit in the city and Salthill between January and the beginning of November, and that represented 10 more than the same period last year.
“Even in the last three days, we have detected eight drink drivers. It is still a serious issue,” said Chief Supt Curley.
He said that some 7,105 breath tests were carried out over that 10-month period at 939 MAT (Mandatory Alcohol Test) checkpoints that Gardaí set up on roads in the city since January.
Community representative on the JPC, Simon Comer, told the meeting that research would suggest the prevalence of drink driving in Galway is higher than the Garda statistics would suggest.
Mr Comer pointed to a survey by the Road Safety Authority in which 10% of respondents admitted to drink driving in the previous 12 months.
Assuming the figures were correct, and applying them to Galway, Mr Comer said that there could be as many as 2,800 people who drove while under the influence of alcohol in the past year.
Tommy Flaherty, another community representative on the JPC, said reports that a driver was caught over the limit at 12 noon on Sunday was “startling”. Coming into the Christmas party season, people should be made aware that if they consume to excess they may be still drunk ‘the morning after the night before’.
Chief Supt Curley said that there were no “hard luck stories” and from what he was hearing back from Gardaí on the ground was that the alcohol reading of those getting caught was extremely high and was the result of consuming huge volumes of alcohol.
Galway City Council is considering the introduction of a major overhaul of traffic flow on Dominick Street, Raven Terrace and Fr Griffin Road.
As well as the creation of a new link road between Lower Fairhill Road and Munster Avenue, a one-way system is being considered.
The move is part of a bid to tackle the chronic traffic congestion in the area during peak hours on what is a narrow roads system.
The local authority is in discussion with landowners around Munster Avenue and Lower Fairhill in a bid to open up Burke’s Lane, a cul de sac access road behind Monroe’s.
The Council is hopeful that agreements can be reached before the end of the year and for the work to go ahead next year.
Engineers are considering a one-way system where vehicles heading west out of town would travel down Lower Dominick Street (by the Arts Centre) and out Burke’s Lane, while those coming into town would travel along Upper Dominick Street (by the Róisín Dubh).
City Council Chief Executive Brendan McGrath said: “Progress has been made in securing agreement from landowners regarding the completion of [the new road] and our intention is to complete design and planning and commence work in 2016.”
Joe O’Neill, Director of Services for Transportation said: “It’s our intention to put a through road to improve traffic flow. Upper Dominick Street is a very narrow road, and there are regular issues there as a result.
“Engineers will be looking at the best options for the area, including whether a one-way system should be introduced, and any other suitable changes.
“The plan is to try and get the work started next year,” said Mr O’Neill.
The plan to create the new link road was first expected to be introduced in 2011 as part of a new traffic plan for the area, but did not come to fruition.
However, the Council did introduce other elements of that plan, including introducing two-way traffic on Lower Fairhill Road and banning turns onto Raven Terrace from Wolfe Tone Bridge and Fr Griffin Road.
The Irish Farmers Association is calling on the OPW Minister, Simon Harris and Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney to come to the west to see for themselves the devastation that flooding is causing.
Serious concerns are being expressed today in the wake of Storm Desmond as the county’s rivers continue to swell.
A boil water notice has been introduced after flooding caused contamination at Ballinasloe’s water treatment plant.
Red Cross crews were in Ballinasloe and its environs yesterday evening to distribute bottled water to residents as the boil notice took effect.
They were also in Kiltormer earlier and were giving out bottled water in Eyrecourt this evening.
The Red Cross will then move to Ballinasloe Fire Station where they will give out bottled water between 8 and 9 tonight.
It’s understood the Cabinet will discuss emergency funding for areas affected by floods following Storm Desmond.
The Minister of State for the Office for Public Works, Simon Harris, says he will brief his Cabinet colleagues tomorrow on the extent of the problem – and seek emergency flood funding.
PRESS PLAY ▻ TO VIEW THE FLOODING VIDEO ABOVE. VIDEO BY JOE O’SHAUGHNESSY
Meanwhile, clean up operations are continuing in Galway and in towns across Ireland today.
Flooding was worst in the west, with rivers bursting their banks here in Galway and in counties Cork, Mayo and Sligo.
However, Minister Simon Harris says it’s too early to say at this stage how much money could be made available.
Meanwhile, here is the latest on road conditions from Galway County Council: Roads Closed
R347 from N63 at Annagh Cross to Palm Tree Pub
R341 at Ballinafad
LP1005 Clifden to Roundstone
Pier Road, Oughterard
Montiagh – local access only
One Way Traffic only
N65 Bridge Road, Portumna – temporary traffic lights being installed Severe Flooding – extreme caution advised:
N17 Claregalway – situation being monitored, it may be necessary to introduce one way traffic
R336 Maam Cross to Casla has been reopened, proceed with caution
R344 Inagh Valley has been reopened, some spot flooding, drive carefully
Please note that this does not include all roads, flooding is to be expected on all routes.
Galway City Council has allocated €40,000 towards the erection of a Memorial Arch to mark the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Rising.
Works on the arch – likely to be at the O’Brien’s Bridge entrance to Bruach na Coiribe – will commence next year and further funding will have to be provided in the following year’s budget to complete the construction.
How a proposed archway memorial would look
Independent councillor Terry O’Flaherty welcomed the allocation of funding, after her notice of motion was unanimously supported by councillors.
“I am delighted with the funding to erect the arch as this will be a fitting memorial to the people who suffered in the pursuit of Irish freedom in 1916, and also the victims of the hostilities in later years, up to the end of the civil war in 1923.
“While nationally most of the focus on the events of 1916 centres around Dublin and the GPO and Boland’s Mills etc, County Galway was actually one of the most active areas outside of the capital at the outbreak of the Rising,” she said.
Cllr O’Flaherty said when the Memorial Arch was first mooted in the 1930s, it was earmarked to be erected at the O’Brien’s Bridge entrance to the walkway running along by the River Corrib.
“This would be a great addition aesthetically to the city centre, but the decision to have it at this location may have to come before the Council for approval,” she said.
The idea for such a memorial in Galway goes back 80 years and even John Wayne played a part in fundraising for it.
College Road native Sean Turke is credited with sparking the idea in the 1930s when he returned from the United States with money for the project donated by other Galway ex-pats.
”Years later, a local committee was set up and among their fundraising events was a gala concert and dance at Seapoint Ballroom in Salthill in 1951, attended by stars of ‘The Quiet Man’ – being shot at the time – including John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara, Barry Fitzgerald and Victor McLaglen,” said Cllr O’Flaherty.
The memorial committee commissioned Cork sculptor Seamus Murphy to design the arch, which included the inscription: “To the memory of the Men and Women of the City and County of Galway who suffered for the freedom of Ireland during the year 1916 and onwards.”
They managed to raise more than £2,000, but the project never got off the ground, despite a number of efforts to revive it over the years.
Housing specifically designated for Irish speakers could become a reality after city councillors agreed to include the provision in the draft City Development Plan.
At a local authority meeting, Chief Executive Brendan McGrath advised Cllr Cathal Ó Conchúir that his proposal was “fraught with practical issues”.
However, he felt that a tweak of the wording should make it more acceptable.
The 15 councillors present for the vote unanimously agreed that the proposal should be included in the draft plan: “To seek to designate a Gaeltacht-language planning area”.
Cllr Ó Conchúir told fellow members that in the Gaeltacht Act, local authorities were encouraged to assign housing for use by Irish speakers.
He said that such a plan was being proposed in Clondalkin, which could potentially involve 15 houses in an exclusive estate.
“People who want to raise their children through Irish will be given first priority,” he added.
Cllr Donal Lyons said that while he was not against the proposal, he questioned whether or not it was feasible.
Cllr Peter Keane was in favour of the idea, and said that something similar was included in the County Development Plan.
“It would strengthen the language in urban areas,” he said.
Cllr Pearce Flannery suggested that legal opinion should be sought, as the plan – as presented – could be challenged.
Similarly, Cllr Padraig Conneely thought there could be a human rights issue under EU law, if a Polish national, for example, challenged his/her right to one of these houses.
Cllr Terry O’Flaherty said it was a great concept, but questioned how it could be monitored.
She also pointed out that as a candidate who canvassed in Tirellan – which is one of three Gaeltacht areas in the city, along with parts of Menlo and Knocknacarra – residents were largely unaware that they were living in a Gaeltacht area.
Mayor of Galway, Cllr Frank Fahy, gave the proposal his full support.
“Within the city there are parts of it in the Gaeltacht – and we do speak the language,” he said.
“My daughter was reared in Ballybane, but is now a teacher in a gaelscoil.”
Mr McGrath said that Cllr Ó Conchúir’s concept was “laudable” but he advised a degree of caution.
“Implementing it would be fraught with practical issues, so if you wish to proceed I would use the words ‘To seek’ (to designate land), and then let it go to public display.”
The wording of the proposal was amended, and was unanimously accepted. Members of the public will be given a chance to voice their opinions on the wording of the draft plan, before it is brought back to the Council members to vote.
Galway has more than enough talent to make its mark on an international scale, according to Britain’s Got Talent producer, Stephen Ridgard.
Born and raised in the east side of the city, Stephen is back home for the sixth time this year, this time scouting the very best of what our county has to offer during an overwhelming audition process for the world renowned talent show.
Stephen Ridgard: Galway’s scout for Britain’s Got Talent, with singer Katy Perry
“It’s nice to get back and try and find the talent and do you know what, we’ve had some fantastic talent,” said Stephen.
“Over the past few days, we had a really good impressionist, an amazing soprano, we had a great dance troupe, and, needless to say, the singers in Galway are out of this world. There are so many amazing singers and a fantastic magician, so it’s going really well.”
The standard of talent in Galway has certainly been represented in the influx of acts that turned up to each of the secret locations hosted by Britian’s Got Talent.
“We’re really happy with the talent in Galway, and the turnout has been great. It’s nearly been packed and I’m almost overwhelmed with the numbers we’re getting.”
The show has taken a step away from the usual arena tour and has instead decided to travel around Ireland to the people instead of the people coming to them.
Not only does this mean no more long hours of queuing in Dublin, but the acts that audition for Stephen have the potential to go straight onto the stage on live television, without having to audition again.
“We get into the community in local bars, community centres, universities, colleges and things like that and it’s quite nice because a lot of people don’t want to queue up for eight hours and it does take away from the experience if you’re tired and hungry, whereas if you’re in your local pub, it’s different.
“You find some great characters and some really good talent this way, too.”
Apart from working with Britain’s Got Talent, the young producer and researcher has proved to be on a very successful career path with other shows such as Body Shockers, The X Factor and Desi Rascals – an Asian form of The Only Way is Essex – to decorate his CV.
Media and broadcasting seems to run in the Ridgard family, as his brother is also highly successful in the industry over in the US working with American Idol, however Stephen’s introduction to the business wasn’t too straightforward.
“I’m a carpenter by trade, that’s what I did years ago, but I got sick of it. I went to college and did my apprenticeship. I thought, I want to do shows, and unfortunately my brother didn’t actually hook me up with any jobs but he pointed me in the right direction.
“You don’t actually have to go to college to get into TV. You can do a four year media course and all that, but it depends what direction you want to go in. Essentially, you can start yourself at the bottom and work your way up and you’re getting hands-on experience. Don’t get me wrong, the colleges are still fantastic; I just knew for me that it wouldn’t have suited me to go back to university. I just wanted to get hands-on straight away.
“My brother did the same thing, he never went to college. He went straight into it, started from the bottom and worked his way up as well. You learn so much quicker in a practical way like that, but if I were to go back and think about it again and had seen how much fun people had doing television and media in college I probably would have done that.”
Stephen’s profession means he’s around quite a few celebrities but he’s aware that he has to maintain a professional attitude, even if deep down he’s a little gobsmacked.
“I was a little bit awestruck with Queen when they were on X Factor, I wasn’t expecting to see Brian May or any of the lads, obviously I knew they were doing rehearsals, but I was just walking by and standing beside them thinking this is a little surreal.
“We don’t normally ask for photos. I wanted one and you can do it, but you know, you have to stay on the professional side, too,” he laughed.
This is the second TV show that Stephen has worked on that’s affiliated with perhaps one of the most recognisable British TV personalities – Simon Cowell.
“I worked with him on X Factor and, I really mean this, he’s actually one of the nicest people you could ever work with. He’s great and, obviously, he has a great head on his shoulders, but he’s super nice, knows what he wants and is a really decent guy, actually.”
Stephen and his regional team are travelling the rest of the country for the next week, including Limerick, Cork, Kilkenny, Waterford, and finally to Dublin again before heading back to London, where he’s based.
“Hopefully we’ll get someone from Galway on stage, fingers crossed,” he said.
Galway’s first same-sex marriage is expected to take place in the New Year.
According to the country’s General Register Office, one notification has been received in Galway to hold a same-sex marriage.
Speaking on the issue Nuala Ward, founder of Galway Pride and long time LGBT activist said this was reflective of many same sex couples who have already had a big day out for their civil partnership ceremony.
“It’s always been about having the same rights,” she stated. Whether couples choose to get married or not, whether they choose to have a grand event or a laidback celebration – that’s their prerogative.
Asked whether she was surprised there hadn’t been more marriages registered in Galway, Ms Ward reiterated that the Referendum was never about marriage per-se, but about the fact that same-sex should have that choice – marriage equality was a human rights issue, she added.
The Department of Social Protection on behalf of the General Register Office stated “one same sex marriage notification was received in Galway on 16th November 2015; the date on which same sex marriage legislation took effect”.
Ireland’s first landmark same-sex marriage took place two weeks ago in Clonmel between Cormac Gollogly and Richard Dowling.
Their nuptials were exchanged in the waiting area of a HSE-run building on the outskirts of Clonmel in front of registrar Mary-Claire Heffernan and two witnesses.
The couple affirmed the low-key affair was to formalise the legalities of their union. “We had done the glamorous venue. This was nice.”
Galway West voted in favour of same-sex marriage with 61.5% of votes in favour of the referendum.
Galway itself is widely considered to be all-inclusive LGBTQIA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual) friendly city.
Legislation came into effect just two weeks ago – there have been no further same-sex marriage registrations in Galway since.
The breakthrough Constitutional amendment to the Marriage Equality Bill 2015 is still in its early days.
