A number of roads around the county remain closed or impassable today as flood waters remain or in some cases rise.
The routes which remain closed include many local roads in south Galway and the Carnmore to Monivea Road.
The R446 through Craughwell also remains closed.
Galway County Council Director of Services, Liam Gavin says many areas could experience more flooding today as river levels rise.
The R347 from the N63 at Annagh Cross to the Palm Tree, the R341 at Ballinafad, the Clifden to Roundstone Road, Pier Road in Oughterard and the Carnmore to Monivea Roads are all closed and impassable today.
Oranmore gardaí have also just closed the road between Cregmore Cross and Lydican at Lisheenavalla as several cars got stuck in floods.
Most local roads in the Gort, Thoor Ballylee, Kiltartan, Labane, Ardrahan and Peterswell areas remain flooded today.
Craughwell also remains stranded by flood water but the council is hopeful this will recede over the next few days and they will review the closure again on Thursday.
The R336 Maam Cross to Casla road and the Inagh Valley have reopened.
In Ballinasloe, flood levels have stabilised and are much the same as levels last night.
In Newbridge, Ballyforan and Ahascragh, council crews says the flooding situation has improved.
Claregalway village is also clear for traffic today however the situation in Portumna is deteriorating.
At present, one is passable over the bridge on the N65, but the council expects water levels to rise over the next few days.

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Volunteers are being sought in parts of the county to help stem the rise of flood water.
Peak flooding is expected to hit many areas such as Caherlea and Lisheenavalla in the next twelve hours.
However the main road through Craughwell, which had been flooded since Storm Desmond hit last weekend, is now open to traffic.
The R347 from the N63 at Annagh Cross to the Palm Tree, the R341 at Ballinafad, the Clifden to Roundstone Road, Pier Road in Oughterard and the Carnmore to Monivea Roads are all closed and impassable today.
Gardaí also closed the road between Cregmore Cross and Lydican at Lisheenavalla as several cars got stuck in floods earlier today.
Local Councillor Malachy Noone is appealing to people to help keep the flood waters at bay.
Carnmore Cross to Coosaun Cross is also closed as are many local routes in that area.
Director of Services, Liam Gavin is urging motorists to stay away from flooded local roads as they could cause more flooding to houses.
Most local roads in the Gort, Thoor Ballylee, Kiltartan, Labane, Ardrahan and Peterswell areas remain flooded today.
The R461 Scarriff Road at Ballynakill has re-opened although there is still some spot flooding.
In Ballinasloe, flood levels have stabilised and are much the same as levels last night.
In Newbridge, Ballyforan and Ahascragh, council crews says the flooding situation has improved.
Claregalway village is also clear for traffic today however the situation in Portumna is deteriorating.
At present, one is passable over the bridge on the N65, but the council expects water levels to rise over the next few days.
The road in Craughwell has reopened, but flood water has already caused significant damage to some homes in the area.
An Bord Pleanála is currently assessing an application for flood relief work at Dunkellin.
Galway East T.D Ciaran Cannon says that decision should not be delayed any longer.
The army and civil defence has been helping county council crews in various areas around the county.
However, Councillor James Charity feels the city council should temporarily transfer some staff to help.

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Galway County Council advises that people should avoid any unnecessary travel, due to the severe flooding throughout the county.

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 be extra vigilant at night time, due to poor visibility, it will be difficult to judge the levels of floods.

Please note the status of the following roads in the county:

Roads Closed and Impassable:
N63 Castlerea Road out of Ballymoe
N18 Labane – Hard Shoulder
R339 Carnmore Cross to Cussaun Cross – diversion via Motorway
R446 Craughwell to Loughrea – road closed at Craughwell, divert to Motorway at Oranmore and Loughrea
R461 Scarriff Road at Ballynakill
R358 Ballinasloe-Ahascragh-Caltra closed at Ahascragh
R363 Newbridge to Ballyforan, road closed at bridge
R347 from N63 at Annagh Cross to Palm Tree Pub
R328 Dunmore – Ballindine
R364 Ballymoe – Glenamaddy at either side of Kilcroan National School
R360 – Kilnalag Cross in Williamstown, local diversions in place
Local Road – Coolarne to Turloughmore at Cartymore Cross
Local Roads in the Lisheenavalla area
Local Road – Montiagh – local access only
Local Road Gortroe Road, near Corrandulla
Local Roads in Ballygar
Annagh Road, Clooniffe
Local Road – Abbeyknockmoy to Monivea
Local Roads in the vicinity of Ballyquirke Lake
Local Roads in the Williamstown area
LP3101 from Ballymurphy Cross to Cregmore
LS8527 at Thoor Ballylee
LP4511 at Blackrock, Peterswell
LS4501 Rinn to Killeeneen
LP4507 at Leah North, Kinvara
LS8514 at Drummin, Kilbeacanty
LS8525 Castletown, Kiltartan
LS8527 Toor Ballylee
LS8565 Castletaylor, at R347 junction
LS8569 Garraun, Kilcolgan
LP4512 at Grannagh
LP4502 at Caherpeak, Kilcolgan
LP4505 at Cloghballymore, Ballinderreen
LP4519 Tirneevin to Gort
LS8528 Carrawbaun
LT85251 Newhall
LP4501 Rinn, Killeeneen
LP4506 Owenbristy – Sheehans Cross to Keamsellagh
LP4506 Kiltartan to Raheen
LS8533 Skehanagh
LP4511Tullira
Portumna to Tynagh Road
Roads in the centre of Ballinasloe town
McHughs Pub to Ballindooley Cross – local access only

One Lane Traffic
N65 Bridge Road at Portumna – traffic lights in place

Severe Flooding – extreme caution advised:
LP2119 between Cregg Castle and Corrandulla
LP1005 Clifden to Roundstone
N63 – Finns Cross to Abbeyknockmoy
Local Roads at Lisheenavalla, Claregalway – heavily flooded, passable with care – some houses under threat
R351 Woodford to Loughrea, passable with care
Deerpark Road, Ballinasloe

Spot Flooding – proceed carefully:
N66 Gort to Loughrea
N63 West of Abbeyknockmoy
N84 North of Clonboo
N84 at McGaughs Garden Centre
R355 Portumna to Ballinasloe
Cloonacauneen Road – opposite McHughs Bar
LP4520 at Lackan, Ardrahan

Please note that this does not include all roads, flooding is to be expected on all routes.

The Civil Defence and Armed Forces 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 post The latest on road flooding across the county appeared first on Connacht Tribune - Galway City Tribune.

Galway Lions Club is gearing on for its annual radio auction to raise funds to help the needy this Christmas.

The radio auction will be held on Friday (December 11) in the Salthill Hotel between 9am and 12 noon and will once again be broadcast live on the Keith Finnegan Show.

The Galway Lions Club is once again seeking the support of local businesses and organisations to help the less well off in the community, by either making a financial donation or by sponsoring an item that can be auctioned.

Those businesses and organisations who provide financial support or items for the Radio Auction will be acknowledged on radio and in other media.

Main sponsor this year is Tony Burke Motors, Main Toyota and Lexus Dealership, who have supplied the star item, a Toyota Yaris, that will be auctioned on the day.

“We are delighted to welcome Tony and the Team winners of the prestigious 2015 International Toyota Ichiban Award for Customer Service on board,” said a spokesperson for Galway Lions Club.

In addition to the car, the Lions Club expect to have over 200 items for auction from weekends away to shopping vouchers to furniture.

The annual Galway Radio Auction is 25 years in existence and during this time it has raised close to €700,000, thanks to the generous support of the business community and the people of Galway.

Galway Lions President Geraldine Mannion said: “All the proceeds of the Auction and any donations received will go to directly to providing assistance to people in our community who need extra support at Christmas time.

“None of the funds raised go to administrative costs and both Galway Bay FM and the Salthill Hotel provide their services free of charge.  We were delighted with the response we received last year when the Auction contributed to enabling the Galway Lions Club to distribute food vouchers to some 500 families and individuals.

“I want to thank the businesses and the public who helped make last year such a success for all concerned, and I look forward to continued support to help those less fortunate at what can be a difficult time of the year.”

The Galway Lions Club is an entirely voluntary organisation that has been serving Galway for 40 years.

For more information or to get involved check out the website or email info@galwaylionsclub.ie

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The N17 is open to two way traffic all the way, but has a lot of surface water.

N84 is one lane traffic at McGaughs Garden Centre – there is a stop/go system in place, giving priority to those traveling out of town this evening.

For those traveling Monivea direction, use M6 as far as Athenry, R339 to Monivea is closed from Carnmore Cross to Coosaun Cross except for local access, and there will be Gardai in duty at these locations.

Many local roads around the County are closed, and more are being closed as necessary.

Please remember that there are Council staff, Civil Defence, Fire Service and other emergency services out working on the roads, so drive cautiously.

Commuters in Galway are facing severe travel disruptions this evening as rising flood waters are affecting public transport services across Galway.

Bus Eireann says it’s been in contact with Galway Gardaí, after the Clare River burst its banks again at Carnmore and in Claregalway.

Delays are expected on routes through Carnmore and Claregalway this evening – including routes 52 and 64.

In addition the 425A route from Galway to Mountbellew will be diverted via Athenry between 4pm and 5.35pm today.

Donellans Cross, Carnmore Cross and Casla will be without a service as a result.

The same diversion is expected for the 6.40 Mountbellew to Galway service tomorrow morning.

Delays are also expected on route 432 due to rising water levels at the Clare River.

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The Defence Forces say more troops are ready to be deployed to Galway and other areas affected by flooding if needed.
The news comes as Gardaí warn of rising river levels across the county, which are expected to cause further flooding and travel disruption.
Earlier, the Taoiseach Enda Kenny said some 200 members of the army have been deployed to eight counties.
The majority of soliders have been dispatched to assist people in counties Galway, Clare, Limerick, and Athlone.
Defence Forces Press Officer, Commandant Sean O’Faherty, says other crews are on standby, if required.

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30 new beds are set to open at UHG’s Emergency Department in the coming weeks in an effort to tackle the overcrowding crisis at the unit.
The Health Minister has confirmed that the additional beds, located on the site of the old Physiotherapy and Social Work Department, will open by January at the latest.
Speaking in the Dail in response to a question raised by Galway West Deputy Sean Kyne, Leo Vardakar said that even if overcrowding was not an issue, UHG’s Emergency Department is out of date.
It echoes a comment made by Enda Kenny last week, when he told the Dail that the facility was ‘not fit for purpose’ – and was one of the most inadequate nationwide.
Leo Varadkar says it’s the Department’s intention that the Design and Planning Stage for a new Emergency Department will proceed next year.
The Health Minister says measures in the meantime will help to ease overcrowding.

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A new three-part bilingual drama series pitched as an Irish ‘Back to the Future’ has filmed all its key scenes at a Galway Airport hangar, which was transformed into the GPO of 1916.

‘Éirí Amach Amú’, or ‘Wrecking the Rising’ is a comedy drama written by James Phelan, who wrote ‘Rasaí na Gaillimhe’ for TG4.   Tile Films were commissioned by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and TG4 to make the series to be broadcast around Easter 2016 to mark the centenary of the Rising.

The plot revolves around three modern day history enthusiasts from Dublin, who travel back in time to 1916, just as the Easter Rising is about to break out.

Their first act on arrival is to accidentally kill Pádraig Pearse. Realising they have inadvertently ruined the Rising before it has even begun; they must somehow concoct a plan to keep history on course.

But these three self-proclaimed Rising experts find that they are altering history at every turn. Soon they are battling not only for their own futures but the entire country’s future too.

The cast includes Peter Coonan (‘Love/Hate’), Owen McDonnell (‘An Klondike’), Sean T Ó Meallaigh (‘Charlie’), Jeanne O’Connor (‘Sineater’), Enda Oates (‘Moone Boy’ and recent IFTA winner for ‘Fair City’), Eva Jane Gaffney (‘What Richard Did’) and Olga Wehrly (‘Dark Touch’).

As well as the three main protagonists – including a fluent Peter Coonan, who went to a gaelscoil in Dublin – Irish is spoken by all the gaelgeoirs during the Rising.

“It’s kind of a Back to the Future with a touch of Monty Python. It’s going to be shown after all the serious stuff and will be a more light-hearted take on the Rising,” explained executive producer Stephen Rooke.

“Although it is a comedy and a little bit of a piss take of 1916, it is educational and gives quite a good insight into what happened. All the characters featured in the GPO, events are set around an accurate timeline.”

See full coverage in this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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It was exactly six years ago when Tom Quinn was woken from his slumber at dawn in his home at Caherfourvause, a mile outside the Galway village of Craughwell.

“I got a bit of a shock when I put my feet outside the bed and there was a foot of water,” he recalled.

This time around he was not caught unawares with the nearby Rahasane Turlough overflowing.

“I was expecting it. It started coming on Sunday morning. I had put in sandbags while waiting for it. By 10pm it made its way into the house. Soon there was two foot of water or more. Still not as bad as the last time when it was up over the windowsills,” he reflected calmly.

Tom is a farmer and pensioner living alone. He built the house 40 years ago, near the house his father and grandfather lived in. He is now back in with his sister a few miles away having lived with her for six months after the last flood.

This time around he doesn’t have the comfort of insurance.

PRESS PLAY TO VIEW THE VIDEO ABOVE OF FLOODING IN LISHEENAVALLA AND CAHERLEA. (VIDEO: JOE O’SHAUGHNESSY)

“I got back €90,000 to fix the house back then. The floor had to be redone, walls plastered, sure the house was destroyed. They wouldn’t insure me again after that so I don’t know what I’ll do now.”

He is hopeful to avail of the some of the compensation package currently being formulated by the Government for people unable to get insurance due to previous flooding.

Until something is done with the Rahasane Turlough, all their homes will be on red alert for flooding, Tom insists.

See full coverage in this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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RISING sea levels – rather than Atlantic storms – may be the monster lurking in the deep for coastal cities like Galway, as the impact of climate change increases over the coming decades.

With the city preparing itself for another battering of rain this weekend, one of the country’s most respected climate experts told the Galway City Tribune that the increasing sea levels could pose the biggest threat to low lying coastal areas.

Dr Kieran Hickey, formerly of NUI Galway and now Senior Lecturer in Physical Geography at UCC, said that there was no quick solution to the problem of rising ocean levels.

“With global warming, the waters in the ocean expand while there is also the influence of the melting icecaps. This will have major implications for coastal cities like Galway, Cork and Dublin,” said Dr Hickey.

Earlier this week, there were a number of website reports suggesting that cities like Galway, Dublin and Cork could have disappeared off the map in 200 years time, based on data produced by the Inter-Governmental Committee on Climate Change.

Dr Hickey said that if overall global temperature increases could be held at 2°C by the end of the century – and he thought the figure would be closer to 3°C – this would still have a significant impact on sea level.

“There are no easy solutions to this ongoing rise in sea levels. We probably will see bigger barriers and walls in place along vulnerable coastal areas while the construction of any new properties close to low-lying coastlines has to be looked at very closely,” said Dr Hickey.

He said that with sea levels due to rise in the region of 0.5 metres by the end of the century, the problem for coastal cities like Galway would be getting worse, especially along softer sedimentary coastline areas.

“For those thinking of building houses close to the coastline or buying properties in such areas, while they might like a sea view they certainly won’t want to be in the sea, a number of years down the road.

“Over the past week or so, while the rainfall and the storms have taken most of the attention, the far bigger long term problem – especially for the coastal communities – will be that of a rising sea level,” he warned.

While sea levels only rose by an estimated 1 to 2mms. during the 20th century, there are more recent estimates – based on satellite data collected over the past 20 years – that has now increased to at least 3mms per year.

The international Surging Seas project by Climate Central has now mapped out the likely impact of rising sea levels based on both a 2°C increase and a 4°C increase in overall global temperatures.

■ For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.

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Galway Harbour has been given a reprieve of 18 months to ‘swim or sink’. Transport Minister Pascal Donohue has confirmed that he will ‘hold off’ on reclassifying the port for the next year and a half.

Minister Donohoe has also confirmed that he will not sign the ministerial order transferring ownership of Galway Harbour to Galway City Council.

Galway West Fine Gael TD, Seán Kyne, welcomed the move and said it would give ‘time and space’ to the harbour company to chart its course forward.

Galway Harbour wanted the Minister to scrap altogether its plans to transfer ownership to the local authority but, while this doesn’t quite go that far, it gives them ‘breathing space’, said Deputy Kyne.

Galway Harbour raised concerns about plans to reclassify the port as a ‘port of regional significance’, which they claim would have impacted on their ability to raise revenue to proceed with its expansion plans.

Galway West Fianna Fáil TD Éamon Ó Cuív had tabled a motion to the bill which would have deleted any reference to the downgrading of the port to one of regional significance but this was defeated.

Deputy Ó Cuív welcomed that the minister has said he will not proceed with the re-designation for 18 months, however. This, he said, will give the people of Galway the opportunity to “reject outright the denial of national port status to Galway”. They can do this at the upcoming election, he said.

“Galway Port has major plans for the development of the port but it would be absolutely vital for the success of these plans that the status of the port would be retained as a national port. National, European and commercial funders would be much more likely to provide funding for a national rather than regional port,” said Deputy Ó Cuív.

He pointed out that if the Minister gets his wish in 18 months, there will be not port of national significance from South of Limerick through to Derry, leaving the west coast “bereft of a national port”.

Deputy Ó Cuív said the potential of Galway Harbour is “immense” and it should not be downgraded.

■ For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.

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Tenants will be barred from purchasing their City Council homes from January unless they ‘water down’ their principled objection to water charges, and pay arrears to Irish Water.

Private homeowners will also be hit by the new legislation, which will be enacted from January 1 – homes cannot be sold unless water charges are up to date.

A new purchase scheme for Galway City Council tenants will open in January whereby sitting tenants can purchase the local authority home they are living in.

But the Department of Environment has confirmed that tenants who haven’t paid their water charges will be precluded from buying their home under the scheme, as well as under previous tenant purchase schemes.

The Department has also confirmed that before completing the sale of a property, private homeowners must pay any outstanding charges to Irish Water.

A condition of sale is a certificate or statement from the utility to confirm that water charges are paid, in order for Council tenants to buy their home and for private homeowners to sell theirs.

If the bill isn’t paid, the law provides for the outstanding charge to be taken from the proceeds of the sale.

The legislation was passed by Government in July but only comes into effect in January.

Independent Galway City Councillor Catherine Connolly said it signals an “ignoble start to the 100th year celebration of our Republic” as the legislation makes local authorities and solicitors ‘police authorities’ for Irish Water.

She pointed out that Irish Water is being treated entirely differently to any other utility, such as electricity. “This is an unacceptable interference with tenants’ rights and has never happened before in relation to any other bills outstanding to a utility company or indeed any other creditor. It is the same as saying to a tenant if you have not paid your phone bill or your ESB bill you cannot buy your house,” said Cllr Connolly.

■ For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.

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Shop Street’s crooked cobbles are creating a new ‘compo culture’, city officials fear.

Fresh figures reveal compensation payouts for personal injury claims have exceeded €5 million over three years.

It is understood the bulk of claims are for injuries sustained in falls and sprains on uneven surfaces along the main shopping thoroughfare through the city centre. It also includes pay-outs for claims in city parks and other public areas.

The statistics show the number of claims made by members of the public in Galway City soared by 14% last year.

Galway City Council has conceded it doesn’t have any money to carry out “urgent” maintenance and repairs on the pedestrian zone on Shop Street and streets leading off it. But there are fears that unless action is taken, the level of claims will increase further as the pedestrian zone deteriorates.

Labour Party City Councillor Niall McNelis, who obtained the figures, said: “The figures are staggering but I’m not surprised. The insurance industry will tell you that people will go to their lawyers before they go to their doctors. Unfortunately there has been a compensation culture in Ireland and the amount being paid out suggests it is alive again in Galway.”

Over the past three years some €5.267 million compensation was paid out by IPB Insurance for claims relating to Galway City.

That total included €1.029 million in 2012; €2.263 million in 2013; and €1.975 million last year.

There were 242 payouts for personal injuries claims over that three year period including 78 in 2012, 75 in 2013 and 89 in 2014.

The Council’s insurance premium has been €1.7m annually over the past three years.

Cllr McNelis, a businessman, said the City Council must use these the ‘shocking’ figures as ‘leverage’ to get the necessary capital investment for repairs on the city’s pedestrian streets.

■ For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.

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Commuters on the Headford Road and the N17 are facing another evening of traffic chaos as the N84 remains closed between Corrandulla barracks and Regan’s of Clonboo.

It’s after an articulated truck, which was carrying timber, jack-knifed and overturned, blocking the road.

Just before 12 today three units of the city fire brigade, an ambulance and Gardaí attended the scene of the incident.

The lorry was carrying a load of timber and it jackknifed on the stretch between Regans of Clonboo and Corrandulla Barracks.

The load of timber is in the process of being removed from the vehicle before it can be lifted upright and taken off the road.

Diversions are in place through Corrandulla, and businesses along the Curraghline are still operating as normal this evening.

A stop-go system remains in place near McGaugh’s – council crews are continuing to build up flood defences in the area.

The planned closure of the section of the road between Clonboo and Corrandulla barracks is going ahead at 8pm, which means commuter will only have a short window in which to travel the road this evening.

It will remain closed until 6am tomorrow.

The closure is expected to once again push large volumes of additional traffic onto the N17.

Meanwhile, the R339 between Carnmore Cross and Coosaun Cross has reopened.

The road had been closed since 10am to facilitate emergency roadworks but has reopened to traffic this evening.

Here is the latest on road closures from the County Council

The post Traffic chaos as Headford Road remains closed appeared first on Connacht Tribune - Galway City Tribune.

Some parts of Galway are recovering from the economic crash much more slowly than others.

Because the numbers out of work are still more than double what they were before the crash in four of the six areas into which the county is split for the purposes of Live Register statistics.

Galway West Independent TD Noel Grealish has revealed details of an analysis of Galway unemployment which show that the Gort and Loughrea social welfare districts have been the slowest to recover.

He said that the Clifden area, covering a large part of Connemara, had seen unemployment come back to a level of 38% above the 2006 figures.

And in Galway City, the numbers on the Live Register today are 65% above what they were at the peak of the boom.

But the performance of these two districts contrasted sharply with Gort, where unemployment is at more than two and a quarter times the 2006 level, or 128% more.

Struggling almost as much is the area of the county to the north of that, served by the Loughrea Social Welfare Office, where numbers ‘signing on’ are still 121% over the figures nine years ago.

Next in line is Ballinasloe, at 117% above the figures registered as being out of work before the economic slide sent jobless totals sky-rocketing, closely followed by Tuam at 116% above.

“It all goes to show that while employment levels have generally risen around the county, there is no room for complacency in terms of maintaining current jobs and attracting new investment to the city and county,” said Deputy Grealish.

“While every Social Welfare Office area in the county has seen a considerable drop in the numbers signing on since their peak four or five years ago — by almost a third on average — most are still way above what they were in the so-called good times.

“And we shouldn’t forget either that at least part of the reason why there are fewer people on the Live Register than five years ago is that so many have been forced to emigrate in search of work in Sydney, Toronto, Boston, London and elsewhere around the world.”

In terms of how well the different areas of the county have recovered since their peak unemployment (in most cases in 2010 or 2011), Gort is also worst off.

The south of the county has seen the numbers on the Live Register drop by 23% since they hit a high of 1,536 in August 2012 — well below the comparable national average reduction of one third, or 33%.

Other parts of the county have fared better since their peaks:

• Galway City -42% from high of 13,734 in August 2009;
• Loughrea -42% from August 2010 peak of 2,732;
• Tuam -36% from August 2010 high of 3,691;
• Ballinasloe -33% from peak of 2,759 in August 2010;
• Clifden -32% from high of 1,357 in January 2012.

Galway County as a whole has seen unemployed numbers fall by 36% since its darkest month of August 2010, which those on the Live Register reached 25,389.

Latest figures from the Central Statistics Office show that the number of people on the Live Register at the end of November in County Galway was 15,714.

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Gardaí were waiting for an Aran Island man as he alighted a bus from Dublin at Galway Coach Station with over €4,000 worth of heroin while armed with a knife.

Colm Joyce (45), a native of Kilronan, Inis Mór pleaded guilty before Galway Circuit Criminal Court last July to having 27.591 grams of heroin in his possession at Bus Aras, Ceannt Station, Galway, on July 3 last year for sale or supply to another.

He pleaded guilty also to having a flick knife in his possession on the same date.

Garda Tom Doyle gave evidence at the sentence hearing last Friday that Gardaí apprehended the accused as he alighted a bus from Dublin at 2a.m. at Galway Coach Station and took him to Galway Garda Station where he was searched.

Joyce denied the heroin found on him was intended for sale and he claimed he carried the knife because he was a fisherman.

Det. Doyle said messages on Joyce’s mobile phone suggested he was a drug dealer as there were various messages on it involving deals with drug dealers.

The value of the heroin, he said, was €4,138. Joyce told Gardaí he had paid €1,000 for the drug himself.

Det. Doyle confirmed Joyce had worked as a fisherman and was a native of Kilronan where he was currently residing.

At the time of his arrest Joyce was using heroin himself and he had 21 previous convictions with some of those for drugs offences, Det Doyle added.

The most recent, he said, was last October when Joyce received a nine-month sentence for drug dealing and a three-month sentence for possession of drugs. The offence date was August last year and those two sentences were currently under appeal.

The other previous convictions included ones for drug dealing in 2008, assaults, drink driving, possession of drugs and criminal damage.

Defence barrister, Brendan Browne said Joyce was a chronic heroin addict.  He was in debt at the time of this offence and was going to use some of the proceeds from the sale of the heroin to pay his debts and keep some for himself.

Det. Doyle confirmed Joyce was a heroin addict and had looked very unhealthy at the time.  “He looks a little better this morning,” Det. Doyle observed.

Mr Browne said Joyce had made several attempts in the past to rehabilitate but had always “fallen off the wagon”.

He said Joyce was now clear of drugs for the last eight months and for the first time in his life he was now in a position to face his drug addiction and would be attending a residential treatment programme in eight weeks’ time, subject to a successful assessment in Cuain Mhuire.

Mr Browne said Joyce had been away fishing for the previous two weeks but he was attending a counsellor weekly to address his addiction issues.

Judge Karen O’Connor said she wanted written confirmation from Joyce regarding the counselling and the treatment course he was proposing to attend and she adjourned sentence to this coming Friday’s court for him to provide the necessary proofs to the court.

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Galway’s ‘Countdown king’ returns to the small screen next week for the finals of the British television game show.

Liam Moloney (37) from Renmore in the city is back on Channel 4’s Countdown next Wednesday, December 16, where he is competing in the quarter-finals of the popular letters and numbers quiz programme with the distinctive signature tune.

A self-professed ‘biggest fan ever’ of Countdown, Liam’s dream of taking part came true earlier this Summer when he made it through to the televised shows.

Now, having done so well in July, Liam is one of eight contestants returning to compete in the finals, which will be screened for a week with the ‘grand final’ going out on December 23.

The shows were pre-recorded in November but Liam is tight-lipped about how he got on.

“You’ll have to tune in on Wednesday. But let’s just say, what I lacked in knowledge I made up for in heart,” he chuckles.

Liam broke Countdown records during a remarkable run of results in July when he won six games on the trot. He is the third highest points scorer in the history of the game show for contestants on six rounds of the show. His average score was 111, for six games and he almost hit 700 points, and achieved the highest points earned by any contestant not to have won eight games.

“It’s a small bit of history,” he says.

Liam says the reaction to his participation on the show has been “incredible”.

“It was unbelievable the reaction I got. And it swelled when I had an article in the Tribune and it was on Galway Bay FM. A lot of people were coming up to me saying they read about it or heard it on the radio. There was a huge following then of people who watched the show. It was like a mini celebrity status. Irish people have thing about begrudging but there wasn’t a whiff of it. Everyone was so pleased to see me do so well,” he says.

During his stint this Summer, Liam broke the highest score so far this season, with a tally of 118. He then went and broke his own record, with another season best of 121 points. He scored two nines in the letters’ game – practised and departing – which is the top mark. But he’s also come up with some humdingers sevens and eights, including ‘inchoate’ (just begun or not formed), ‘soigneur’ (a masseuse for cyclists), and ‘meiosis’ (cell-division).

Liam says many of the other contestants were ‘eccentric’ and that he was “proud to be just a normal guy” who did so well on the show.

“It was like ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoos’ Nest’ at times in there!; they have just got massive brains – you’d want to see them . . . I was just so proud to have done so well and I just want to thank people for all the support they have shown me,” adds Liam.

Liam is seeded seventh in the finals and in the quarter-final he is paired-off against the second seed. His quarter-final, presented by Nick Hewer and assistants Rachel Riley and Susie Dent in the ‘dictionary corner’, is televised on Wednesday, December 16 at 3.10pm and is repeated early the following morning.

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Around 2,100 low-income households in the city are facing an unhappy start to the New Year as the bin waiver is scrapped.

The waiver on domestic waste charges will be binned from December 31, and the city’s most vulnerable strata of society will be charged ‘full whack’ for waste disposal next year.

The scrapping of the subsidy means that from January 1 2016, low-income pensioners and those on social welfare and disability will have to fork out for bins.

It is estimated the additional financial burden they face is between €160 and €229 per annum.

“People are already broke in January, and now they are going to be hit with an extra charge, on top of all the other charges including water charges, property tax, rising rents and higher utility bills,” said Sinn Féin City Councillor, Mairéad Farrell.

The waiver dates back to times when Galway City Council provided a domestic waste disposal service. Two years ago, when the local authority ceased this service and it was sold to the private sector, City Councillors voted to keep in place a waiver system for the most vulnerable for two years.

The Council reaped €511,000 from the sale of its waste service and it negotiated a two-year waiver as a condition of sale.

Prior to the sale of the service, the Council said the waiver scheme was costing it some €500,000 a year. Back then there were about 2,400 on the waiver and the Council has confirmed that some 2,139 were in reciept of a waiver on December 3, 2014.

Letters advising households that the waiver will be scrapped come January have been arriving through letterboxes in recent weeks.

Cllr Farrell says she has been inundated with calls from residents who are “extremely concerned about the impact the loss of the waiver will have on their already threadbare finances.”

The Mervue-based public representative said that the most vulnerable have been thrown to the mercy of private waste collection companies who, “prioritise profit over providing a good quality public service.”

“The beginning of a New Year should be an enjoyable time for families and individuals as they celebrate over the festive period and set out on a new journey. The last few years, however, have seen numerous austerity budgets mean that people face in to a New Year of despair and worry.

“Despite this Government’s rhetoric about ‘recovery’ and the final budget of their term in office, for most people this much talked-up recovery will amount to nothing. Especially for the 2,400 people in Galway City who are set to lose the waiver,” said Cllr Farrell.

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The Ombudsman has confirmed it is investigating a complaint against Galway City Council which relates to accusations of ‘preferential treatment’ in relation to issuing parking fines.

The Ombudsman has written to the Galway motorist to confirm that it will seek answers from the local authority about accusations that certain vehicles with links to the City Council were not ticketed.

The original complaint emerged in the Summer, when it was alleged that a Galway City Councillor, and two members of Galway City Partnership, whose directors include officials and elected members of Galway City Council, received ‘special treatment’ and avoided a fine for parking without a pay and display permit.

An ‘ordinary’ motorist who parked beside them, also without a Pay and Display permit, received a parking ticket. But the Galway man claims that three other cars parked beside him, near Bohermore, did not get penalised even though didn’t have Pay and Display tickets either.

An appeal against the charge was rejected by the Council and the motorist subsequently took the matter to the Ombudsman.

In a letter issued this week, the Ombudsman said: “Having considered your appeal, the original decision and the case file on your complaint, I am of the view that this Office should engage further with the Council to get a reply from it on your contention that it fined you for parking in a restricted area but did not fine other drivers who were parked at the same area at the same time.

“I see from our case file on your complaint that the Council did reply to you in this regard but that its reply did not deal with your contention of preferential treatment of other drivers.  Accordingly, I have decided to reopen your complaint, so that we can pursue the Council to get you a reply on that aspect of your correspondence with it.”

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A bumper calendar of events next June could see thousands descend on Galway Harbour, marking a return to the carnival atmosphere last witnessed during the two Volvo Ocean Races visits to the city.

The biggest event will be a stopover of the Venture Cup, when a fleet of up to 25 of the best powerboat racers from across the world will race in 1,000 miles of challenging seas along the Irish coastline over seven days of intense competition.

Described as the longest, toughest and most prestigious powerboat race in the world, Galway will be the only port out of six where the stunning craft will compete in inport racing. Using the Aran Islands as a chicane along the route, the races held over four days from June 16 and involving vessels that have broken speed records of 244mph will be visible from the Prom in Salthill.

“Not only will spectators see them race in Galway Bay, because of the uniqueness of our harbour, the public will get the chance to get up close to these boats – possibly even get on board. They really are magnificent,” said Harbour Master Captain Brian Sheridan.

“There are aspirations to turn it into a mini-Volvo Ocean Race but that all depends on the marketing drive and how the organisers get their message out there. It won’t be as big as 2012, but there should be food stalls, prize giving and entertainment along the harbour.”

Around 1,000 people directly connected to the race between onshore crew and competitors will be in town, while Capt Sheridan predicts 5,000 visitors are likely to attend the event. However, organisers believe that between Cork, Dingle, Galway, Killybegs, Belfast and Dublin, up to a million boat enthusiasts could descend on the ports to soak up the atmosphere.

“It’s no secret that Ireland can party better than most, so competitors and visitors can expect nightly celebrations just as big as the waves the teams will be forced to crash over, through and under,” remarked one organiser at the launch in London last week.

There could even be a bit of celebrity spotting. Recruited to the Vector Martini team – already tipped to be among the favourites – will be model David Gandy, with British adventurer Bear Grylls also expected to be involved.

The youngest competitor will be Adam Brennan (18), son of John Brennan, hotelier and co-star of RTÉ’s At Your Service.

“This is a return to true adventure in racing,” remarked Aidan Foley, event director for the Venture Cup, which was cancelled in 2013 due to a lack of funding.

“We’re seeing too much predictability in motorsport right now, too much blandness. When you add the types of conditions we’re expecting, into a mix of 25 top international teams full of personality, bravery and good old fashioned derring-do, you get a sports event which is wildly more exciting than what’s currently out there.

“We think people are going to love following this race. Whether they’re watching on land or on-line, we’re going to give them something very special and unique.”

The race will be covered by the world’s top sports channels as the monohulled racers pass landmarks such as the Fastnet Rock, Blasket Sound and the Giant’s Causeway. The progress of the teams can be tracked through a special app.

The crews will be competing for the Venture Cup – first presented in 1908 by a member of the famous Vanderbilt family – with the winning nation to be presented with the British International Harmsworth Trophy dating back to 1903 and widely recognised as the equivalent of sailing’s America’s Cup.

It will be an extremely busy month for the harbour. Seafest 2016, an initiative of the national maritime plan HOOW – Harnessing Our Ocean Worth – is a national festival and conference which takes place at the Docks the last weekend of June. In the region of 10,000 industry figures descended on Cork for the last one, according to Capt Sheridan.

The Challenge Galway Triathlon Festival – involving a 3.8km swim, 180km bike ride finished with a 42km run – will be held June 24-26. This is expected to attract around 5,000 people to the city.

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