Galway Bay fm - News

Language Assistants are to receive a 10% pay rise as part of a €1.964m nationwide package for the 2025/26 school year. The Language Assistants Scheme, managed on behalf of the Department of Rural and Community Development by Muintearas in the Western Region, Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne in the Southern Region, and Glór na nGael in Gaeltacht Service Towns and Irish-Language Networks, is also being ex...

Midlands North West MEP Ciaran Mullooly has warned of a deeply concerning development under the European Commission's proposed reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy or CAP. Under new proposals, farmers reaching the State Pension age of 66 could not receive a single farm payment from 2028. Speaking to Galway Bay FM, MEP Mullooly said that if these proposals went ahead, more than 5,000 farmers i...

A large crowd, estimated in the thousands, took to the streets of Ballinasloe this afternoon for a public rally over the situation with maternity services at Portiuncula Hospital. A local group was set up last month following a decision to transfer high-risk pregnancies from the hospital, following a review into the care being provided. The Portiuncula Maternity Alliance says thousands of people h...

Galway East TD and Minister of State for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports Sean Canney has welcomed Cabinet approval for up to €3.5 billion in Government equity support for ESB and EirGrid - unlocking over €18 billion in electricity grid investment between 2026 and 2030. The investment includes up to €2 billion in equity support for EirGrid to develop Ireland's offshore e...

Midlands North West MEP Nina Carberry has called on the European Commission to earmark dedicated funding for sport and physical activity in the next long term EU Budget. Ahead of the Commission's official Budget publication on 16 July, Carberry joined her EPP party colleague Nikolina Brnjac, Croatia's former Minister for Sports, in writing to Commission Vice-President Raffaele Fitto, urging the in...

The historic medieval Claregalway Castle is to host a unique cultural event tomorrow evening with a Summer Salon Concert that will feature an enchanting evening of opera headlined by Galway-based soprano Helen Hancock. The concert programme will span from the Baroque to the Romantic era and promises a rich and varied selection of operatic favourites, featuring works by composers such as Mozart, Pu...

With Race Week getting underway tomorrow, visitors are being encouraged to visit the city to enjoy the week's festivities. Summer Vibes will run from tomorrow morning until Wednesday evening, bringing the pulse of the party right into the heart of the city with pop-up gigs, fashion shows, yoga sessions, walking tours, and even disco bikes lighting up the Westend after dark. New this year is a cura...

Young farmers in Galway are being urged to apply for a new support scheme. The Long Established Young Farmers, or Forgotten Farmers, scheme aims to recognise farmers under 40 in 2015 who started farming before 2008. €5 million has been allocated in the Budget to fund the initiative, and the deadline to apply on Agfood.ie is 5:30PM on August 13th. Headford area Fine Gael Councillor Andrew Reddingto...

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Harris TD, is today reminding citizens to check their passports are up-to-date before making travel plans and to apply for their passports online well in advance of their holiday departure date. The Tánaiste also took the opportunity to update on the number of passports issued per country, stating that 16,962 passports were issued in the t...

A ceremony is being held this weekend to honour the Irish men and women who died during UN Peacekeeping Missions or past conflicts.  The annual event gets underway at the University of Galway on Sunday at 11am, as part of the National Day of Commemoration. Members of the Defence Forces, next-of-kin of those who died, religious leaders and local politicians will be in attendance. Mayor of Galway Ci...

Young people from Galway discussed their experiences and priorities for Budget 2026 with local politicians at the recent launch of spunout’s pre-budget submission. spunout is Ireland’s youth information and support platform. The pre-budget submission was created in collaboration with its Youth Action Panel, a diverse group of over 200 young people from across Ireland, focusing on their lived exper...

Public representatives from across the political spectrum learned first-hand of the work done by Failte Ireland in driving sustainable tourism, grow visitor numbers, increase tourism revenue, and supporting jobs across the constituency and region. An Oireachtas Information Clinic for TD’s and Senators was held in Buswells Hotel near Leinster House and was attended by Deputies Pete Roche, John Conn...

Councillor Andrew Reddington has confirmed that Galway County Council are to move forward with the Community Transport Strategy for Headford. Following approval of the Kinvara Community Study for publication and consultation, the Council will now concentrate on the Headford Strategy, which is a priority among the remaining five studies. Speaking to Galway Bay FM News, Councillor Reddington said th...

The Dail has been told by Sinn Féin TD for Galway East, Louis O'Hara, that the Western Rail Corridor is a shovel-ready project which must be delivered within the lifetime of this Government. O'Hara was speaking in the Dáil during statements on the All-Island Strategic Rail Review recommendations and also called for double-tracking of the Athenry-Galway rail line to be made a priority. Deputy O'Har...

Galway East TD Louis O'Hara has slammed the Government for its failure to publish new long-awaited Wind Energy Guidelines. The Sinn Féin TD is calling for modern guidelines which can regulate several proposed developments across the county. He says people are often frustrated by a lack of consultation regarding developments, and new guidelines would help resolve this issue. Deputy O'Hara told our...

A local TD has accused the Taoiseach of making "reality-defying" statements on housing. Speaking in the Dáil, Galway West TD Mairead Farrell referenced comments made by Micheal Martin at the National Economic Dialogue. She said she couldn't believe it when she heard him say that fundamental reform was being delivered to create a sustainable housing system. Then, taking aim at Housing Minister Jame...

Galway East TD and Leader in Cabinet of the Independent Ministers, Seán Canney, has welcomed the proposed 10% increase in the minimum rates of pay for Early Years Educators and School-Age Childcare Practitioners. The proposals have been put forward by the Joint Labour Committee, which represents both employers and workers in the sector. He also welcomed the Government's commitment to ring-fence €4...

Fianna Fail Councillor Gerry King has been elected as the new Cathaoirleach of Connemara District. The announcement was made yesterday evening and will see the Clifden Native take over from Tomas Welby. It will be the second time he has held the position, having previously served as Cathaoirleach in 2019. The newly elected Cathaoirleach outlined his plans for the coming year

The Tanáiste has told a Galway TD that she does not "own" military neutrality. It's after Catherine Connolly raised the planned reform of the triple lock system in the Dáil - and questioned the motive and reasoning behind that decision. The system means that Government, Dáil and UN approval are all needed for Irish troops to be deployed overseas. But it's argued that the system means the five perm...

Leader of the Independent Team of Ministers and Minister for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rails and Ports anfd Galway East TD Seán Canney has welcomed the ongoing review of planning permission exemptions, describing it as an important opportunity to unlock more flexible and practical housing solutions. The review, led by Minister for Housing James Browne TD, forms part of the wider...

A local Fine Gael councillor has said Men's Sheds in Galway should apply for additional funding following an announcement by the Department of Rural and Community Development. The announcement was made on Friday by Minister Dara Calleary, and Minister of State Jerry Buttimer who jointly announced a funding package to support Men's Sheds across the country. The funding contribution for this year, t...

Galway City Sports Partnership have launched Activity Play Hubs around Galway City. The launch took place on Tuesday last and was performed by the Mayor of Galway City, Peter Keane. The Hubs are a box-up system through an app that provides sports equipment to the public free of charge in order to increase physical activity and play across the city. There are 7 systems currently in the city in Doug...

Community groups across Galway have been invited to come together to plant the 'seeds of sustainability' through the launch of a new platform called Nature Network. The platform is designed to connect Galway's community groups so they can share practical knowledge and inspire climate action. The 'Nature Network initiative' will connect like-minded groups, individuals and organisations who care abo...

A local MEP says changes to the CAP inspection regime will mean reduced red tape for farmers. Ciaran Mullooly says under new measures, farmers will now be subject to a single inspection for payments. He says excessive bureaucracy drives farmers "absolutely nuts", like duplicate and repetitive visits. MEP Mullooly feels there's more work to be done, but this change to CAP inspections is a very welc...