Feeling the midweek blues? Don’t worry, we’ve got just the thing to lift your spirits! Here’s some good news from around Galway this week that are sure to put a smile on your face.
Tigín wins award for Gaeilge
Tigín has won the Gaillimh le Gaeilge 2024 Christmas Competition! The award was presented to Tigín by Deputy Mayor Cllr. Níall McNelis of Galway City Council. Comhghairdeas leo! Tigín won a €250 voucher for Snap Galway! Their campaign to decorate windows throughout Galway city in the Irish language for Christmas was a roaring success. Lots of other businesses got involved too - what an excellent way to promote the use of Gaeilge around Galway. Comhghairdeas agus míle buíochas leo go léir!
Sensory Santa’s Grotto's takes a magical visit to University of Galway
The University of Galway has been transformed into a Sensory Friendly Santa's Grotto for children with special needs. The amazing team along with the wonderful assistance of teachers and students from the School of Psychology, transformed the University of Galway into a festive winter wonderland where the children received personalised, sensory-friendly gifts from Santa Clause. We were delighted to see that over 40 families attended the two-day event. This event has been running since 2017! They intend to make a freely downloadable 'How to Guide' for organising similar inclusive and accessible Santa's Grotto events.
Swimmers will brave the sea on Christmas Day for charity!
Hundreds of brave swimmers will be taking the plunge into Galway Bay this Christmas for charity! A lot of these swimmers will be raising money for COPE Galway. The COPE Galway Christmas Swim takes place each year at Blackrock in Salthill. The swim raises important cash for those in our community who rely on the charity's services. Last year, they gathered over 800 swimmers who raised over €45,000. This year's swim intends to build on last year's remarkable effort by combining a "live" swim on Christmas Day with a hybrid model that allows participants from all around the world to participate with friends or family at any time during Christmas Week. Anybody can take part, swimmers of all levels and abilities, Why not give it a go and raise funds for a great cause? The swim takes place in Blackrock from 9am to 1pm on December 25! Best of luck!
Improved bus lanes and pedestrian crossings at Parkmore finished ahead of schedule!
Galway City Council has announced that the Parkmore Road Bus Priority Project has been completed! It's also being finished earlier than anticipated. The renovations included constructing a new southbound priority bus lane that runs 600 metres down Parkmore Road to the Monivea Road junction. There are also six new bus stations, four signalised pedestrian crossings, new pavements, and improvements to the Monivea Road signalised intersection. This all got underway last February, and the project was aimed to run until next February (2025). Congratulations to contractors Jons Civil Engineering for completing the project way ahead of schedule!
Dates have been set in stone for Galway International Rally 2025
It’s official! The 2025 Galway International Rally will be happening on Saturday the 1st of February and Sunday the 2nd February 2. Starting 47 years ago the Galway International Rally is the oldest international rally on the Irish Motorsport calendar. It first ran in 1971. The rally hopes to boost Galway’s tourism and around the surrounding areas. This works perfectly because the rally will fall on Ireland’s newest bank holiday weekend! Keep an eye out on their social media to see if the rally will be happening near you this coming February!
Free parking in Galway areas this festive season
There’ll be free parking during this holiday season encouraging visitors to see the county's regional towns. This festive holiday season, shoppers may take advantage of free parking in Ballinasloe, Tuam, Loughrea, Clifden, Cleggan, Athenry, and Gort. To encourage more people to shop in rural towns, free on- and off-street parking will be offered beginning at 11 a.m. every day. Galway City is also running its Christmas Park and Ride service helping people travel into the city centre. The shuttle service from Galway Racecourse to the Fairgreen Coach Station will be available from Saturday, December 14 right up until (and including) Christmas Eve! All-day parking at the Galway racecourse is included in the bus fare.
New TDs of Galway attended their first full Dáil meeting
The five new Galway TD’s had their first full Dáil meeting yesterday (Wednesday 18 December). John Connolly, Pete Roche, Albert Dolan, Louis O’Hara and Martin Daly all took a trip to Dublin yesterday as the 34th Dáil met for the first time since the general election! Leinster House welcomed 174 TDs and over 50 of those TDs will sit in the Dail chamber for the first time, whilst a number have also returned having lost their seat in 2020. Congratulations everyone and ádh mór!
