Tag Archives: lough cutra

Corofin man Joe Killeen is the new vice-president of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO). The principal of Lough Cutra National School, near Gort, was elected to the post at last weekend’s annual congress in Belfast. The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation has in excess of 43,000 members, of which 7,300 reside in Northern Ireland. Its members teach in the region of 600,000 pupils. Mr Killeen began his teaching career at Kiltrusten National School in Strokestown, County Roscommon, and became principal at Lough Cutra in 1987. In the same year, he became Gort INTO branch secretary. He went on to represent the Gort INTO branch and District 6 of the INTO (Galway/Roscommon) for over 20 years. In 2008, he was elected to the central executive committee of the union to represent INTO District 6, which has a membership of 2,500 teachers. Mr Killeen was a member of the Small Schools Task Force, set up in 2012 by the union to advise …

Evidence of a bronze age settlement has been discovered in South Galway. Recent preliminary investigations have revealed that at least one crannóg, and possibly up to four, may exist on Ballinakill Lake, close to Lough Cutra. The 90-acre lake may also include a causeway linking one of the prehistoric man-made islands to the shoreline. Just one of the crannógs is above the water level in the lake and according to Christy Cunniffe, community archaeologist with Galway County Council, “the submerged features warrant further examination”. The archaeologist also suggested that a seemingly linear rock formation under the water may have been a causeway joining one or more of the crannógs to the shore but added that log-boats may also have been used. “Crannógs would not be that common in South Galway. These are significant. A 90-acre lake with the potential to have at least three crannógs in it and other prehistoric monuments around it, suggests that there was a strong pre-historic …

A thousand triathletes will take part in the Lough Cutra Castle Triathlon this Sunday. Race organisers pride themselves in making this a genuine festival of triathlons with races to suit everyone, from top national and international performers to first-timers and children. The normally-private Lough Cutra Castle estate is open to everyone to come along and enjoy the day. Adding to the atmosphere will be a piper in the battlements and live music afterwards in the castle yard. It is the first in the 2014 Castle Triathlon Series, which also includes races at English and French venues. The international competition between Irish and UK teams is attracting some attention. The Irish team is captained by Amy Wolfe, with Mark Nolan and Aaron O’Brien providing some serious quality. For GB, last year’s winner, David Bishop, returns to defend his title, backed up by Chris Hines and Catherine Jameson. Three junior races will cater for children from eight to 15 years and four …

After a demanding two days when the drivers had to deal with some appalling conditions, Donegal cousins Declan & Brian Boyle took their first ever International rally win on the Colm Quinn BMW Galway International Rally in their Subaru Impreza WRC. After completing the 13 stages of the opening round of the Clonakilty Black Pudding Irish Tarmac Championship, they had 25.5 seconds to spare over the reigning Tarmac Champion, Garry Jennings, with Rory Kennedy in the co-driver seat in their Impreza WRC. On a shortened pair of stages, completed three times on the first day, there was very little to choose between the top five overnight with Boyle holding a slender advantage over Jennings and Eugene Donnelly holding third place in the Mini WRC. Donagh Kelly and Sam Moffett were battling it out for fourth place but only 25 seconds separated all of the drivers overnight. With the first stage on Sunday being the infamous and tricky Black Road, drama …