Gort

THE Forge Literature Festival kicks off for the 10th anniversary of the Western Writers’ Centre (Ionad Scribhneoirí Chaitlín Maude) on Friday and Saturday, March 30 and 31. This is the fifth year of the festival, which was established to commemorate the town of Gort’s associations with the Irish Literary Renaissance. This year’s festival is varied and features, among others, the internationally acclaimed traditional wire-strung harp player, Siobhán Armstrong.  “It’s wonderful to be celebrating 10 years of the centre,” said founder and director, author and critic Fred Johnston. “The Forge at Gort has been received very well indeed and has proved itself to be a modest literary landmark, as well as highlighting the town itself.”But the festival is still in need of sponsorship. Although Fred Johnston remarks that the town of Gort has always been favourable and generous with sponsorship, the festival could not continue without it. “Already an eminent poet has provided financial sponsorship but more is required. Anyone interested …

A GALWAY home was found to have radon levels of more than 18 times the acceptable level when it was tested last year, according to figures released this week by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII).Nearly one-quarter of the 200 Galway homes tested for radon in the past six months were found to have high levels of the cancer-causing gas. Forty-six homes in Galway were found to have high levels of radon, with seven homes reading more than four times the acceptable level.Over 300 homes from across the country were identified by the RPII as having high levels of radon in the last seven months. Nationally, radon is the second biggest cause of lung cancer after smoking and is directly linked to up to 200 lung cancer deaths each year.In Galway, 200 tests for radon gas were completed in homes between June 1 and December 31 last year. Of these, 46 were above the acceptable level of 200 becquerels …

SIX Galway pupils have been named as finalists in the fourth annual Doodle 4 Google art competition including, for the third year in-a-row, one pupil from Seamount College, Kinvara.Three junior-cycle pupils from Seamount reached the semi-final of the Doodle4Google art competition recently with one reaching the final, which will be held at Google headquarters in Dublin on March 12.Sean Duggan, who is in senior infants at Scoil Náisiúnta Mhuire in Claregalway, and Robert Treacy, who is in first class at St Michael’s National School in Galway, will join Emma Urquhart, fourth class at Craughwell National School and Colm Keady Tabbal, first year at Seamount College, Kinvara in the contest, which sees 75 pupils compete for a chance of seeing their doodle on the Google Ireland homepage. Also shortlisted is Pauline Osikoya, first year at Scoil Bhríde Mercy Secondary School in Tuam and Aisling Porter, fourth year at St Brigid’s VEC in Loughrea.Colm’s entry, based on the theme I Wish, deals …

A SERIES of new measures are necessary to tackle the legacy deficit of an estimated €10 million facing public hospitals in Galway, according to a well known health activist.New HSE chief executive officer Cathal Magee says public hospitals in Galway are facing a two-fold challenge with funding their services this year.Galway University Hospitals, which includes UHG and Merlin Park,  started with overspend debts from last year believed to be in the region of €10 million, which will have to be taken into account when its final budget allocation is made.The hospitals, along with Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe and Roscommon General Hospital will have a single budget and one employment ceiling from now on.Mr Magee warned that certain hospitals, including University College Hospital, Galway, will struggle to deal with a legacy deficit. They are also facing the challenge of having a reduced budget allocation for this year, compared to last year.According to official figures presented at a recent HSE Forum meeting …

SOUTH Galway third-level students could have the option of attending a new technological university within the next few years if an innovative educational proposal gets the green light.Five institutes of technology in the Border, Midlands and West (BMW) Regions are at an advanced stage in discussions regarding the establishment of a technological university.Pending Government approval, a Border Midlands West Technological University (BMW TU) would create the largest higher education institution in the State with 27,000 students.A steering group comprising the presidents and senior staff of Athlone, Dundalk, Galway-Mayo, Letterkenny and Sligo Institutes of Technology is directing the negotiations.AIT president, Professor Ciarán O’Catháin, said the institutes were looking to create a differentiated institution, one that will be known for the excellence of its teaching and learning and for its close collaboration with industry. “Such a technological university will be much more than the sum of its parts, it will be a powerful agent of change in higher education for all the …

A GALWAY woman who experienced great difficulty conceiving a second child has used her own personal experience to open a dedicated fertility medical acupuncture clinic in Oranmore.Brenda Aylmer didn’t have any major difficulty getting pregnant for her first child, who is now six years of age, but found herself unexpectedly among 60% of couples who experience difficulties conceiving again, despite having one or two more children.Brenda recalls she went through an extremely difficult period when she realised it wasn’t going to be plain sailing second time round.“It was a shock to the system and it took a while to come to terms with. We had no problems with the first and when you have one child and you see the joy that it brings, you want a second one. This presented its own challenges when difficulties emerged having spent about two and a half years trying to get pregnant.“Mentally, it was a very tough, frustrating and challenging time. You need …

A SOUTH-East Galway pilot project tracing descendants of Irish emigrants has been shortlisted for a major national award.Ireland Reaching Out (Ireland XO) has reached the finals of the national 2012 Local Authority Members’ Association (LAMA) awards.Developed in South-East Galway from October 2010 to July 2011, this project has been shortlisted in the category Best Community-Based Initiative.The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on February 11 in Dublin.  Returning as the MC again for 2012 is RTÉ Prime Time presenter, Miriam O’Callaghan and guest of honour is Environment Minister Phil Hogan. The Local Authority Members’ Association (LAMA) represents elected councillors nationwide and plays a pivotal role in local government, being charged with representing constituents in local issues, providing leadership within the community and being responsible for overall provision of local services.Ireland XO culminated with a successful Week of Welcomes event held in the area in late June. In fact, it was so successful, a decision was taken to expand …

A RADICAL review of funding for local authorities needs to be undertaken to facilitate a reduction in rates for hard-pressed businesses in South-Galway, a local county councillor has warned.Councillor Gerry Finnerty has called for an overhaul of the way local authorities, including Galway County Council, are being funded to allow a more equitable means of paying for vital public services.He made the call after Galway County Council recently adopted its 2012 Budget Estimates without reducing commercial rates for businesses.The Gort Chamber of Commerce PRO said the chamber had made efforts to see if the council could reduce commercial rates to help struggling businesses in the teeth of the economic recession.He explained a 1% reduction in commercial rates would result in a saving of €250,000 required elsewhere in the provision of public services, such as water and sewerage.Despite the chamber’s best efforts, he admitted the county council simply does not have the money to reduce commercial rates even by 1% or …