Gort

THE boil-water notice which was introduced in Gort last March is expected to be lifted in the coming days. The precautionary notice was implemented while upgrading works were taking place on the Gort Water Treatment Plant.Galway County Council expected this would take approximately three months to complete but six months behind schedule, a senior council official has said he believes the notice will be lifted in the coming weeks, perhaps even sooner. “It is still ongoing but I think we are nearing the end. We have the upgrading works in Gort done and we are now supplying clean, safe, potable water to the consumers in the area. The water quality is much better than it was. The water is much cleaner. We are currently having it tested through the network by the HSE, once they get three clear samples, we would hope to be in a position to lift the notice. We don’t know what the situation is until we …

Over the past 125 years Kilbeacanty GAA has experienced peaks and troughs. Today, like many clubs across the county and the country, it is being drained by emigration. Four stalwarts of the club marked its momentous anniversary by documenting its journey from then to now in a new book.

A meeting to explore the formation of a new South Galway Gaelic football club will be held in Gort Community Centre this Friday evening at 8.30pm.

THE community of Ardrahan is to take part in the South-East Galway Diaspora Project. The exciting and innovative project, which was recently launched in Loughrea by economist David McWilliams, hopes to reconnect parish communities with those who have left the area and their descendents.The concept, which was the brainchild of Galway technology entrepreneur Mike Feerick, was developed in the wake of the Economic Forum at Farmleigh last year and has received support and endorsement from the Department of Foreign Affairs to establish a pilot project in South-East Galway.Substantial further support has been forthcoming from Galway County Council, the Heritage Council, the GAA and Irish-American sources.The project is based on a simple idea. Instead of waiting for Irish-Americans and their global counterparts to come to Ireland to trace their roots, communities groups at townland, village or parish level would search for them. Those who left and their descendents are identified and traced worldwide and invited to become part of an extended …

IT is just over one year since large areas of South Galway were submerged after heavy rain led to extensive flooding. For many, it rendered their land useless. Others were forced to leave their homes which were badly damaged or destroyed. One Kilcolgan man, moved by the predicament of a neighbour, attempted to find an engineering solution to the problem. Last weekend, he launched a new flood barrier for domestic and commercial use.Ian Conboy set up Adaco Manufacturing Ltd in 1991 with the aim of developing and manufacturing a range of gas appliances called Falcon Fires.“Our timing was great because as we developed our knowledge and skills in the ’90s so we were in a good position to profit from the building boom of the ‘noughties’. Alas, Christmas 2008 saw us sell our last product into housing estates. Prior to the collapse of the building industry, 85% of our product went into new housing estates,” he recalled.“On the last day …

KINVARA Farmers’ Market is holding their annual Christmas Market on Saturday and Sunday December 4 and 5 from 11am to 6pm in the Community Centre, Kinvara. There will be up to 40 stalls selling a huge variety of seasonal food and gifts with live music and fun for young and old.“This is a great opportunity to get unique hand-made Christmas gifts and to buy your Christmas food and drink early, such as cakes, puddings, baked and bottled goods, handmade chocolates, wines and so on. There will also be lots of crafts such as jewellery, textiles, pottery, toys, books, photographs, decorations, stained glass, candles, paintings and much more. If you get too exhausted shopping, take a break in the Christmas Café serving soup, light lunches, refreshments, mulled wine, mince pies and other goodies,” explained one of the event organisers. There will be a children’s art competition on display with the prize giving taking place on Saturday on stage at 4.30pm. The …

AN Bord Pleanála has refused planning permission for the redesign and construction of a 16-turbine windfarm in South Galway, less than two miles from the site of the 2003 Derrybrien landslide.

SOUTH Galway farmers have warned they will oppose the next phase of the Atlantic Road Corridor to link Gort and Tuam unless the National Roads Authority carries out “the kind of scientific analysis required in that area”.