Well done to all involved in organising and running the Streets of Galway road race yesterday evening.
In summary the event was:
Well organised.
Efficiently run.
Well marshalled.
Took consideration of and liaised with the residents in the areas through which it was run.
Invited them to take part if they wished.
Keep people well informed well in advance, closer to the day and on the day.
Was well signposted with clear, visible signage that was immediately removed on completion of the event.
Did an immediate and complete clean up as the last runners passed.
Was inclusive and facilitated serious elite runners and those who took part for fun., to raise funds for charity or to meet some private personal target.
It catered for ages from young to some in their 80s, all getting equal encouragement from spectators.
People not taking part in the run stopped on the paths along the route or came to their doors and gateways to clap and cheer to encourage the participants.
Again well done.
Some other organisations could learn a lot from them.
Running along Rockbarton RoadLiam, one of the more senior runners took a moment to acknowledge these cheering on
Galway City Harriers are delighted to announce that the 36th edition of the Streets of Galway 8k road race will take place Saturday 6th August at 7pm.
Since its inception in 1986 the event has grown into one of the most prestigious road races in the country, yet remains true to its original motto of Sport for All, as many locals and visitors take on the event year in year out. The event will bring thousands of participants onto the streets of our city and suburbs into what is a fantastic event for the city.
This event is the jewel in the crown of road races in the West and tours through the famous City of the Tribes. The race route starts at Grattan Road beside South Park in the city and takes in many of the sights of Galway city. including the Spanish Arch, Eyre Square, the landmark Galway Cathedral and NUI Galway, and routes out towards Salthill, past Pearse Stadium and then back in the ‘Prom’ along Galway Bay for a fast section into the finish at the historic Claddagh.
The Salthill Live Music Festival planned for Pearse Stadium on Sunday, June 5th has been cancelled. The line up was to include Nathan Carter, Una Healy, and Sharon Shannon amongst others. Nathan Carter will instead play in Munroe’s pub that night.
I understand that some of the other artists were a bit peeved to learn from members of the public about the cancellation when, they themselves, had not been informed.
The Black Eyed Peas concert on the Saturday is still scheduled to go ahead.
Today evil has a name, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin,
Instigator of murderous war, bombing and shooting.
His current aim, the extinction of a free Ukraine.
Women and children forced to flee.
To leave their homeland, where they should be safe and free.
Those who stay dice with death,
in the face of the invaders threat.
Weapons of destruction make noise like thunder,
as flesh and bone of human beings they tear asunder.
Towns, cities and peoples’ lives totally destroyed,
on the command of one who is evil personified.
Citizens raped, murdered, set on fire.
Ambassador Filatov’s denials make him a liar.
Worse; an apologist for crimes against humanity?
The very worst forms of inhumanity.
Tens of thousands have already died.
Their basic human rights denied.
Why this insanity?
Why can’t he let these people be?
We must stand with Ukraine,
and ensure the tyrant’s efforts are in vain.
Today evil has a name. One history will connect with shame.
Today evil has a face. One that will be remembered in ignominy and disgrace.
Today we are called to play our part.
Implementing sanctions is just a start.
But we must do a whole lot more.
So on our behave, Government has promised an open door.
People need a place to live,
And we should share what we can afford to give.
People have a right to live in peace,
And we wish that war and strife would simply cease.
But protecting life, freedom, and democracy is a choice.
One for which we must be prepared to pay the price.
Today evil has a name.
Our choice, oppose it or share the blame.
.
.
We all want to help. I have written some poetry for pleasure over the last two years, since the first lockdown began. As a small gesture any profits from the sale of this poetry will be donated to the Irish Red Cross to help with their work for the Ukrainian people.
At this moment in time as we approach our national holiday we will be organising parades, cultural events and all sorts of activities to acknowledge and give expression to our sense of Irishness. We will feel a pride in who we are that is perhaps heightened around St. Patrick’s Day.
At this moment in time we are at war. Even if bombs are not dropping on our island we are engaged in an economic and ideological battle. Our Ukrainian neighbours are more directly under attack and need our help. Their response to aggression from a neighbour with vastly superior fire power has shown the strength of their feeling of what it means to be Ukrainian. Unfortunately this will cost many of them their lives.
We all want to help. I have written some poetry for pleasure over the last two years, since the first lockdown began. As a small gesture any profits from the sale of this poetry will be donated to the Irish Red Cross to help with their work for the Ukrainian people.
Galway City Council has revoked plans for a temporary cycleway along Salthill promenade.
Councillors overturned an earlier decision to support the plan, after concerns from local residents, businesses and emergency services.
After almost four hours of debate they voted 13 to 4 to abandon plans for the cycleway.
Tonight’s vote comes after a couple of weeks of intense debate around two route options put forward by council engineers for the temporary cycling infrastructure.
Almost 7,000 submissions were made to a public consultation process about the proposals, with 60% of respondents opposed both routes, with the traffic and access issues topping the list of concerns.
Emergency services also said that traffic changes would have an impact on access and response times, on the west side of the city and further afield.
Lobbying was intense and some of it went way beyond what could be considered reasonable. Apparently the meeting had been delayed because of a threat made to the City C.E.O. Some councillors had received abusive calls and emails as did their families. There are also reports of a number of false submissions having been made in the names of people who did not actually make submissions at all. Such submissions should be handed over to the gardaí for further investigation to see if it was part of an organised plan or just a few isolated idiots acting badly. Otherwise this tactic could lead to the undermining of our processes for public consultation and local democracy.
Galway girl Katelyn Molloy is our favourite on this year’s TG4 country music talent search Glór Tíre, “voice of the country”.
Katelyn is being mentored by country star Ciarán Rosney in the televised competition. The show, now in its 18th season, has returned to a new studio, set and format. The seven-part series filmed in Studio 5, Cue One in Claregalway, features Ireland’s biggest names in country music including Johnny Brady, Ciarán Rosney, Olivia Douglas and Mike Denver, who are each mentoring two contestants.
The initial eight contestants is now down to five who will face the public vote that will reduce the number to three on Tuesday, February 15th (9.30-10.30pm) and the overall winner will be declared at the final on the following Tuesday, the 22nd.
With the New Glor Tire App you can vote for your favourite contestants and keep up to date with the mentors and the contestants throughout the series. You get five free votes, and if you wish you may purchase additional votes.
To avail of five free votes download the app from: