Flemings Service Station on the Tuam Rd, Mervue was closed for business on Monday Morning the 8th of April. The petrol station is now no longer operational while a number of cars and van for sales have been placed on the site. The Petrol station also had an express supermarket on site and its thought their would be a number of job losses as a result of the closure. The Flemings Cars Sales dealership continues to operate.
Rona O'Reilly will be giving a free seminar on craft related pop-up shops on April 17th from 18:30 to 20:30 in the training room in the Enterprise Board offices in Woodquay.
Rona headed a number of pop up shops in Galway with sister shops in Armagh and Belfast will facilitate a Craft Networking session
There is no charge for this and please confirm by email to Caroline McDonagh at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
if you would like to register for this session.
The discussion will focus on the following topics;
- What is a pop up?
- Benefits to a maker that differentiate it from standard wholesaling or selling direct
- Pitfalls to watch out for
- The who and how of a successful pop up
 Croí are calling all cyclists to pencil in the date for the 2013 Lough Corrib Cycle. This fun cycling sportive will take place on Sunday 2nd June 2013. This fun cycle throughout the Galway/Mayo region, is now in its 18th year and raises vital funds for local heart charity Croí.
Cyclists have a choice of a 27.5 mile or a 75 mile route through Connemara. Croí provide roadside assistance, support vehicles & plenty of refreshment stops along the way!
Registration & Sign-In Time: 7.15am - 8.15am
EVENT START TIME: 8.30AM
All participants are invited to a FREE Open Evening with Sean Kelly
On: Saturday June 1st 2013
At: 6pm
In: Croí House, Moyola Lane, Newcastle, Galway.
Sean will have lots of his cycling memorabilia on display & will be offering a Q&A session.
A number of Connaught residents were amongst the audience of 200 citizens gathered in Dublin City Hall on 10 January last for the launch of the European Year of Citizens 2013 with the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso. The launch was followed by a Citizens’ Dialogue: an open and frank discussion between audience members and Vice-President of the European Commission, Viviane Reding and Minister of State for European Affairs, Lucinda Creighton TD.
Following on from the enormous success of this Citizens’ Dialogue and the huge interest in this event; independent, not-for-profit organisation, European Movement Ireland, are organising a series of Regional Dialogues to take place around the country over the coming months. On Monday 8 April, one of these Dialogues will take place at lunchtime in Galway County Hall.
Cava Spanish Restaurant and Tapas Bar on Dominicks Street in Galway put their 28 staff on protective notice following a landlords request for the business to vacate the premise. Cava Tapas Bar had recieved much noteriaty and local support since opening a number of years ago. Cava is owned and run by husband and wife team Jp McMahon and Drigin Gaffey adn while popular to many, being packed out when most other businesses were failing in the area, this move by landlords comes as a suprise. In recent times a number of new budding restaurants have opened alongside Cava which lead the way for rejuvination of the area. In statements online and in social media, Cava owners are sighting high rents as the reson for the possible closure of the business and are continuing with negotiation with the lease-hold owners. Social media followers have been vocal in thier interputation of the situation and Cava owners hasve also issued a statement asking them to disist from their "blame game" online. They also recognised that the business is about "profit and loss" and that landlords too are effected by the current economic climate.
Jp McMahon could be seen as an ambassador for good food in Galway and features in local media regularly, promotion local food festivals. Other restaurants owned by the couple under the company name Cava Ltd, the Michelin-starred Aniar and Eat @ Massimo are unaffected by this notice.
Cava Tapas Bar in Galway released a statement as follows on their facebook account;
To all those sending us positive messages of hope and resolution: thank you. To all those who have posted/sent us aggressive and abusive messages accusing us of being somehow "anti-landlord", spreading rumors to up business, or even blaming others for our present misfortune: please stop, as they do no one any good. We bear no ill will to anyone, especially landlords in this current economic climate. Our situation is our situation and we are not trying to pigeon hole the entire country into a situation of tenant vs. landlord. We have done what we believe is ethical and correct after receiving notice to vacate the premises. We owe this to our staff and our customers. I am not interested in the blame game. Just the facts of the matter and how they can (if they can) be resolved. Nowhere in our statement or on any of our social media pages have we "vilified" the landlords of Ireland, who too have to run business' as we have to run ours. It is simply a question of accounting, of profit and loss, and how to stay in business in this current country where we find ourselves.
http://www.facebook.com/CavaTapasBar
 Its clear now that there was no changing of the guard when people voted "Fine Failures" out in the last election. The "Irish Governments have consistently put the interests of banks and bankers ahead of the interests of the Irish people", words used by Stephen Donnnely TD from Co. Wicklow, in his last article in the Sunday Independent, posted on his blog. Stephen, an economist, explains would the 3.5bn raised yesterday in the Dail will never see the light of day in Ireland ever again. Stephen also goes on to talk about how we could get 9bn in savings from the economy. Interesting read from what seems to be an honest, intelligent politician.
In March, this monies like many that have gone before, will be burnt using a massively expensive machine, which is slowly but surely destroying the Country, the IRBC. Stephen Donnnely not only explains how all our taxes are to be used to pay senior bond holders but how nearly a quater has already been spent to top up AIB pensions to the tune of 1.1bn. AIB is a failed bank, why we need it one can never truly understand. Its bust so lets get rid of it.
If your heart and stomach are sinking right now with the news that all the pain from yesterday will only make our situation worse well, you can only blame yourself as its your own fault as it sadly is mine. There is nothing we can do about it, never can and never will. Its all a game, two sided but we are the pawns on both sides. Neither master playing to win. As long as politicians take care of bankers, higher paid public sector workers and union officials, we the poor, lower paid public/private sector and middle private sector workers in Ireland will continue to line their pockets. Former Labour leader Dick Spring was appointed to the Anglo Irish Bank board of directors when it was taken over by the Government. I was shocked to see he now also holds a position on the AIB board.
I've given up as I voted for something else an it never materialised. I want my vote to count. I want my vote back and I want people to represent not talk, saying one thing and delivering another. It a shambles and certainly not democratic. Even in the USA, President Obama can set out his goals and drive towards delivering them. We promise everything and throw the canvasing sheets out the windows of the Dail once we're in power. The smile from Michael Noonan said it all yesterday as it seemed to say "I'm in power, not you".
The Bankers Christmas Charity Appeal has raised 3.1bn for IRBC and 1.1bn for bankers and their staff in AIB. WE don't run a charity. Nobody in business throws good money after bad. The madness needs to stop now.
|
EmployAbility Galway and event sponsors the g Hotel, will host a coffee morning at the new g Hotel Suite, Wellpark, Galway on Friday morning 12 April 2013 between 8.30am to 12pm.
The event will be of interest to employers, and local organisations from both public and private sectors. It will focus on providing information for employers on recruitment and retention of staff with disabilities. We will showcase some relevant organisations, hear from speakers, and show a bilingual film “An Lucht Oibre – The Workforce” filmed in Galway workplaces; Medtronic, SuperValu and Muintearas. We will also look towards the future of creating a more inclusive Galway where accessibility makes economic sense for many local businesses in the Galway area. Speakers will include;
Norman Black – Operations Manager JFC
JFC’s Irish operations, including manufacturing, logistics, maintenance, quality, planning, HR and EHS.
Irene Collins – Managing Director EIQA - Excellence Ireland Quality Association (Guardians of the Q Mark)
 The Galway Food Festival 2013 will be held over the Easter Bank Holiday Weekend from Thursday 28th March until Monday 1st April. Enjoy 5 days of exceptional food and loads of free events suitable for all the family. The festival celebrates Galway as a good food destination with a strong focus on artisan, seasonal and local produce.
The 2013 event will include an extended food village on the banks of the Corrib, open-air markets, restaurant trails, cookery demonstrations, food tours to local artisan producers, foraging trips, food talks, tastings, wine and beer workshops, a meet the producers forum, lots of local produce, kids activities and family fun days. A new element of the festival will be the exploration of international diversity and global character of Galway food and celebrate the Galway Food Diaspora. Over 75 restaurants, food outlets and food producers will participate and most events will again be free-admission, all will be family friendly and many will have a strong 'Galway' flavour.
www.galwayfoodfestival.com
 The Galway Sea Festival replaces the Volvo Ocean Race and is the start of a legacy festival to include a wide range of maritime activities, community/family based and citywide incorporating all things maritime, sailing on the Bay, Kayaking, Surfing, Canoeing, Swimming, Fishing, Traditional Craft, Beach Safaris and shore based activities including seafood trails, music, dance and entertainment.
The Galway Sea Festival information night is to take place on Thursday the 21st of March at 6pm in the Meyrick Hotel. Members of the public along with business owners will be informed of the plans and are also invited to participate in discussions.
Galway Sea Festival is a non-profit group, made up of business and marine interests how want to develope Galways Waterways and Ammenities. It is backed by the IPB adn the festival is part of Galways 2013 Gathering.
This is the 110th anniversary of the Galway St Patrick's Day Parade. Every year the Galway
parade pulls out all the stop to feature an exciting mix of marching bands, local community groups, dancing groups, pipe bands and local business floats. Participants coming from all over the world so expect the streets to be packed, filled with fun and excitment.
The St. Patrick’s Day Parade will march through the centre of City, starting at the Jesuits Church or Colaiste Iognaid (The Jes) on Sea road it will move through Domnicks Street, Brigde Street, Shop Street, past Eyre Square and finishing at TK Max on Prospect Hill.
The Parade start time will be 11.30am and finishing at approximately 1.00pm.
This years theme is “The History of Galway” and will focus on the Gathering 2013 and the Tribes associated with Galway.
Highlights to include;
HMV with 16 stores throughout Ireland is set to fall into administration today putting its 4,000 UK and Ireland staff at risk after suppliers refused their request for £300m lifeline. HMV need to restructure their business as customers more to alternative means of purchasing music and video. HMV, Galway is located beside Kitty Hall, Barrack Lane in Eyre Square Centre, Galway City and will no doubt be effected by this recent news. The business is not likely to closing just yet and administration could save the business which was setup in 1921.
Social media fears are now turning to customers rights as HMV vouchers sold before the New Year and reports of difficulties in redeeming gift vouchures at stores.
Its thought much like with the closure of GAME early last year, the UK branches will remain while the Irish stores maybe sold off.
A new report from the J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics at NUI Galway reveals that the Volvo Ocean Race Finale (VOR) which took place in Galway city earlier this year, having hosted a stopover for the Race in 2009, was worth €60.5 million to the Irish economy. Over 500,000 visitors attended events during the festival period from 30 June to 8 July 2012, with 16% of those coming from outside of Ireland.
The 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race lasted for nine months and covered 39,270 nautical miles. The boats circumnavigated the globe, visiting eight stopover ports before finishing in Galway. The participants sailed through four oceans and visited ports in five continents, making it the toughest sailing event in the world. Hundreds of thousands of spectators visited the race villages in the participating ports, while millions tuned in via numerous media channels.
The report, An Economic Assessment of the Volvo Ocean Race Finale, Galway 2012, takes an in-depth scientific examination of the economic impact of the event in Galway over the nine day period. It also reports on the extra-economic benefits of the VOR finale which saw an investment by organisers and Galway City of €7.6 million.
|
Many initiatives are rarely even recognised in the mainstream. It seems Justin Beiber or Amy Hubermans baby is far more important than the future state of Europe never mind the maintenance of pot holes on our streets. How do you see Galway in 2017? How about 2040? Might seem mad, 26 yeras away but planning, vision and strategy has no limits and a groups of individuals are already discussing the future state of Galway in 2014 and guess what, you can have an impact.
