The best of Galway Talks - week of July 7th

Morley’s Mouthfuls

Festival season is well and truly underway right across Galway. The Galway Film Fleadh (which we broadcasted from on Friday) is continuing to amaze audiences with a variety of genres, styles and actors in venues right across the city.

However, far from there being a lull in newsy stories we covered a number of local, national and international stories on Galway Talks this week.

Two stories very much linked to historical abuse were front and centre over the past few days, namely the exaction of the former Tuam Mother and Baby Home site and the announcement of a Commission of Investigation into historical abuse at religious run schools.

The intervention team at Tuam invited media from the world over to North Galway to get a sense of the delicate work beginning there next week. The jury is still out on whether or not the Commission of Investigation into abuse at religious run schools will learn lessons from previous reports from other scandals.

The farming sector has greeted news that the EU Commission will be requesting updates from Ireland on the Nitrates Derogation with a great deal of apprehension. For those not from a farming backgrounds, this exemption (only benefitting Ireland) may see reductions in livestock numbers if it is reduced. Glinsk native and Independent Ireland TD Michael Fitzmaurice gave the historic context of this latest development in Europe.

The war in Gaza continues to be a firm point of discussion right across the world, but closer to home here in Galway many groups have been vocal in the support and have raised funds alongside their voices. Bríd Hennelly, Sabrina and Kay Egan and Evelyn Kelly joined us in studio to tell us about why they have decided to walk the Tóchar Phádraig to raise funds for Gaza Go Bragh. Bríd became inspired to do something tangible after working with Palestinian families through Direct Provision.

The film fleadh will just be over and we will be jumping straight into the Galway International Arts Festival. We have been looking ahead to some of the stunning acts which will be rolling into town over the coming fortnight. One such act is comedian Al Murray, who brings his Pub Landlord persona to Leisureland later this month. We will be giving more insights into all the shows taking front and centre over the next two weeks on Galway Talks, starting with our first of two broadcasts from the Festival Garden this coming Monday morning. (Our Galway Great will be none other than the Artistic Director of the festival Paul Fahy.)

We always love a bit of music on the programme and this week was no exception. Craughwell native Inis Meáin resident Una Ní Fhlánnagáin joined us as she launched a brand new type of harp alongside a new album. Support for Galway talent was on the double this week as Groev came in to play their new single ahead of performances in the Arts Festival Garden.

Don’t forget that next week we will also be out and about on Friday the 18th for our Community Matters Series in Glinsk, where we will be broadcasting from the National School in the village.