Tag Archives: Galway

Galway to host Volvo Ocean race finish in 2012


The prestigious international Volvo Ocean race will return to Galway in 2012.
Following the hugely successful 2009 stopover in Galway, the race organisers have chosen the city as the venue to host the lucrative finishing leg of the race in 2012.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen has welcomed the return of the event; “I am more than happy to welcome the return of the Volvo Ocean race to our shores and pledge our support,” Mr Cowen said in Dublin today.

Fáilte Ireland, the national tourism promotion body is to invest €4million in the event that is expect to bring over €60million in revenue to the country.

myguideIreland ran a very successful Volvo Ocean Race special offer in 2009 to coincide with the leg from Boston to Ireland and hope to bring thousands of yachting and sailing enthusiasts to Ireland again for 2012

Máire Geoghegan-Quinn named Ireland’s new EU commissioner


Former Galway TD, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn has been named as the Irish Government’s nominee for appointment to the next European Commission.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen said ‘Ms. Geoghegan-Quinn “has been an exemplary Member of the European Court of Auditors for the past nine years and, prior to that, held a number of key Ministerial positions in the Irish Government.”

The announcement ends months of speculation on how Mr Cowen would avoid weakening his Dáil majority while still appointing a high calibre candidate to the EU post.

M6 to open with lower speed limit


A new stretch of the M6 motorway between Dublin and Galway (from Athlone to Ballinasloe) will open today.
However it has been reported this morning that it will open with a speed limit of 100km/h (62.5 MPH) rather than the usual 120km/h (75MPH) for a motorway.

The road will then be re-designated as a motorway in 36 days, on August 28th, when all signs showing the speed limit signs will have to be changed from 100km/h to 120km/h.

It appears that the issue has arisen because the motor-way specific signs are not ready for the official opening by the taoiseach today.
It seems an unnecessary waste of taxpayers money to erect signs on such a long stretch of road that will have a lifespan of no more than 36 days?