It’s difficult to ignore the lure of Instagram filters. They’re very moreish. Everyone wants to put the best version of themselves out into the world.

Affordable housing in Ireland is frankly anything but. The suggestion that ‘affordable housing’ would cost €400,000 in Galway City and €350,000 in Galway county is enough to make your stomach churn. After a year of heartache, loss of employment, and ‘holding firm’, this is simply unacceptable.

A Galway consultant has called for more public toilets for people suffering from Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and urinary problems. Laurence Egan, who is Consultant Gastroenterologist at Galway University Hospital and a professor in the school of medicine at NUI Galway, called the situation “terrible” for those suffering from the conditions.

A Threshold advisor has assisted a student in receiving a €6,000 refund from her purpose-built student accommodation as a result of a breach in agreement. Threshold housing advisor Graham Martin, based on Eyre Square, said that the student came to the organisation because she hadn’t been able to occupy the student accommodation where she had already paid the full fee and deposit. She was unable to travel to the accommodation because of Level 5 restrictions.

Galway City Council has supported legislation to compel the State to provide period products free of charge in educational settings and public buildings across the country. A motion was brought by Galway City Councillor, Niall McNelis, in support of the Free Provision of Period Products Bill 2021, which would see free period products being provided to everyone who needs them.

Galway native and NUI Galway student, Ella Ní Cheallaigh, is one of the public relations officers behind the Anti Conversion Therapy Coalition (ACTC), which launched on Tuesday, April 13. The ACTC is made up of young activists from different political parties in the State and in Northern Ireland, with the aim to ban the practice of conversion therapy in Ireland. Ms Ní Cheallaigh described the “sense of urgency” that formed the cross-party group.

We talk to Barry Murphy from Bodywhys, The Eating Disorders Association of Ireland, Minister of State for Disabilities Anne Rabbitte, Galway GP Brian Higgins, and we also discuss the infamous Oprah interview. On Topic Time we hear from our listeners on who they think is Ireland’s Greatest Irish Sportsperson with Special Guests Robbie Henshaw, Padraic Joyce, Liam Horan, and Keith Duggan.

A Galway charity has been forced to “think outside the box” in order to raise vital funds during the pandemic. Voices for Down Syndrome Galway is privately funded by parents and volunteers who have to raise money each year in order to fund speech therapists. It provides support and speech and language therapy to a number of children and adults with down syndrome in Galway. The charity is raising funds for World Down Syndrome Day 2021, which takes place on Sunday, March 21. Committee member an

COPE Galway has said it is “genuinely concerned” about the potential increase in homelessness once the 5km restrictions are lifted. The limit on movement is expected to be lifted on April 5. David Byrne, advocacy and policy worker at COPE Galway, outlined how the 5km restrictions “paused” the threat of homelessness for Galway residents. “When the 5k restrictions came in any notices to quit were pretty much paused. Once the restrictions end there’s a 10-day grace period and then whatever time

Young women should not have to listen to common, misinformed gendered stereotypes. That’s the view of the current Miss Galway, Pamela Uba, whose statement comes to mark International Women’s Day. The medical scientist and Catwalk model, who was crowned Miss Galway in March 2020, says that “you shouldn’t let other people hold you back.” “I want to use my platform to show girls that you can make something of yourself and stand up for what you believe in, you can be whatever you want to be,” she

Galway Cycling Campaign are on a mission to get more people cycling. They have campaigned for safer cycling conditions and encouraged people online to share their stories of making the switch from driving to cycling. Dan Clabby, a member of Galway Cycling Campaign, got his first bike when he was 16 years old. “Back then getting your first bike meant you had a level of freedom and independence. I would grab my fishing rod, my map, and my bike and head off for the day,” he said. Dan cycled ever