Morley's Mouthfuls

Over 250 people gathered in Ballinasloe on Tuesday night demanded that there will be no downgrade of the Portiuncula University Hospital in the town.

The newly formed Portiuncula Maternity Alliance has set out their demands and a large community mobilisation has begun despite the fact that this all unfolded after an August Bank Holiday weekend.

The contention from health officials and Government politicians is that the removal of some high risk pregnancies from the hospital follows clinical advice and recommendations.

However, the newly formed group, which saw medical professionals, the INMO and affected mothers, give testimony and views on the night questioned who gave this recommendation and why? The called for a fully independent review and also queried why the Ballinasloe facility was singled out when other hospitals have similar if not worse outcomes.

Echoes from the past like Roscommon Hospital and St Brigid’s Campus were brought up on the night and there was a real sense that the town feared losing this longstanding hospital which was described by one woman on the night as the ‘heartbeat’ of the town.

A rally will take place next Saturday in the town, people continue to sign the groups’ petition and as time goes on, one would ultimately expect that the completed petition will find its way up to Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill’s desk.

Many also highlighted on the night that it was more investment the hospital needed, not a removal of services and it will be interesting to see whether there will be investment forthcoming from the Government in Budget 2026 in the autumn.

Student accommodation is continuing to be a problem year in year out and with the academic year fast approaching a plea for help has been issued from the ATU Student’s Union. They are calling on homeowners with spare room to sign up to the Rent A Room scheme.

There is also concerns as to tenants rights when it come to accommodation as the warning signs for scams are sent out as the mad scramble for rooms ensues over the next month. Again investment is needed quickly and it will be interesting to see if changes made by government on rents will see investors build enough accommodation quickly enough to tackle the demand out there in the market.

No doubt we will be following up on these stories and more on Galway Talks this coming Monday where our Galway Great after 11am is Tomás Rua Mac Con Iomaire.

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