Galway Advertiser 2004/2004_03_18/GA_1803_E1_016.pdf 

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16 N E W S

Galway Advertiser

March 18 2004

TALK O' THE TOWN
COMPILED BY JULIE TIERNEY
jtierney@galwayadvertiser.ie

Beatles to perform at annual Hope ball
The Bootleg Beatles will perform at the eighth annual BOYS HOPE GIRLS HOPE May gala ball taking place on Friday May 14 in the Galway Bay Hotel in Salthill. Established in 1994, BOYS HOPE GIRLS HOPE Ireland is a voluntary organisation which aims to provide a range of services to children and families who are experiencing difficulties. The organisation's principal activity is the running of a residential centre for children in Galway city, providing medium to longterm care for children who are unable to remain at home as a result of illness, neglect, or abuse. BOYS HOPE GIRLS HOPE Ireland also supports a number of children who remain within their home environment rather than enter the residential centre. According to John Hardiman local chairperson of the organisation the gala ball BOYS HOPE GIRLS HOPE Ireland has plans to develop further children's residential centres and related services in other urban areas around the country but these developments depend on the continuing ability of the organisation to generate financial support. Further information can be obtained by contacting Paul O'Callaghan at BOYS HOPE GIRLS HOPE on (091) 773577.

Liesl Kidson, Woodquay, at Anthony Ryans Prelude to Spring Fashion Show in aid of the West of Ireland Alzheimer Foundation at the Ardilaun House Hotel.

The Bootleg Beatles.

Murder on the gym floor
Club members at the Quality Hotel Leisure Club in Oranmore have been given some unusual motivation to exercise by staff over the past few weeks. On Friday February 13 the leisure club manager was murdered and members have been walking, stepping, rowing, and swimming, in an effort to solve the clues and identify the member of staff who committed this foul deed. Members and staff alike have been enjoying the novelty of this challenge, during which members exercise three times a week to receive clues which will enable them to expose the killer. Running for two months, many members have found that the Murder Mystery Challenge has encouraged them to visit the club more regularly and to keep their new year's exercise regime going that little bit longer. A spokesman for Keith Gildea (the murdered manager) said: "This is the most popular event that we have ever run at the club, with more than 100 people participating. "It's great to see how keen people are to receive the clues that they've been sweating to earn during the week, and then to see the look of puzzlement on their faces as they try to figure out the clues." The lucky member who solves the mystery first will win a weekend break for two in Clonakility, so the tension is mounting as the final weeks approach!

Snakes return for St Patrick's Day -- on pizza
Forget the pints of green Guinness, Galway's newest eaterie in Massimo found a unique way to mark St Patrick's Day this year. St Patrick may have driven the snakes out of Ireland, but Massimo caterers Niall Walsh and Jason O'Connell brought them back for the day. In pizza form, that is. The pair dished out rattlesnake pizzas as the house speciality yesterday to mark the saint's dislike of the creatures. It may seem like an unusual ingredient but snakes of all types are a popular dish in many parts of the world, most notably in Vietnam and parts of Africa. The snake speciality -- which apparently tastes something like chicken -- certainly provided a talking point for diners and an unusual departure from the usual traditional fare. --US

At last -- a night off for the emergency services
The emergency services in Galway are finally taking a night off thanks to two staff nurses in the accident and emergency department in UCHG. The event which is being organised by Shauna O'Neill and Robert Burke is taking place in the Garda Club on April 7 and proceeds from the night will go towards two local non state-funded charities, the Rape Crisis Centre and Children's Remembrance Day. "We always work alongside each other but never get the chance to meet up socially," said Shauna, "so myself and Robert decided to plan a social night out so everybody could meet up outside the work environment." Up to 400 employees from the Garda, ambulances (public and private), fire department, Coast Guard and RNLI, Mountain Rescue, Order of Malta, Red Cross, and doctors and nurses from the A&E department in Galway are expected to attend the event and the organisers are still looking for some spot prizes to raise additional funds for the two charities. If you'd like to donate a spot prize phone 087 6428314. In case you're wondering... There will be some staff available in case of emergency on the night!

Laura Larkin, Anthony Ryans, and Edwina Maloney, Kingston, at Anthony Ryans Prelude to Spring Fashion Show in aid of the West of Ireland Alzheimer Foundation at the Ardilaun House Hotel.