With World Cup fever mounting, no better theme for this year's Galway Science and Technology Festival than "science in sport". For the county in question it is particularly relevant, the Minister of State for Science and Technology, Mr Noel Treacy, said last week.
At a function in Boston Scientific to mark the programme's publication, the Minister reminded those present that Galway held the All-Ireland football title and the club hurling and camogie titles. Mr Tom McCabe, vice-president of operations with Boston Scientific, said the company was delighted to be the main sponsor.
The week-long event opens next Sunday with a geology walk around Galway city with Dr Martin Feely of the department of geology, NUI, Galway. The programme comprises school visits and talks by broadcasters Leo Enright and Eanna ni Lamhna and Tom Mason, director of the Armagh Planetarium among others.
On Sunday, December 9th, a science and sport exhibition takes place in Leisureland and the research vessel, Celtic Voyager, will be open to visitors at Galway docks. For more details, contact Richie Byrne at the Galway Education Centre at (091)745600 or 745602.
AIDS West will mark World Aids Day next Sunday with a memorial service in St Nicholas's Church, Galway, at 6.30pm. Funded by the Western Health Board, AIDS West covers counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon and provides information, education and support to people who are HIV positive and their families.
Mr Nicholas Fenlon, its director, stresses the need for expanded and continuous education programmes, and the need for a more realistic reaction to the increasing number of people HIV positive here.
The (Little) Magic Flute will be performed in the Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar, tonight and tomorrow at 8 p.m. (Booking, 094-23733.) The tale of a fiery dragon, a beautiful heroine who is kidnapped and a dashing prince is being performed by the Opera Theatre Company.
The company is touring eight venues around the State for 13 shows, and will perform in Ballinasloe Community Hall, Co Galway, this Thursday with the support of Galway County Council. (Booking through Fletchers at 0905-42147) As part of the tour it is hosting workshops for primary schools, facilitated by the composer and educationalist, Elaine Agnew.
An auction with a difference is being held in the Galway seaside town of Kinvara next Sunday, writes Judy Murphy. The event, in the Merrion Hotel, is part of a fundraising drive for a community centre to replace the old one which has been condemned as unsafe.
At the Dream Auction. punters can bid for a side variety of items, according to Annie Rosario of the organising committee. Lazy gardeners can have their lawns cut for a year, while those people panicking over their Christmas baking can have all of that work done by an expert baker - for a suitable price. Meanwhile, pipe-maker Eugene Lambe is committed to making a traditional flute.
Musically-minded buyers can bid to make their own compact disc, to be produced by local musicians John Faulkner and Paul Mulligan. Online bidding at www.kinvara.com