Morley's Mouthfuls - This week on Galway Talks (Sarah Clancy on returning home after Israeli detention, Internet Issues in Maam Valley and all about the budget)

All eyes are on the Middle East as a truce was reached between Israel and Palestine. Galway has a special connection to the conflict this week as Sarah Clancy, an activist in the Global Sumud Flotilla, returned home. She recounted the horrific ordeal she and other activists went through to us on Galway Talks.

​We also looked at electricity, phone connectivity, and internet coverage this week. The Maam Valley has had patchy connectivity over the past few weeks and months. We went out there and spoke to Regina Keane of Keane's shop and Bar in Maam, but also to some of the locals, some of whom are relying on cellar conectivity to get a kidney transplant and other medical appointments. They explained their frustration about the infrastructure in the Maam Valley and Connemara.

​The Budget was also a big topic this week, and the political parties went head-to-head as to whether it was a good budget or a bad budget. The government have said that this is a budget that will be good for the economy, while the opposition asks what is in it for middle-class, working people. We had many debates during the week, and one of those was with Senator Anne Rabbitte of Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin Deputy Mairead Farrell. They went through the pros and cons of Budget 2026.

​Now, Claddagh Watch have been hitting out this week at the loss of their flags. Nearly a month ago, they were taken from O'Brien's Bridge on Chilean Independence Day and have yet to be returned. It is a big cost to the organisation themselves, but also a serious issue for people who may be getting into difficulty on the waterways around Galway. Arthur Carr, their founder, described their frustration and called for people to return the flags to them.

​Parking was again a big issue in the city this week, and Councillor Niall McNelis has told us that from this week, they will be erecting better signage to tell people what people need to do to pay for parking in Galway City.

​Finally, a Mullagh woman will be climbing Mera Peak to raise much-needed funds for the Galway branch of Parkinson's Ireland. She recounted one amazing story whereby she saved one of her friend's lives on a hike.