Nuala O’Connor is never happier than when she’s living in the past, at least when it comes to writing fiction. “History is so seductive,” she says.

In her latest novel, Seaborne, the Ballinasloe-based author has embraced the 18th century Irish pirate, Anne Bonny, creating a fearless heroine who’s determined to follow her own star, even if that determination brings Anne
into conflict with societal norms of the day.

There are very few biographical details available about Anne Bonny, who may have been born in Cork, although Nuala says that has never been verified.

The only factual information comes from a court case in Jamaica in 1720, where Anne Bonny and Mary Read were tried for piracy, as were the ship’s captain, John Rackman, and other crew members – all men. The trial transcript doesn’t mention her birthplace, but says Nuala with a laugh, “Kinsale has claimed her”.

That’s due to a colourful book about piracy, written in the 1720s, that stated she was “born at a town near Cork”. Allegedly the work of a Captain Charles Johnson, this publication became a bible on piracy but, as Nuala points out,
nobody knows the author’s real identity and he took great poetic licence. So too did other writers on the topic. “It’s very hard to get serious books about piracy,” she says.

That makes it difficult to separate fact from fiction, but it’s a gift for a novelist like Nuala who began to tease out Anne’s extraordinary life. “How does a young woman end up on board a pirate ship?” she asks of Anne, who is believed to have been 23 when she was arrested for piracy.Nuala answers that question in this book, set in a time “when women didn’t own their own futures in the world. But Anne was determined to own hers”.

Dublin-born Nuala has shown similar determination, albeit in a far more low-key way, through her writings in Irish and in English. Her short stories and her novels have been widely praised and her fifth novel, Nora (2021), based on the life of Nora Barnacle, was shortlisted for various prizes and selected for the Dublin One City One Book in 2022.

You can purchase Seaborne from Salmons, Easons and all good book stores!

You can follow Nuala O'Connor on X, Instagram and  via her website

Dublin natives Gareth and Michelle McAllister will be opening a new dining space in Ahascragh with the Clan Colla Restaurant, expanding from their current facilities at the Old Mills Cafe and their sustainable Distillery.
 
Currently the couple are converting the former O’ Donnell’s Bar into a top-class restaurant for visitors. They hope that, after an enjoyable time of touring the Distillery, guests finish their day with a delectable meal in the cosy spot . 
The restaurant shares its namesake with their whiskey ‘Clan Colla’ which itself refers to an Irish legend of three brothers Colla Uais, Colla Fo Chrí and Colla Menn who ruled Ireland during the fourth century. Visitors can anticipate their selections of award winning whiskey and gins to be available at the fully licensed premises.
 
The new cuisine establishment  will open to the public from June 14 and will be catering with a special Father's Day menu on the Sunday following the launch. Their meal selection may be found on their socials prior to the opening at ‘Ahascragh Distillery’.
 
It will be open Thursdays to Saturdays from 17:00 to 20:45 for final orders, and Sundays 12:00 to 18:30 for final orders. Bookings are encouraged and can be made to Marie at (090) 968 8935.
 
The Clan Colla restaurant also have a function room currently open and available to rent. The venue is suitable for various occasions whether your child's christening, confirmation, communion, birthday party, for your wedding celebrations, family events or any other gathering. There is also a private garden available which may be put to good use during the summer months, depending on the forecast.
 
 Each booking is dealt with on a case-by-case basis and can be made by email at [email protected] or [email protected], or by phone at (083) 863 2582.

​New Self Storage Facility Opens
 
Ballinasloe Self Storage – one of our newest business services opened at Garbally Oil in Pollboy , offering self container storage containers to rent at very reasonable rates.
 
There are  over 125,000 square metres of self-storage in Ireland with around 45 traditional self-storage stores and over 33 container based self-storage operations.  This equates to around 0.02 square metres per person which is considerably less than other European countries such as the UK (0.068), Netherlands (0.052) and Sweden (0.048), according to the Irish Self Storage Association.
There are a number of reasons why both consumers and businesses are increasingly turning to self-storage. The primary reasons remain social factors such as moving home, marriage, divorce, retirement, and for businesses, self-storage proves useful for a number of reasons including storing archive, stock or office equipment.
Director David Flaherty says that we saw an opening in the market for storage rental because of the proximity of our site to the motorway and being so central for to the towns such as Ballinasloe ,Loughrea and Athlone
 
The units are all new and insulated and are ideal for storing furniture, clothes, office equipment etc . David says that some units have already been taken by local businesses who need that extra space.
The storage depot is fully secure under CCTV cameras and occupiers have access to the units at all times.
Should you wish to discuss your storage options you can call David 0862586779 , or Conor 0872587754 who will happily advise you of your options. www.ballinasloeselfstorage.ie
 

The Galway Traveller Movement recently opened a new Branch office within the Ballinasloe Enterprise Centre, expanding from their existing space in Headford Road in Galway city
 
Currently the charitable organisation covers the county overseeing many programmes advocating for equality, social justice and rights for the Traveller community. Some of their recent achievements include founding the Miselor Festival celebrating Nomadic culture, their ‘Build Homes, Build Health, Build Hope’ campaign against Traveller inequities post-pandemic, and winning an Aontas Star Award in 2021.
 
The Ballinasloe branch's leading service, included under the HSE funded Peer Led Primary Health Care programme, sees team members collaborating with nearby health services and responding to healthcare and wellness needs of the region’s Traveller community.
​
Currently 10 members are working part-time on this programme servicing Ballinasloe, Loughrea, Athenry, Portumna and Ballygar. The local team will also help in conducting campaigns and assisting in organising events in town.
 
Meanwhile, together with Galway Rural Development, the branch held a sponsored walk fundraiser for St. Teresa’s Special School. The event was organised by Geraldine Ward and the county team of Community Health workers, alongside Karyn Gavin of GRD.
 
Starting in the centre of town, the participants made their way towards St. Teresa’s in Creagh brandishing blue outfits to support autism awareness. A crowd of parents, pupils and teachers welcomed the walkers as they entered the courtyard where they were offered refreshments. A raffle was held with multiple prizes to be won, and the day concluded with some words by Geraldine Ward, Karyn Gavin, Margaret O’Riada, and St Teresa’s principal Anita O’Reilly.
 
Together through funding cards and the raffle, the event brought in €3,500 donated to the school. “It was an incredible day focused on inclusion and increasing awareness of Autism in our community, and the incredible work of services and supports like St Teresa’s Special School” mentions Margaret O’ Riada, Joint Coordinator with Galway Traveller Movement.
 
Currently the team are hiring a new coordinator to oversee the Peer led Primary Health Care Programme in South-East Galway. The full job description can be found under a listing on Activelink online with applications sent to [email protected], and the deadline to apply is June 5. For all other general queries regarding the organisation, you can reach out by mobile at 091 765390 or email at [email protected].