Galway Corporation says it is committed to a Galway Bay oil spill committee. This follows last week's serious pollution which affected up to 100 swans in the Claddagh Basin.
The foot-and-mouth crisis overshadowed the incident, which is now the subject of a clean-up operation. An aerial survey of Galway Bay with the Irish Coast Guard revealed no further traces of pollution, but Galway Environmental Alliance has called for a full investigation.
One swan died shortly after, and the Galway Swan Sanctuary had anticipated there might be more fatalities among over 80 birds being cared for in a warehouse made available to volunteers by the harbourmaster, Capt Brian Sheridan. Several of the badly affected birds escaped to other parts of the bay and as far as the Aran islands following the removal of a protective boom lent to the local authority by Galway Harbour Company.
Mr Tony Luff of Galway's Swan Rescue praised the response of volunteers in the city and surroundings to Monday's appeal. Many of the swans ingested the oil while trying to clean themselves before volunteers could reach them, and were in a very distressed state.
Samples have already been taken of the pollution incident, which is believed to have occurred at an industrial source upriver some days ago in the city.
Galway Corporation said it intended to pursue the culprit under the Water Pollution Act. However, Mr Michael Joyce, senior executive engineer, was less hopeful as the week wore on, and cautioned that prosecution could prove to be difficult.
No prosecution was effected after the last such incident, which struck 30 swans in November 1999, and Ms Alison Herbert of the Galway Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said the commitment to tracing culprits was far from satisfactory.
The corporation and Galway County Council, along with Clare County Council, have recently agreed to participate in a new Galway Bay oil spill committee, co-ordinated by the Galway Harbour Company.
The committee will also include oil companies represented in the harbour, and will fund and share equipment and expertise in monitoring the coastal area extending from Black Head to Killary Harbour.
Galway Bay Sailing Club has been given the Irish Sailing Association's prestigious millennium award for its commitment to increasing participation in the sport at all levels. The Galway club won the first prize against keen competition from clubs around the coast, particularly points east where sailing is more established. Runners-up were Bray Sailing Club in Co Wicklow and Mullaghmore Sailing Club in Co Sligo.
Based in Rinville, Oranmore, the club has set up a successful junior sailing scheme for eight-year-olds upwards and also runs a women's sailing series on Thursday evenings. Several safety seminars have been held, personal flotation devices are part of the club's culture, and membership has doubled over the last three years as part of the club's aim to make the activity more accessible.