50 new jobs have been announced for Tuam.

One of the town's biggest employers Valeo has announced a €44 million investment in its Research, Development and Innovation centre, and will employ a further 50 people.

Valeo is the world's leading provider of driving assistance systems to car manufacturers.

Valeo Vision, based in Tuam, specialise in the design and manufacture of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, such as rear view cameras, surround view and camera monitoring systems, pedestrian detection and automated parking.

Galway East TD and Minister of State Séan Canney says this further investment in Tuam is great news for the town.

Alan Flynn has been announced as the new senior football manager of Castlebar Mitchels.

The Tuam based man has an impressive CV having worked at club and inter-county level in recent years.

Flynn coached the Kildare senior squad last season and previously worked with the Clare panel.

An estimated 12,000 people are still without power this morning after Storm Ali on Wednesday.

Two people died during the storm.

A full service on the Luas Green line in Dublin has resumed this morning.

It is understood the majority of those without power are in the Tuam, Mullingar, Cavan and Longford areas.

Up to 180,000 homes were without power at one stage on Wednesday. Repair efforts were hampered by Storm Bronagh, which followed Storm Ali yesterday, and brought heavy rain across the country yesterday evening and overnight.

Met Éireann meteorologist Joan Blackburn says they are  monitoring a weather system that may develop into a third storm, Storm Callum, late on Saturday evening.

She says this system has the potential to develop into something “nasty,” which would hit Ireland late on Saturday into Sunday morning and this weather system is being kept under review.

The Arts Council has selected Tuam for a 3-year pilot programme for investment in the arts.

It's hoped the pilot programme, with funding of €150,000 per year, will encourage the local community to get involved in developing the arts in the town.

A public meeting will be held in Tuam Library next Thursday evening 18th July at 5pm for anyone interested in finding out more about the initiative.

The funding is part of the Creative Places Ireland programme, which is aimed at communities that have not benefitted from sustained public investment in the arts.

The Association of Catholic Priests will hold a public meeting in Tuam this Wednesday evening, ahead of the Pope's visit to Ireland next month.

This is one of four regional meetings being held across the country ahead of the Papal visit, asking what do we need to say to Pope Francis about the Irish Church ?

Wednesday's meeting takes place at the Árd Rí Hotel in Taum from 7 to 9.30 pm.

Fr Brendan Hoban, who will speak at the meeting, says it's open to everybody to make a submission, and a summary of the meeting will be forwarded afterwards to Pope Francis via the Papal Nuncio to Ireland.

The author of a new book about the Tuam Mother and Baby Home says time is running out for truth and justice.

'My Name is Bridget' documents the life of one woman who entered the home in her twenties, in 1946.

Journalist Alison O'Reilly says Bridget Dolan died without answers - and delays to the final report of the Commission of Investigation are unacceptable.

Emergency services are attending the scene of a 3-car collision at Kilconly near Tuam.

The road traffic collision has occurred at Castlegrove on the Tuam to Ballinrobe Road.

Gardai have confirmed that the road is closed from Kilconly GAA pitch to the old Garda station in Kilconly.

Gardai and emergency services are currently at the scene, and no further details are yet available.

Campaigners say the state could be in breach of international law for its involvement in the Tuam Mother and Baby Home.

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties says the crime of 'Enforced Disappearance' involves a state refusing to disclose the whereabouts of people who've been abducted.

It's thought hundreds of children were secretly buried on the Tuam site.

Thousands of children were also thought to have been illegally adopted through homes nationwide.

Celebrations are starting for Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture this week.

A number of events are planned, which will lead up to a spectacular fire-lit opening ceremony in Galway city next Saturday.

Fiery celebrations will take place in the towns of An Spidéal, Tuam, Ballinasloe, Portumna and Athenry over the next five nights. 

Creative Director of Galway 2020, Helen Marriage, says it's a national event.

Archbishop Michael Neary, the Archbishop of Tuam, has announced the following diocesan appointments and retirements:

Fr Paddy Gilligan, PP of Cong is to retire

Fr. Patrick Mullins, PP of Cummer is to retire

Fr. Enda Howley, CC of Monivea is to retire

Fr. Martin O’Connor, PP of Kilvine to be a member of the Cathedral Chapter

Fr. Billy Reilly SP An Cnoc, to be a member of the Cathedral Chapter

Fr. Ciarán Blake, returning from sabbatical leave to be PP of Cummer

Fr. Declan Carroll, PP of Parke/Keelogues, returning from sabbatical leave to be PP of Cong

Fr. Peter Suttle, to continue as Administrator of Parke/Keelogues

Fr. Karl Burns, PP of Mountbellew to be, in addition, PP of Menlough.  The priests of Athenry will share responsibility for the pastoral and sacramental care in the parish of Menlough

Fr. Hughie Loftus An Cheathrú Rua on sabbatical leave for one year

Fr. Clement McManus, to be Administrator of An Cheathrú Rua for one year

Fr. Angelo Joy, Administrator of Kilconly, has been recalled to his Order

Fr. Anthaiah Pudota, Knock Shrine, to be Administrator of Kilconly

Changes to the legislation that govern dog-breeding establishments are in the pipeline in an effort to tackle over-breeding in often squalid and inhumane conditions.

Minister of State for Rural and Community Development, Galway based TD Sean Canney, also wants to tighten controls on the sale of animals to ensure they are not separated from their mothers before a certain age.

And he wants the public’s input into what breeds should be tightly controlled or even banned, as is the case in other countries.

Minister Canney recently visited the Limerick Animal Welfare Centre, where he saw at first hand the work that goes in to caring for and treating animals that have been cruelly abandoned.

From litters of kittens abandoned in plastic bags by the side of a road to dogs abandoned by owners on remote roads, it is often left to shelters such as Limerick Animal Welfare to bring these animals back to full health and try to rehome them.

Last year, following a public consultation process, Minister Canney’s Department published new Guidelines for Dog Breeding Establishments and these came into effect on January 1 of this year.

Separate to the work on dog breeding establishments, Minister Canney also wants the public’s input into whether any breeds should be tightly controlled or even banned, as in the case in other countries.

This review of measures relating to the control of dogs in Ireland will go to public consultation in the coming weeks and inputs from all sectors will be welcome

The Christmas tree lights at the site of the former Mother and Baby Home in Tuam will be officially switched on this afternoon at 3.30pm.

Everyone is welcome to come along, and acknowledge the women and babies who lived and died at the home, according to former resident Peter Mulryan.

Mr Mulryan says it's important to reflect on the mothers and babies who did not survive, and to stand in solidarity with all survivors of such institutions, who continue to be affected by their experices.

It’s disappointing to discover that the HSE run nursing home Aras Mhuire in Tuam has had its registration lapsed. That’s according to local Fianna Fail Councillor Donnagh Killilea. The Councillor says however, that HSE management has assured him that the re-registration process is now underway.

At a recent HSE West Forum meeting, Cllr Killilea, a member of the forum sought information on the new residential facility on the site beside the Primary Care Centre in the town, asking if a design team has been put in place for the development.

Connacht Junior Cup Semi-Finals
Castlebar 15-25 Creggs
Tuam 6-18 Connemara 

Councillor Donagh Killilea will join sitting TD Anne Rabbitte on the Fianna Fáil ticket in Galway East.

The party will now run two candidates in the three seat constituency where sitting TDs Ciaran Cannon and Seán Canney are fighting to retain their seats.

The party has now decided to add the Tuam based councillor being to the General election race.

He is the third generation of a political dynasty with both his father and grandfather serving as TDs.

His late father Mark Killilea had a decorated political career serving as a county councillor, Senator and MEP as well as a TD.

Galway East deputy, Sean Canney says he’s more disappointed than angry at the Independent Alliance group for not honouring a hand shake agreement on the rotation of the portfolio, of Minister for the OPW.

The Tuam based deputy and Kevin Boxer Moran flipped a coin when this coalition government was formed, to decide who would take on the position first and it was understood that it would rotate on a twelve month basis.

But the present position holder Minister Kevin Boxer Moran refused to hand it back as the third year of the coalition got underway last month.

Members of the Alliance backed Minister Moran staying on.

Sean Canney spent two week considering his position and this morning announced he is leaving the group.

He has also confirmed he'll continue to support the government in confidence and budgetary matters.

Speaking to Midwest News today deputy Canney explained why it took him two weeks to decide on this move.

 He said he did not want to react hastiliy, and preferred to confer with his supporters.

They met last night and agreed he would exit the group.

He says he was elected as an Independent and he believes he can now serve his constituents best as an Independent.

He says it is up to the Taoiseach now, if he is to retain his position as Assistant Government Whip.

A design team has been appointed for the proposed  new 50 bed HSE residential care home in Tuam. That’s according to local Fianna Fail councillor Daragh Killalea. The councillor is a member of the HSE West Forum and earlier this week he raised progress on the facility with HSE management.

Afterwards councillor Killalea told Midwest News that the HSE acknowledged the generous gift of the late Joe O’Toole, a business man in Tuam, and his family in progressing this 7 million euro development.

There’s good news for the Educate Together schools in Castlebar and Tuam, as the Department of Education has agreed to lift the cap on enrolment numbers.

A campaign had been underway by five Educate Together schools across the country to lift the restriction the Department had imposed of 13 junior infants in the new school year.

The schools argued that this policy would restrict their growth.

Educate Together has now welcomed the Department’s deicision to lift the enrolement restrictions and allow all five schools in Castlebar, Tuam, Trim, New Ross and Tramore to develop into 8 classroom full-stream schools.

An event will take place this Friday to mark the beginning of demolition at Gilmartin Road in Tuam.

The road is due to undergo an €8m rejuvenation project from Friday, which will involve the demolition of 30 old houses and the construction of 40 new homes.

21 council houses at Gilmartin Road and St Enda’s Avenue will also be refurbished as part of the project.

The event will take place on Friday from 12 noon at Gilmartin Road and will see councillors attend to see the demolition of the first of the houses.

Chairman of Tuam Municipal District Fianna Fail Cllr Donagh Killilea told Midwest News that it is a historic day for the town.

The Taoiseach says digging at the site of the mother-and-baby home in Tuam won't start until the end of next year, as legislation is needed before work can begin.

In October, cabinet approved proposals by Children's Minister Katherine Zappone to excavate the site, after the work of historian, Catherine Corless, uncovered that 7-hundred-and-96 babies were buried there in an unmarked grave.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar says that measures need to be put in place to allow the government excavate the property.