Galway

 

Galway is the fifth most populous city in Ireland. It is in the West Region and the province of Connacht. Galway is known as Ireland's Cultural Heart and is renowned for its vibrant lifestyle and numerous festivals, celebrations and events. The main squares in the city are Eyre Square in the centre of the city, and Spanish Parade next to the Spanish Arch.  

 

Preliminary information from the 2011 census shows Galway City has a population of 79,934, and it is estimated that the population of the city will hit 100,000 by 2020. Approximately 78% of the population of Galway is white Irish, descended from native Gaelic peoples and Norman settlers. A further 5% are foreign-born Irish.  Following an influx of immigrants to Galway during the 2000s, approximately 18% of the population is non-Irish. Slightly more than half of this group are white Europeans, coming from Poland and other Central European and Baltic States, such as Latvia and Lithuania. Smaller numbers of Asian and African immigrants come from East Africa, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. 

 

Ireland Statistics

 

Drugs - Ireland has the third-highest rate of drug deaths in Europe according to a new study by the EU drugs agency.  Ireland has 68 deaths per million people, second only to Estonia and Norway.  The EU average is 21.  Ireland also has the highest rate of heroin use in Europe.  Ireland ranked third in Europe for prevalence of cocaine use among young adults (15-34), behind the United Kingdom and Spain. 

 

Alcohol -Irish adults binge drink more than adults in any other European country, with one quarter reporting that they binge drink every week.  Over half of all Irish drinkers have a harmful pattern of drinking, that’s 4 in 10 women and 7 in 10 men who drink, which amounts to an estimated 1,453,250 adults.  The highest proportion of binge drinkers is in the 18-29 age group.

 

Suicide - Ireland ranks fourth highest in the EU in terms of deaths by suicide amongst young people; that’s according to statistics released today by the National Office for Suicide Prevention.  Looking at age groups, the highest suicide rate recorded was among 20- 24-year-old men.

 

Why Are We Here?

 

Simply put, we are here to battle these statistics. We are here to be a light to Galway Ireland.

 

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16

 

We pray others might want to team with us and help support us to continue to be the light here. Jesus said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” Matthew 9:37-38.  That is why we are here in Galway Ireland.