Galway may be known as a city that likes to party but it is also gaining a reputation as the home of the medical device industry. That's according to Crospon CEO Mr John O'Dea, who says there is no better place to be if you want to make a mark in the medical devices industry.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny will be the special guest at this year's Network Galway Business Women of the Year Awards, which will be held in The Claregalway Hotel on Friday 23 April. The annual awards celebrate excellence and innovation in business and the Editor of the Galway Independent, Hilary Martyn, will again form part of the judging panel.

Five new high potential start up companies (HPSUs) were founded in Galway last year, forming an integral part of the Government's plans for a 'Smart Economy.' Minister for Trade and Commerce, Billy Kelleher TD announced that the Government, through Enterprise Ireland, supported the establishment of 73 new high potential start-up companies nationwide in 2009.

Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) has agreed a new educational agreement with two third-level institutions in the US that will bring American students to GMIT’s Letterfrack campus to study furniture and wood products related programmes from next September. The agreement with Virginia Tech University (VT), a major innovative research university with over 30,000 students

Eighty-three per cent of Irish employers expect no change in staff numbers between April and June this year. The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, which measures the intentions of 629 Irish employers to increase or decrease their workforce over the next three months, also reveals that Ireland's Net Employment Outlook for the next three months is -9 per cent, the third weakest hiring forecasts globally, just behind Italy and Spain on -11 per cent.

Peter Kelly aka 'Franc' was the star attraction at the recent wedding fair hosted by The Menlo Park Hotel. The fair was a tremendous success, with business among the 35 exhibitors said to be brisk on the day.

Apache Pizza on Dominick Street is celebrating its first year in business on Thursday, 18 March. The pizza restaurant is part of the largest owned Irish pizza franchise that includes 40 stores across Ireland. Since opening on Dominick Street, the outlet has proven to be a great success, yet Apache has decided to cut prices to give better value to customers.

NUI Galway has received another boost to its growing research portfolio with the news that it is to host a new National Centre for Bioenergy and Biorefinery. Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Coughlan TD announced the establishment of the new centre as part of a €56 million investment in companies developing in the Smart Economy.

The Hodson Bay Group has been recognised for excellence at the Deloitte Best Managed Awards. Owned by the O'Sullivan family, Hodson Bay Group comprises of the well known Hodson Bay and Galway Bay Hotels, and the Sheraton Athlone Hotel, Ireland’s Sheraton Flagship.

Bus Eireann has launched its biggest ever on-line seat sale, with a special discounted €8 single fare available across ten of its leading inter-city routes, including Galway-Dublin and Galway-Sligo. The Bus Eireann 'Giant Online Sale' runs until Wednesday 31 March inclusive at www.buseireann.ie.