Is the country gone mad? After a week of boozy excess in Galway it was sobering to see images on Sunday's news of the Dublin City Triathlon, which ended up a Duathlon due to the capital's poor water quality. (Nice to see someone else getting it for a change, isn't it?)

On arriving back in Galway from Australia a number of years ago, a friend of mine remarked that she didn't know how she would get (re) accustomed to Galway, it was so bleak and grey. Some times, especially when it rains, it is difficult to appreciate our city and some times, even when it pours, you just can't help feeling a little smug that you live and work in such a great town.

In a time of job cuts, economic downturns, increases in housing and hospital wait lists etc, the only thing interesting or newsworthy about the 'controversy' over the did they/didn't they clamping story is that it is receiving any spare ink or air time at all.

With Big Brother in its ninth season and TV execs constantly scrambling to think of newer, and more profitable ideas for reality TV (and coming up with the opposite), it may be a surprise to you that Galway City Council's meetings could soon be broadcast live online.

Finance Minister Brian Lenihan and his cabinet colleagues have announced a series of spending cutbacks in an effort to save the country the €500 million it needs to balance the books at the end of this year.

'Recession', 'economic downturn', 'the slowdown in the property market'… is it just me or does it seem like, if we are not exactly in the throes of a recession, we are certainly doing our damnedest to talk ourselves into one?

One thing is sure following Monday night's City Council AGM that saw the elevation of Galway City Councillor Padraig Conneely to the office of Galway City Mayor, it's going to be an interesting year in local politics.

I'm not one to boast but I've been told I'm a 6.42. And the good news is that, with just a number of simple steps, I can improve my rating further. I just have to cut back on a few of my personal weaknesses - flights, personal travel and heating - and I could reach my target.

Three debates, countless articles and 148,000,000 press releases (ok, so that's an exaggeration), I'm all Lisbon-ed out. Every journalist in the country is the same, hence Today FM giving airtime to Jim Corr last week in an attempt to introduce some light relief.

There is exactly one year to go until Galway plays host to one of the biggest sporting events that this country will ever see, the Volvo Ocean Race, which for the first time in its 35 year history will have a stopover in Ireland next year. It should be a proud time for Galway, with everyone now pulling together to make sure the event puts Galway on the map and that Galway is represented in the best light on an international stage.