80% of bookings lost over water bug

MORE than four-fifths of hotels and guesthouses in Galway have had bookings cancelled as a result of the contamination of water supplies in and around the city, a survey has revealed.

The poll, carried out by Galway West election hopeful Margaret Cox, coincides with figures showing the number of people who have fallen ill after drinking the water is rising slowly. It now stands at 219 people.

Since the cryptosporidium bug was found in the county’s supplies two months ago and traced to Lough Corrib, 83% of accommodation owners have reported cancellations, said Ms Cox.