Last updated: 22 October 2026

Who we are

Shining Light Galway is a volunteer community group based in Galway, Ireland. We are responsible (the “data controller”) for the personal information collected through this website, www.shininglightgalway.org.

If you have any questions about this statement or about your personal information, email us at support@shininglightgalway.org.

What information we collect and why

When you visit the website

Like most websites, our web server automatically records basic technical information about each visit: your IP address, browser type, the page requested and the date and time. We use this only to keep the website secure, block abusive traffic and fix problems. These server logs are kept for about 14 days and then deleted. Our legal basis is our legitimate interest in running a secure, working website.

The website is hosted by Amazon Web Services (AWS) in Ireland.

Website statistics

We use Google Analytics (provided by Google Ireland Limited) and Jetpack Stats (provided by Automattic Inc.) to understand how many people visit the site, which pages are popular and roughly where visitors come from. This information is aggregated and we do not use it to identify you. Statistics cookies are only used with your consent, which you can give or withdraw at any time using the cookie banner.

Images, fonts and embedded content

To make the website load quickly and look right, some content is delivered by other companies. When your browser loads it, that company receives your IP address:

  • Images and site files are delivered through Jetpack’s content network (Automattic Inc.).
  • Fonts and icons are loaded from Google Fonts (Google) and Font Awesome (Fonticons, Inc.).
  • Videos on our Videos page are embedded from YouTube (Google). If you play a video, YouTube may set cookies and collect information under its own privacy policy.

Embedded content from other websites behaves in the same way as if you had visited that website directly.

When you contact us

If you email us or one of our team members, we receive your name, email address and whatever you choose to tell us. We use this only to reply to you and to help with your request. Our email is provided by Google Workspace. We keep emails for as long as needed to deal with your request and then delete them, unless we need to keep them for a legal reason.

Forms and links to other services

Some of our pages link to forms hosted by Google Forms. If you fill in one of these forms, Google processes the information on our behalf and we receive your answers. We use them only for the purpose stated on the form. We also link to our pages on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn; those services have their own privacy policies.

Comments and email updates

If you leave a comment on a post, we collect the name, email address and comment you enter, and your IP address. Comments are checked for spam by Akismet (Automattic Inc.). If you sign up to receive our posts by email, your email address is held by WordPress.com (Automattic Inc.) for that purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time using the link in each email.

Cookies

We use a small number of cookies. Some are strictly necessary for the website to work and to remember your cookie choices. Others, such as statistics cookies, are only used if you agree. You can change your choices at any time using the cookie banner. Our Cookie Policy lists the cookies we use in detail.

Who we share information with

We do not sell your personal information or share it for marketing. We only share it with the service providers named above, who help us run the website and our email:

  • Amazon Web Services: website hosting (Ireland)
  • Google: Analytics, Google Workspace email, Google Forms, YouTube and Google Fonts
  • Automattic: Jetpack, Jetpack Stats, Akismet and WordPress.com
  • Fonticons: Font Awesome icons

We may also disclose information if we are required to by law.

Transfers outside the EU

Some of these providers, such as Google and Automattic, may process information in the United States or other countries outside the European Economic Area. Where this happens, they use safeguards recognised under EU law, such as the EU Standard Contractual Clauses or the EU–US Data Privacy Framework.

How long we keep information

  • Server logs: about 14 days
  • Website statistics: according to the retention settings of Google Analytics and Jetpack Stats
  • Emails and form responses: as long as needed to deal with your request
  • Comments: until the comment or post is removed

Your rights

Under data protection law (the GDPR) you have the right to:

  • ask for a copy of the personal information we hold about you
  • ask us to correct or delete it
  • ask us to restrict how we use it, or object to us using it
  • ask for it in a portable format
  • withdraw your consent at any time, where we rely on consent

To use any of these rights, email support@shininglightgalway.org. We will reply within one month.

If you are not happy with how we have handled your information, you can complain to the Data Protection Commission, Ireland’s data protection authority: www.dataprotection.ie.

Children

This website is not aimed at children and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children through it. If you believe a child has given us personal information, please contact us and we will delete it.

Security

The website uses an encrypted connection (HTTPS), is kept up to date with security updates, and access to the site’s administration is limited to members of our team.

Changes to this statement

We may update this statement from time to time. The date at the top shows when it was last changed.