Five projects in Galway City have been allocated €15.45 million under the Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund for new community facilities in Knocknacarra and the expansion of the city centre.
Two landmark projects at An Tús Kingston Park and at Ceannt – Augustine Hill have been awarded €7.5 million each to progress towards through the detailed design stages and onto construction.
An Tús Kingston Park is a landmark public realm project that is part of the recently approved (by An Coimisiún Pleanála) Kingston & Millers Lane Public Parks & Public Urban Realm Project.
An Tús Kingston will address existing deficits in community, recreational and amenity infrastructure within the Knocknacarra area. The funding approved will deliver this first phase of the project, which, when completed, will provide the northern part of the New Kingston Park which will be a high-quality, accessible facility catering for a catchment area of approx. 14,000 people.
The funding of this phase will include a new 4G synthetic pitch, Rounders pitch, Cricket Batting Cage, new changing facilities, Safe Routes to School a Greenway, public spaces and amenities, Planting and Outdoor Classroom & Amphitheatre and other associate works.
Works at Ceannt – Augustine Hill will establish the objective of extending Galway city centre eastwards through over 5,500m2 of enhanced public realm, incorporating improved accessibility and a significantly upgraded transport arrival experience at the newly redeveloped Ceannt Station.
This also supports the creation of a new community within the heart of Galway city centre through the Augustine Hill Masterplan which will utilise an 8.5-acre brownfield site to the south of Ceannt Station to include residential, culture, retail, leisure, office and transport developments.
The Public Realm project will link key developments including the recently developed Ceannt Station, Augustine Hill and Bonham Quay. The project represents a partnership between Galway City Council, Iarnród Eireann and Augustine Hill representatives.
Construction of both funding approved projects is on track to begin by September 2027.
Mayor of the City of Galway, Cllr. Helen Ogbu says the funding will help to deliver projects which will make a tangible and positive difference to the city.
“This is a significant funding announcement for Galway, and it will help Galway City Council to deliver key projects for the city, both in the short- and longer-term. It represents an endorsement of the Council’s ambition to deliver new and enhanced amenities throughout our city.”
“I welcome this support from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and look forward to seeing these projects coming to fruition in the coming years.”
Three more projects have also been allocated €150,000 each to progress strategic plans and preparatory works for three other areas within Galway City.
Murrough Coastal Protection and Esplanade is a localised regeneration project on a 24.3 hectare greenfield site on the eastern seaboard of Galway. The preliminary design will focus on developing a promenade / esplanade, active travel network and wider infrastructure as part of an integrated vision for a new transport oriented coastal neighbourhood.
The City Centre Delivery Strategy is intended to redesign how deliveries operate in Galway’s historic core. The aim is to meet the commercial needs of businesses and residents while making the city centre safer, more pedestrian-friendly, and better suited to sustainable travel.
The study is also intended to align with future traffic changes linked to BusConnects Galway: Cross-City Link and to support further pedestrianisation and improved movement across the city centre as identified in Galway City Council’s Public Realm Strategy.
The West of Galway City Movement Study will also help develop an area-wide movement framework, supporting public realm improvements while balancing the access needs of pedestrians, cyclists, public transport, servicing, emergency vehicles and private cars.
It aims to integrate multiple local regeneration plans, and the wider routes, junctions, bridges, lanes and public spaces that connect these areas to each other, to the pedestrian core and to Nuns Island.
Chief Executive of Galway City Council, Leonard Cleary has welcomed news of the funding for Galway City. “At both Augustine Hill and Kingston Park, construction works are on track to begin within the next year to allow for two transformational projects to be progressed – one which will re-shape our city centre, and another which will deliver the benefits of enhanced sporting facilities to thousands of people in the Knocknacarra area, both now and into the future.”
“In addition, the funding which has also been announced for the development of three strategies and plans is also important. This work will inform future strategic decisions at each of these locations and position Galway City Council to successfully apply for funding and secure planning permission for further works that will positively shape the lives of people who live, visit and work here.”
