The choice of venue for the last stage of the Galway 2020 opening celebrations in the city has been criticised by one local city councillor.
Galway 2020 is kicking off next February with a series of events starting in Clifden and spiraling inwards through many towns in the county.
It will finish on Sunday, February 8 with an open air celebration to start off the European Capital of Culture year at South Park in the Claddagh.
Councillor Alan Cheevers said that he doesn’t believe that South Park was the right choice of venue when considering the overall logistics of the event.
“I believe that Galway racecourse was the ideal venue it has better access for the people coming in from the county and also it had ample parking, stands, seating, and hospitality .
“Further to this there was no consultation or consideration for sports club who are paying pitch licences in South Park,” Alan Cheevers added.
He said that while the area may only be used for a few hours during the opening the opening celebration, there is a reason it’s called The Swamp.
If weather conditions are poor on the day, the Galway 2020 opening event could leave the pitch unplayable by local teams for weeks to come with the size of the crowds expected.
The Fianna Fáil councillor said the lessons need to be learned from previous damage done to Eyre Square during the Christmas Market.
“I welcome 2020 it will be exciting year for our city but as I have outlined previously the communication from with the organisation must improve”.
