Uachtaráin na hÉireann, Michael D. Higgins commemorated 25 years of Terryland Forest Park at a celebration in Galway City today.

The ‘Green Lungs’ of Galway City were planted in early 2000, over the course of a single day in March. Over 3,000 people arrived in an empty field that morning and left having planted a forest.

The event recognised the dedication and commitment of Galway City Council Recreation and Amenity staff, volunteers from Tuatha of Terryland Forest Park, and President Higgins, who, as Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht at the time, secured funding for the nascent forest project.

Terryland Forest Park was the largest urban neighbourhood forest project in the history of the Irish State when it opened to the public for the first time in March 2000.

President Higgins said at the commemoration, “We celebrate today the important milestone that is the 25th anniversary of the opening of Terryland Forest Park.”

“Owned and managed by Galway City Council and assisted by Tuatha volunteers, today Terryland Forest Park represents a wonderful urban mosaic of woods, meadows, wetlands and other natural habitats that also serves as an outdoor classroom and laboratory for schools and universities.”

“As well as educational and recreational amenity value, the park also helps the country to meet its international commitments in tackling the climate and biodiversity crises by acting as a carbon sink and wildlife sanctuary.”

“May the Poet’s Trail and Terryland Park continue to be a source of recreation, well-being, and perhaps even transcendence for years to come.”

As part of the commemoration, President Higgins planted an oak tree in the very spot he previously planted a King Oak 25 years ago, which was knocked down by Storm Eowyn.

The event was attended by President Higgins and his wife Sabina Higgins; Mayor of the City of Galway, Cllr Peter Keane, TDs, Elected Members of Galway City Council, staff from Recreation and Amenity in Galway City Council, volunteers from Tuatha of Terryland Forest Park and children from teachers and pupils from St. Nicolas’ Parochial School, Castlegar National School and Scoil San Phroinsias.

Artwork from children in the three schools, imagining the future of the forest from 25 years ago, was displayed alongside contemporary artwork from the same three schools depicting how the native woodland of today would evolve into the future.

The King Oak that came down during Storm Eowyn was transformed into five pieces of art by Galway-based artist Tommy Carew.

Mayor Keane commented, “Terryland Forest Park was the first public park in Ireland designed with public participation and represented a wonderful proactive partnership between stakeholders.”

“The park became an ‘ecological corridor’ for wildlife connecting the Corrib waterways through the city to the farmlands of east Galway. In a time of an interconnecting global climate and biodiversity crisis, the role of this park has never been more crucial.”

“The planting of the new oak tree honours the work of past generations in bringing the woodland to fruition, while symbolising hope for the next generation to take up the mantle and heralding the next 25 years of Terryland Forest Park.”

The Respiratory Integrated Care Team, Galway City Integrated Care Hub, and the HIVE Laboratory at the University of Galway were honoured at the Irish Healthcare Centre Awards recently, for their virtual care initiative for COPD patients.

The initiative, which leverages remote patient monitoring technology, was recognised with the award for ‘Best Use of Information Technology’.

The COPD virtual care pathway, which launched in April 2024, has redefined how care is delivered to patients experiencing a COPD exacerbation.

The model enables patients to recover at home, supported by a multidisciplinary clinical team, fostering greater patient empowerment and continuity of care.

To date, 95 episodes of care have been delivered through the virtual pathway, resulting in the saving of 545 hospital bed days.

The average length of stay under virtual care has been reduced to 6.01 days, compared to the national inpatient average of 7.5 days for COPD patients in Ireland.

Through a user-friendly application, MyPatientSpace, patients are empowered to report their daily symptoms and monitor key health metrics from the comfort of their homes.

Equipped with a pulse oximeter, they can track vital signs such as oxygen saturation and heart rate on a daily basis. The system is designed to detect any deviations from target ranges or emerging concerning patterns, triggering real-time alerts for the clinical team.

This enables rapid intervention and the development of personalised care plans, helping to address issues early and prevent escalation.

Professor Sinead Walsh, Consultant Respiratory Physician, University Hospital Galway and Respiratory Lead for the Galway City Integrated Care Hub said, “This pathway has been transformative in how we care for patients with COPD.”

“It allows us to detect deterioration earlier, provide timely interventions, and support patients to recover safely in their own homes.”

“The feedback from patients has been overwhelmingly positive—they feel more in control of their health and reassured by the daily connection with the care team.”

Professor Derek O’Keeffe, Consultant Physician, University Hospital Galway and Director of the HIVE Lab said, “This digital health initiative demonstrates how innovation happens through collaboration.”

“Professor Sinead Walsh, Consultant Respiratory Physician and her clinical team including Emma Burke, Respiratory Advanced Nurse Practitioner worked with Dr David Tiernan and the HIVE Lab research team at the University of Galway to develop and implement a novel digital health solution to improve COPD patient care.”

This award-winning initiative reflects a broader shift toward digitally enabled, patient-centred care, demonstrating how technology can enhance clinical outcomes, optimise resources, and improve patient experience in chronic disease management.

Galway County Council has launched its strategy for preserving and enhancing the county’s rich built, natural, and cultural heritage over the next six years.

Unveiled today at the Marine Institute in Rinville, the Galway County Heritage and Biodiversity Plan 2024–2030 sets out a detailed roadmap to address challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss and the need for community-driven heritage preservation and the safeguarding and protection of the County’s intangible cultural heritage.

Developed in collaboration with Galway County Heritage & Biodiversity Forum and The Heritage Council, the plan is the only one of its kind in Ireland to fully integrate biodiversity and heritage in a combined action plan.

Among the key priorities are conducting a comprehensive biodiversity audit of Council-owned lands, updating Galway’s Invasive Alien Species Strategy and developing a countywide Tree and Hedgerow Management Plan.

The plan also commits to protecting sensitive habitats such as peatlands and marine ecosystems and delivering biodiversity education through training in collaboration with the Public Participation Network (PPN).

The built heritage aspects of the Galway County Heritage and Biodiversity Plan 2024-2030 aim to preserve, protect, and enhance the county’s built and archaeological heritage by promoting best practices, supporting community engagement, and ensuring compliance with relevant legislation.

The plan also seeks to raise awareness, provide education and training, and foster collaboration among stakeholders to ensure the sustainable management and conservation of these heritage assets.

On the cultural heritage front, the plan aims to empower communities to actively engage with and safeguard their local heritage.

This involves recording and digitising cultural heritage data, supporting community-led arts and oral history projects, and strengthening investment in both staffing and funding to grow the sector sustainably.

“I am honoured to launch the Galway County Heritage and Biodiversity Plan 2024–2030—a shared commitment to protecting the rich natural, built, and cultural heritage of our county,” stated Cllr. Martina Kinane, Cathaoirleach of the County of Galway.

“This plan reflects the passion and dedication of communities across Galway and outlines practical, adaptable actions to raise awareness and safeguard our heritage and biodiversity” added the Cathaoirleach.

“In the face of climate change and biodiversity loss, it serves as a roadmap for collective action. I invite everyone to get involved—together, we can create lasting, positive change.”

The Council’s last plan (2017–2022) delivered several notable achievements, including the award-winning Digitising Galway’s Graveyard Heritage project, which made more than 40,000 burial records accessible to the public online.

Other successes included an Audit of the County’s Holy Wells, a Barn Owl Conservation initiative that showed the first signs of species recovery in 50 years, and a countywide masterplan for oral heritage collections.

The Council also supported Féile na gCloch, or “Festival of Stone,” on Inis Oírr, which celebrates traditional stonework craftsmanship.

Liam Conneally, Chief Executive, Galway County Council, said, “The Plan sets out a clear, action-driven vision to protect and celebrate our county’s rich natural, built, and cultural heritage.”

“It will guide our efforts in addressing climate and environmental challenges, promoting sustainability, and enhancing awareness and stewardship.”

“I thank the Galway County Heritage and Biodiversity Forum, the Heritage Council, and all who contributed. Galway County Council is proud to lead this important work and looks forward to its successful implementation,” added Mr. Conneally.

Martina Moloney, Chair of The Heritage Council, commented, “By bringing together heritage and biodiversity efforts under one unified strategy, Galway is setting a national example of forward-thinking stewardship.”

“We are proud to have supported this ambitious plan and remain committed to working closely with Galway County Council and the community to ensure its successful implementation, safeguarding Galway’s unique identity for generations to come.”

The Galway County Heritage and Biodiversity Plan 2024–2030 was shaped by extensive public consultation over the past two years.

Engagement efforts included countywide consultation events, an online survey, and targeted workshops with the Traveller community, Brothers of Charity, primary and secondary schools, and active age groups.

The plan, which received over 450 public submissions, was formally approved by Elected Members in December 2024.

Children across Galway are being asked to support vulnerable youngsters around the world by hosting a tea party in their final weeks of school.

The new initiative is organised by Team Hope, the charity working to transform children’s lives by tackling poverty and inequality in African and Eastern European countries.

Now in its 15th year, the organisation, best known for its Christmas Shoebox Appeal, has revealed that people in Ireland have donated €2million in life-changing aid since 2010.

The ‘Team Hope Tea Party’ has a €240,000 target to fund vital projects such as clean water, education and income-generation opportunities in countries including Kenya, Burundi, Malawi, and Rwanda, where many live on less than $2 a day.

And the event, running from June 14-22, is not confined to schools – sports clubs, businesses and individuals across the country are all asked to take part.

“Over the past 15 years, we’ve not only delivered millions of Christmas Shoebox gifts but have also helped provide access to clean water, healthcare and support for communities that need it most,” said Deborah Lowry, Team Hope CEO.

“In June, we’d love if people can think beyond the box and host a tea party to help raise vital funds to support that work.

“In the five years to the end of this year, we will have improved the lives of 10,000 children in our sustainable development projects.

“The locally-based water projects in Kenya not only provide clean water to communities but also mean that girls, who previously spent hours collecting water every day, can go to school. There are multiple layers to the improvements our work makes to people’s lives.”

Some of Team Hope’s other projects include the creation of pineapple farms in Rwanda, an income generator allowing parents to support their families and send their children to school.

It also supports the development of village savings and loans groups, using members’ savings to lend to each other, allowing people to buy goats and pigs or start a soap making production business.

“We know that we are impacting hundreds of people in their own communities and thousands of children as a result of this work,” said Ms Lowry.

“While the shoebox appeal opens the door so we can help the poorest communities create their own future, we want to tell a different story; that these children are well loved, that they are full of hope. We are only the little seeds that helps them build a better future.”

Team Hope asks everyone to host a tea party to ensure that the charity can continue its grassroots projects in the world’s poorest regions.

Participants will receive a digital pack of downloads, including recipes and party ideas, as well as a donation page for their individual event.

For more information on how to host a Tea Party or simply get involved, visit teamhope.ie.

A family presented almost €10,000 raised for University Hospital Galway to help make the hospital more comfortable for patients receiving cancer care.

A very generous donation of €9,709 was recently presented to St Joseph’s Oncology Patient Comfort Fund at UHG in memory of the late Clement Gallagher

Clement, from Inver in County Donegal, had been a patient in St Joseph’s Ward, and helped to raise the funds before he passed.

The cheque was presented to the Oncology Patient Comfort Fund by Clement’s wife Kathleen Gallagher, Olive Mc Kelvey, sister and Peter Campbell, brother-in-law.

The funds were raised during a céile which had all been organised by Clement before his passing. The fundraising was undertaken by the family in appreciation of the care Clement received while he was a patient in UHG.

Kathleen Gallagher said, “We would like to sincerely thank all staff for all the help and support they gave to Clement while he was a patient here.”

“We raised the funds in his memory. He had organised the céile musical event before his passing, our family held the event in his honour.”

“We are so grateful to all those who supported the event and helped us raise this money for the Oncology Day Ward and Comfort Fund at UHG.”

Tina O Donnell, Clinical Nurse Manager 2, St Joseph’s Oncology Ward expressed her gratitude and said, “On behalf of the staff in St Joseph’s, we would like to sincerely thank Kathleen for this generous donation.”

“We are very grateful to everyone who supported the event, for their time and effort in raising funds for the Oncology Patient Comfort Fund. This donation will enable us to purchase comfort items for our patients.”

Two people have been confirmed dead following a house fire in Casla, Connemara early on Tuesday morning.

At approximately 6:20am, Gardaí and Fire Services were alerted to a house fire at Gleann Mhic Mhuireann.

The fire was brought under control by Fire Services and the bodies of a woman aged in her 70s and a man in his 30s were recovered from inside the house.

The scene has been preserved for a technical examination.

Both bodies have been transported to the Mortuary at University Hospital Galway for post-mortem examinations.

The results of the post mortems, along with the findings of the technical examination, will determine the course of the Garda investigation.

The local Coroner has been informed. Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Clifden Garda Station on 095 22500, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.

Heavy rain with high winds and a possibility of flooding is expected in Galway today, with a weather warning lasting into Monday night.

Met Eireann has issued a status yellow rain warning for Galway, Mayo and Kerry today.

On Monday afternoon and evening Galway will experience heavy rain, with very strong, gusty southerly winds near the coast.

This may cause some localised flooding along with poor visibility and difficult travelling conditions, Met Eireann cautions.

The weather warning will remain in place until 10pm on Monday night.

The weather is forecast to improve tomorrow, with Met Eireann predicting a breezy day with sunny spells and showers.

Highest temperatures of 12 to 15 degrees in moderate to fresh and gusty westerly winds.

Galway City Council is seeking a new operator for the former Pálás Cinema, which closed down earlier this year.

The city council is seeking expressions of interest from parties interested in taking over the cinema, whether to continue its old use or convert it to another cultural purpose.

The city council is proposing to provide the property with a long term lease but without any charge to the operator.

No other financial support will be provided to the operator by Galway City Council.

The Pálás Arthouse Cinema on Merchant’s Road is a three-screen, 322-seater arthouse cinema located in Galway City centre.

The cinema opened in 2018 and was operated by Picture Palace Cinema Ltd until its closure in February 2025.

Additional facilities include box office, kiosk shop, kitchen, café / bar space and office space.

A recent independent commercial review of the ‘property’ commissioned by Galway City Council suggested three options to consider. These included

• Re-opening of the property as a cultural space featuring one operational cinema with other areas repurposed for community and cultural use.
• Re-purposing of the property to become more tourism-focused with a focus on cultural tourism.
• Re-configuration of the property to operate as a mix of commercial space generating annual rents, combined with allocation of space for community use.

This expression of interest is not limited to these suggestions. Interested parties are invited to submit their own intended site usage concept and financially viable operational model.

The successful operator will operate the property in a manner compatible with the city’s international reputation for culture and the arts.

HSE West and North West has announced a significant investment in cardiac rehabilitation services in the west of Ireland.

This initiative marks a major investment in the health and well-being of patients across the Galway-Roscommon and Mayo Regional Health Areas (RHAs).

As part of the implementation of the Integrated Model of Care for Cardiac Rehabilitation, funding has been allocated for 13 whole-time equivalent (WTE) positions. These positions will span key disciplines including nursing, physiotherapy, dietetics, psychology, and administrative support, ensuring a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to cardiac rehabilitation.

This enhanced programme will be delivered through a coordinated model of care, integrating both hospital and community services under a single governance structure. The end goal is to provide a fully connected, end-to-end cardiac rehabilitation pathway for patients across the region and to:

• Reduce waiting times for cardiac rehabilitation
• Improve patient access and experience
• Deliver better long-term health outcomes

The launch of this integrated service model represents a key milestone in the delivery of the National Cardiovascular Plan 2025.

Dr Susan Connolly is a Consultant Cardiologist at Galway University Hospitals and Galway City Integrated Care Hub, and the Clinical Lead for the initiative.

She said, “Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a life-saving treatment for patients recovering from cardiovascular events whilst also improving quality of life and reducing the risk of future hospital admissions.

She added that this investment will be “transformative” in how cardiac rehabilitation is delivered in the region.

Patient Denis Goggin welcomed the initiative, saying, “As someone who has directly benefited from cardiac rehabilitation, I know how vital these services are.”

“Expanding and improving access means more patients will get the support they need to recover and stay well.”

“I felt very privileged and grateful to be invited onto the programme — not only for its valuable content, but also for the sense of continuity it gave me in maintaining a healthier lifestyle.”

Ann Cosgrove, Integrated Healthcare Area Manager for Galway and Roscommon said, “This initiative reflects the HSE’s commitment to delivering high-quality, accessible, and person-centred care.”

“It also strengthens regional collaboration and brings us closer to achieving the goals of the National Cardiovascular Plan 2025.”

The University of Galway is celebrating a milestone for its alumni with a special event to bring the Class of 1975 back to campus for a 50-Year Reunion on Wednesday, 11 June 2025.

The golden anniversary gathering is being held to offer graduates a unique opportunity to reconnect with classmates, reminisce about university days, and see how the campus has evolved over the past five decades.

The day’s festivities will include guided tours of the campus, a visit to the University Library’s Special Collections and Archives and opportunities to revisit favourite student haunts.

The celebration will culminate in a gathering in the college bar for entertainment.

Catherine Conroy, Alumni Relations Manager at University of Galway, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome the Class of 1975 back to campus for this golden anniversary.”

“A 50-year reunion is a truly special occasion – a time to celebrate lifelong connections, renew old friendships, and relive the moments that made university life so memorable.”

Taoiseach Micheál Martin was in Galway on Friday to lay the first stone in 345 homes being built in the €550 million Crown Square development.

The Rhatigan Group has recently hit a major milestone in work on the Crown Square development, a mixed-use urban campus integrating commercial, retail, residential and hospitality located on the Monivea Road, Galway.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said, “I am delighted to be in Galway to officially launch the Crown Square Development – a key project for the city including high quality housing, office space and hotel accommodation.”

“This development will see the creation of a vibrant new community, with the LDA and the Rhatigan Group partnering to deliver 345 much-needed cost rental and social homes.”

“This is again another example of the Government’s ongoing commitment to addressing our housing needs.”

Situated on a prime 12.65-acre site on the edge of Galway City, Crown Square stands as one of Ireland’s most ambitious urban regeneration initiatives.

Spearheaded by The Rhatigan Group, this visionary €550 million development is anchored by a masterplan to create a world-class, sustainable urban campus.

Aligned with the Galway City Development Plan 2023 – 2029 and the National Development Plan, the Crown Square Development marks a significant step forward in sustainable urban growth.

Inspired by the 15-minute city model, Crown Square is designed to ensure that all essential services – living, working, leisure, and transit – are within walking distance.

The result is a compact, vibrant, and sustainable community that supports a modern, connected, low-carbon lifestyle.

Phase 1 of this ambitious project will cost €320 million when completed, and deliver 345 cost rental apartments (now under construction), the recently opened 177 bedroom Radisson Red hotel, two completed office buildings with space for 1,250 people, and has supported over 500 construction jobs annually in Galway over a six-year period.

Over the past six year period, this building work supported more than 500 construction jobs in Galway City.

The final phase of the project is due to commence in Q4 2025 and will include
additional office space with capacity for a further 1,200 jobs and potentially further residential units.

We are immensely proud to play a key role in the delivery of this truly sustainable mixed-use development,” said Padraic Rhatigan, Managing Director of The Rhatigan Group.

“Crown Square offers a world class development incorporating a dynamic blend of modern, premium-quality, sustainable office accommodation, state-of-the-art affordable homes and the introduction of Ireland’s first Radisson RED Hotel, a globally recognised brand that will further elevate Galway’s appeal as a vibrant place to live, work, and visit.”

50 new jobs are being created in Galway with the merger of two software companies to create Channelscaler.

Channel Mechanics + Allbound, two established leaders in the Partner Relationship Management (PRM) and Channel Program Automation space, today announced the successful completion of their merger. The unified entity will now operate under the new brand, Channelscaler.

Galway based Minister Hildegarde Naughton welcomed the company’s announcement to create an additional 50 highly skilled positions to support market demand for its platform.

“Galway’s reputation for a highly trained and skilled workforce continues to attract significant investment, as evidenced by Channelscaler’s job announcement today.”

“Having witnessed the company’s incredible journey and seeing their ambitious growth plans I have no doubt they will continue to put Galway on the map as the global leader in channel automation software.”

This strategic rebrand marks a significant milestone, combining the strengths and expertise of both companies.

Channelscaler represents a shared vision for the future of partner program execution: intelligent, integrated, and built to scale.

Speaking at the announcement, Anne Lanigan, Divisional Manager for Technology & Services at Enterprise Ireland, said,“Enterprise Ireland has worked closely with Channelscaler since 2011 and we warmly welcome today’s expansion and rebrand announcement.”

“Channelscaler’s success and growth in the space of channel sales highlights Ireland’s position as an international hub for innovation.”

“As part of our new five-year strategy, Enterprise Ireland’s ambition is to accelerate sustainable Irish business with globally focused businesses like Channelscaler becoming the primary driver of the economy.”

“Enterprise Ireland looks forward to working with the team to continue to support their growth ambitions as they expand their customer base internationally whilst continuing to create jobs here in Galway.”

Galway County Council has imposed a temporary swimming ban at East End Beach on Inishbofin due to elevated bacteria levels.

Samples taken from the beach on Monday, May 26 tested positive for elevated levels of e.coli and enterococci bacteria.

This was likely caused by heavy rainfall levels in the preceding days.

The county council has issued a swimming ban on foot of this, which is expected to last until late next week.

Further water sampling will be done in the coming days and further advice will be issued when these results are received.

An Garda Síochána and the Road Safety Authority are urging drivers not to drink and drive this Bank Holiday weekend.

The two agencies made a joint appeal in Tuam today, together with Minister of State Seán Canney, ahead of the June Bank Holiday weekend.

The appeal comes as RSA analysis has found that over a third of drivers killed on the road between 2016 and 2020 who were tested for alcohol in their blood tested positive.

70% of driver deaths who tested positive for alcohol were from crashes which occurred between 10pm and 6am, showing that drink driving is far more prevalent at night.

Minister of State Seán Canney said: “These figures are deeply concerning. They show a consistent pattern of people taking deadly risks by driving under the influence, especially at night.”

“My message this weekend is simple – never, ever drink and drive. It’s not worth the risk to your life or anyone else’s. I urge everyone to act responsibly and make safe choices on our roads.”

Sarah O’Connor, Director of Partnerships and External Affairs at the RSA, echoed the call, saying, “These statistics highlight the importance of targeted enforcement during off-peak hours to detect and remove intoxicated drivers from our roads.”

“Combining this with education and awareness initiatives that focus on the dangers of drink-driving – especially late at night – is critical to saving lives.”

Chief Superintendent David Harrington of the Garda National Roads Policing Bureau said, “Driving under the influence of an intoxicant, whether alcohol or drugs, is illegal and not only impairs your driving performance but removes your capacity to drive safely.”

“Some people may take the risk of driving under influence because they believe they won’t encounter Gardaí on the road to detect them”.

“But the reality is that we are on the roads conducting checkpoints and are called to the scene of every one of the fatal or serious injury collisions caused by a driver that has been drinking.”

“You can avoid putting your life and the lives of others at such high risk if you heed our advice to not consume alcohol or drugs if you know you are getting into a car to drive.”

This appeal coincides with the upcoming launch of a new RSA advertising campaign that addresses social acceptability of drink-driving.

The TV-led campaign will go live on June 11, and calls on the public to protect their friends, and other road users, by ensuring their friends don’t get behind the wheel after drinking.

The RSA is also reminding the public that the summertime period typically sees an increase in cyclist and motorcyclist casualties.

Road users are encouraged to slow down, expect the unexpected, and be especially mindful of vulnerable road users.

A public consultation has been launched on the planned massive redevelopment of Galway Harbour to deliver hundreds of new homes.

Galway Harbour Company (GHC) and The Land Development Agency (LDA) have been working in partnership to develop detailed proposals for the regeneration of the Galway Inner Harbour area.

They are now seeking the views of the public and stakeholders on the overall draft masterplan and the proposed Phase 1 of development, which involves the LDA’s delivery of about 350 affordable and social homes in the area.

The housing development has been given the working title Amharc Atalia/Atalia View in English. The homes will be built on a 1.4-hectare site within the inner harbour, the transfer of which was agreed in principle, with government approval, in 2024.

The proposals include plans for cost rental and social housing, a creche and three retail or café units. The development will be located on New Dock Road and Lough Atalia Road.

Conor O’Dowd, Chief Executive of Galway Harbour Company, said, “The plans to transform Galway Inner Harbour represent a once-in-a generation opportunity to develop a new and sustainable urban quarter in Galway city and solidify Galway’s position as a driver of economic growth for the West of Ireland.”

“It will provide new housing and commercial outlets, in addition to recreational and cultural facilities along the water’s edge, and the overall project will create new employment opportunities and boost tourism.”

“We are pleased to partner with the LDA in launching this consultation process and look forward to hearing from all stakeholders on the draft masterplan and the proposals for Phase 1, which involves the LDA’s Amharc Atalia development.”

GHC, which owns and operates the Port of Galway, commissioned the masterplan to guide the transformation of Galway Inner Harbour.

It includes proposals to develop the area into a new sustainable, and mixed-use city centre urban quarter.

The completion of the draft masterplan is a requirement of the Galway City Development Plan and further develops the vision for the Inner Dock lands, which was published in May 2021.

The masterplan is a vital component of GHC’s broader development strategy which includes the relocation and extension of its port facilities.

The LDA is working in partnership with GHC and is aligned with the following principles of the draft masterplan:

• The urban structure, hierarchy of streets and amenity areas
• Legibility, safety and activity
• Character, look and feel, including heritage
• Nature, biodiversity and climate
• Development quantum and implementation

Phelim O’Neill, Director of Development at the LDA, said, “I am pleased to see plans for the development of new affordable homes reach this pivotal stage.”

“In just over one year since terms were agreed to facilitate the land transfer, we have engaged with teams in Galway to design a new high quality and sustainable residential development in the heart of the city.”

“I would like to thank Galway Harbour Company and Galway City Council for their support in helping us progress this much-needed project.”

“We value the local community’s engagement and feedback, and I am actively encouraging local residents, businesses and community groups to contribute to this important process as we strive to deliver a development that meets the needs of the city.”

As part of the consultation process, GHC and the LDA are encouraging residents, businesses and community groups to engage with and contribute to the proposals.

The draft masterplan document and new development brochure, Amharc Atalia, have been created for the public consultation process.

These documents outline the initial design plan, and their publication will be followed by a series of workshops and meetings, to be held over the coming weeks.

A range of communication channels have also been established to provide a forum for people to give their. More details and the full masterplan are available at galway-harbour.com.