Salthill,what would enhance it now?

howyanow

Always hear people reminiscing of the good oul days in Salthill i.e 70's and 80's drinking culture.Them days are long gone and Salthill "village" itself has changed from hotels and bars along the main street to coffee shops and restaurants.
What I am asking really is what is not in Salthill now that should be in ye're opinion.maybe Library,credit union,bicycle rental....?

death1234567

During the boom I was baffled why that area wasn't redeveloped properly, it badly needs it. I guess it made more sense for the council to zone land out in Roscam/Doughiska than to renovate existing areas.

MadYaker

death1234567 wrote: »

During the boom I was baffled why that area wasn't redeveloped properly, it badly needs it. I guess it made more sense for the council to zone land out in Roscam/Doughiska than to renovate existing areas.

Theres that one massive horrifically ugly building which is now empty. That probably counted as "redevelopment".....

snubbleste

Bring back drinking culture..oh wait

Sadderday

give it some sun,

thats all anywhere needs to be lovely

howyanow

it was developed hugely,all the apartment blocks on quincentennial drive.im asking really what was omitted that should have been put in place?

Storm 10

Well a Library, Credit Union or Bike Rental will not make a difference , its a Holiday resort and those things you mentioned are in Town and not what people would be looking for on holiday. As stated all Salthill needs is Sun and when its out there is no place like it.

Gambas

Long term what the area between the Warwick and the Garda Station needs is a coherent building design plan that is enforced. The development that took place 10-20 years ago was diabolical. On the Seafront, only one or two apartment complexes are anything other than cheap thrown up eyesores (Point Boise being on exception). In the village it is a hotchpotch ugly mess.

Right now, it could do with a good vegetable shop, and a small supermarket that fills a different niche from Morton's. IMO. And a branch of Le Petit Delice.

Oh, and someone to actually get fined for leaving their dogs turd on the prom, instead of relying on little girls bicycle wheels and shoes to remove it for them. Like the by-laws say should happen.

Mrs Garth Brooks

The sun and the air show

BhoscaCapall

howyanow wrote: »

Always hear people reminiscing of the good oul days in Salthill i.e 70's and 80's drinking culture..?

In case you haven't noticed, 70s and 80s drinking culture and indeed most forms of socialising with alcohol are frowned upon these days. Didn't you know tourism in Galway has plummeted 200% after some Americans saw a load of people in Donegal jerseys queueing for a pub.

Paddyfield

I like Salthill as it is now. The Prom is a wonderful amenity. I wish the fun fair was tidied up when it emerges next month; it always strikes me that Health & Safety people could have a field day.

Pearse Stadium is such an underutilised facility. Can you imagine it it was transformed into a municipal floodtlit all seater stadium? Connacht Rugby and Galway United FC (when they come back next year...!) and the GAA teams would reap the benefits. As well as concerts.

And speaking of concerts, it's hard to believe that Leisureland has hosted regular sell out concerts in the 80's. U2, The Smiths, Pretenders, Status Quo, Thin Lizzy, Madness etc etc all played their at the height of their fame.

But as a previous poster implied... Salthill + sunshine = bliss.

A sea organ / musical prom would be cool.

This is one in Zadar, Croatia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBhk5KFwLVc

Mrs OBumble

Storm 10 wrote: »

Well a Library, Credit Union or Bike Rental will not make a difference , its a Holiday resort and those things you mentioned are in Town and not what people would be looking for on holiday. As stated all Salthill needs is Sun and when its out there is no place like it.

It used to be a holiday resort back in the day before people flew to Spain for the sun.

Now it's just a suburb of Galway city. Needs a community centre (currently the mother-and-baby group meets in a pub, ffs!) , library and supermarket, and a through bus-service from Knocknacarra.

snubbleste

Salthill needs poor people to enhance it...and a Lidl.

kraggy

Deleted User wrote: »

A sea organ / musical prom would be cool.

This is one in Zadar, Croatia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBhk5KFwLVc

I might be going against the grain here but I think that's awful and tacky. When I go to the sea, I want to hear the sea. And I don't want to see flashing lights in the midst of nature.

gordongekko

they should take away that fecking charity thing at the wall at the end of the prom.

kraggy

kraggy wrote: »

I might be going against the grain here but I think that's awful and tacky. When I go to the sea, I want to hear the sea. And I don't want to see flashing lights in the midst of nature.

fair enough - I don't fancy the lights myself. The organ would only be ten or so metres long on one part of the prom.

Cleahaigh

They should build a big-assed wave machine so that we could surf every day, man.

_Whimsical_

Ideal world stuff where you don't have to worry about rowdy drunks destroying things in the night but...

Maybe turning the green area across from Leisureland into a very nice park that people use.It's an amazing location. It could have a playground,some set walks or some nice amenities, like perhaps a really nice pagoda where you could sit and look down on the view of Salthill.
Maybe a nice farmers market some weekends during the summer outside or in a marquee.
I'd like something that everyone could use that might make Salthill somewhere you could go to make a day of it rather than somewhere for the 30 min dash across the prom.

Cleahaigh

gordongekko wrote: »

they should take away that fecking charity thing at the wall at the end of the prom.

I heartily endorse this post. I would take up arms to help enforce its sentiment.

dinneenp

Weekend artists stands (where the chess board is)
More musical evenings (on the grass area)

Links234

_Whimsical_ wrote: »

Maybe a nice farmers market some weekends during the summer outside or in a marquee.

it'd be the perfect spot for it, like the market in Dun Laoghaire

Gambas

Links234 wrote: »

it'd be the perfect spot for it, like the market in Dun Laoghaire

Can't see the need seeing as there is a a real market little over a mile away.

GastroBoy

On a side note, did anyone see the awful colour they painted the seapoint building, horrible grey colour. It just looks like a prison now.

Apart from that I quite like Salthill now as it is, maybe it would be good if the prom was extended up to, say, where the driving range is but perhaps that wouldn't work.

Links234

Gambas wrote: »

Can't see the need seeing as there is a a real market little over a mile away.

completely depends on what's available at it, and for many people living locally it might be a better option. I'm pretty sure Galway could sustain more than one, sure they managed to have the xmas market in the square so a summer market might be very popular

beardybrewer

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Now it's just a suburb of Galway city. Needs a community centre (currently the mother-and-baby group meets in a pub, ffs!) , library and supermarket, and a through bus-service from Knocknacarra.

This.

jkforde

GastroBoy wrote: »

On a side note, did anyone see the awful colour they painted the seapoint building, horrible grey colour.

yeah, all the grey mushroom colours must be 'in' or just cheap. the village should go down the route of Eyeries in Cork and paint the place in psychedelic colours, God knows we have enough monotonous grey above our heads than to have to look at more of it at ground level! at least the place appears fresh & clean now.

It could be lovely but a lot of of is a complete dive. Shame tbh.

daithi1970

A bomb to get rid of Baily Point-its a fecking monstrosity.

daithi

carrick76

Pedestrianise between Seapoint and O'Connors. Allow restaurants and pubs to put more tables outside. It's horrible at the moment with cars everywhere.

.

brokenarms

As a visitor there last year in the week of good weather we had, I was really surprised by the amount of drinking on the beach. Its hardly a place where you can let your children go because of the problem.
People drinking fighting and shouting all day.

All one could see the whole way up the strand was heavy gold chain clade <snip> baked pink in the sun.

Maybe a bigger garda presence would help .

carrick76

carrick76 wrote: »

Pedestrianise between Seapoint and O'Connors. Allow restaurants and pubs to put more tables outside. It's horrible at the moment with cars everywhere.

Excellent idea - it shouldn't cost the earth and there are alternative routes for traffic/busses.

gordongekko

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Excellent idea - it shouldn't cost the earth and there are alternative routes for traffic/busses.

im sure the council would be able to make sure it costs a fortune

blackhound

carrick76 wrote: »

Pedestrianise between Seapoint and O'Connors. Allow restaurants and pubs to put more tables outside. It's horrible at the moment with cars everywhere.

.

That's an excellent idea, all it would take would be to remove the parking on either side of the road and extend the footpath out where the parking currently is, that way it wouldn't prevent traffic from going through. It would be lovely to have an outside cafe/restaurant type scenario.

_Whimsical_

Deleted User wrote: »

Excellent idea - it shouldn't cost the earth and there are alternative routes for traffic/busses.

Yes alternate traffic routes... nothing wrong with bottling up Taylors Hill with thousands more cars a year seeing as it's already such a wide and accomodating road.
In ideal world maybe it'd be ok but as it stands, no.

I personally think we have enough pedestrianisation. People forget that pedestrianising whole swathes of a city does preclude them from use for certain groups. Eldery people, people with certain disabilities, people with small kids can't always just dump the car and walk a mile to get somewhere. There are sizable minorities who can't even think of going to shops on shop street as it stands because of this. I'd hate to see a resource like the prom become the preserve of only the more able bodied.

BhoscaCapall

_Whimsical_ wrote: »

There are sizable minorities who can't even think of going to shops on shop street as it stands because of this. I'd hate to see a resource like the prom become the preserve of only the more able bodied.

Why should the able bodied majority miss out just to pander to small minorities? I know it's all the rage these days but a line has to be drawn.

_Whimsical_

BhoscaCapall wrote: »

Why should the able bodied majority miss out just to pander to small minorities? I know it's all the rage these days but a line has to be drawn.

A line you might find yourself on the other end of tomorrow if you or a relative have an accident/get sick/whatever.

It's not "pandering", a line that excludes some people from the nicest thing about the city is an unnecessary and ignorant line to be drawing in my opinion.

Not interested in a great boardsie style debate on the subject of social exclusion/inclusion over imaginary Salthil alterations. That's just my opinion. From my experience it's a valid consideration.

2rkehij30qtza5

Salthill is certainly not as nice as it used to be. I walked up the main street the other day and it was dirty, loads of little & loads of rough looking types about (not everyone but there were a good few!).

I think the whole street needs a good clean for a start. There are a lot of businesses gone (sign of the times) but those buildings need to be redeveloped..Warwick, DaRobertas Osteria, Sacre Coeur (pity this is so wrecked now!), Oasis/angels whatever you want to call it!!, Waterfront Hotel and the shops that are vacant between CoCo cafe and it, Bailypoint etc...and multiple other places.

The funfair can look tack when it's there. Could do with a clean-up or reorganisation or something.

The walk along the links between Blackrock and the caravan park-the dog poo...ewwww...major clean up needed there!!!!

The playground beside the aquarium..the equipment was broken there recently. And the grass is always waaaay too long in Toft Park. It's not well kept. Should be kept better so children can play on it. The way it is now it's permanently like a meadow.

ilovesleep

Salthill needs a serious lick of paint.

The salthill airshow would be cool and would help with tourism. I would reckon many who emigrated from Galway would come back for a holiday for it.

What's needed then is something different. Like what's in that building Baily Point, is it called? It's so out of character for Salthill, but that rant would be for a different day. Is that place empty? Wasn't a cinema orginally going to be in it? What's needed is something different like the biggest cinema screen in Ireland/Europe. I wonder could that be achieved in Salthill in one of the empty buildings? Would there be a needed for it?

The fireworks display held last year as part of the 4th of July American volvo race festitivies was very cool. A once a year repeat of that would be lovely but highly doubtful that will happen because as far as I know the Americans paid for that display.

I'm out of ideas for now.

stampydmonkey

It definitely needs a clean up alright. Would be great to have less standard parking and more seating outside the restaurants and pubs..but then would also need more sun too.

Its all been mentioned before but a consolidated planning strategy needs to be put forward and adhered to. The parks should be given a face lift and personally id like more things to do on the sea.

Blackrock is great for a swim and jump but reckon there should be more. I know you can go windsurfing in rusheen bay, but would love more water based action based in salthill. Know its a health and safety nightmare but would love to be able to rent open top kayaks for an hour and maybe throw some inflatable trampolines and slides over by the pontoon.

Sconsey

blackhound wrote: »

That's an excellent idea, all it would take would be to remove the parking on either side of the road and extend the footpath out where the parking currently is, that way it wouldn't prevent traffic from going through. It would be lovely to have an outside cafe/restaurant type scenario.

It would be a bit of a balls for all the people living in houses surrounding the church, no access to their homes by car anymore.

Lapin

Paddyfield wrote: »

Pearse Stadium is such an underutilised facility. Can you imagine it it was transformed into a municipal floodtlit all seater stadium? Connacht Rugby and Galway United FC (when they come back next year...!) and the GAA teams would reap the benefits. As well as concerts.

Leave Connacht where they are.

Pearse Stadium is a pain in the backside to get to for people travelling from outside the immediade Salthill area and the city in general.

One of the selling points of the Sportsground is being a five minute walk from the train and bus stations, as well as any amount of pubs and restaurants.

As for Galway United playing there - The crowds they used to get in Terryland would seem very muted in a stadium 4 times the size. The intimate nature of Deasy Park provides a better atmosphere and the playing surface there is one of the best soccer pitches in the country.

Pearse Stadium is a fine facility and has hosted concerts since its redevolopment, (Bob Dylan and Andrea Boccelli spring to mind). However, as it is located in a residential area and is unlikely to be granted a licence to host more than 2 or 3 a year.

Its up to the GAA to use it to its full potential and they're doing a good job at that. Having said that, I'd prefer to see inter county league games being played at different grounds around the county.

Pearse Stadium is in the wrong place I reckon and an opportunity was lost to sell it off and relocate in a purpose built all seater stadium instead of remaining where it is, an awkward place to get to surrounded by housing estates.


Getting back on topic and somewhat related to the above, I think there is potential to redevelop Leisureland into a large multi purpose indoor sports and arts venue. A place capable of hositng international events. Similar to the Odyssey Arena in Belfast on a smaller scale.

jcro

I like the idea of pedestrianizing main street from O'Connors to Seapoint also.
Bollards such as the one on cross street can be installed to allow the few who need mobile accesss through. Shop street proves it can work to the benefit of business and people.Along with that I would like to see some ornate covering over some of the area to allow people to sit out without getting drenched..
Rubbish ,ugly bins, too many cars and dog poo spoil the experience.
Jcro.

There should be more family-themed activities. I haven't been out to Seapoint in years, but the last time I was there it was terrible in comparison to how it used to be as a child.

They should ban drinking along the majority of the beach and have this regularly enforced by the Gardaí, who should force people to pick up their dog's shite.

Bailey's Point should either be demolished entirely or redeveloped itself.. you'd think with the years it took to make, they'd've got it right.

There should be an area where bands can set up and preform.

Mr_A

Perhaps Salthill could have some really distinctive piece of public art that people would make a point of seeing while in Galway. Something a bit mad and different that would get people interested in seeing it if they happen to be in the area.

Then again the most obvious improvement for Salthill would be if the Aquarium had shark with frickin laser beams on their heads.

jkforde

Deleted User wrote: »

They should ban drinking along the majority of the beach and have this regularly enforced by the Gardaí, who should force people to pick up their dog's shite.

on people allowing their dogs to crap on the Prom, a bye-law should be passed that only dogs on leashes are allowed on the Prom - then any owner can't plead the lame line 'but it was following behind me, i didn't see it poop so how do you know that my dear little terrier did it?'

snubbleste

It's an offence to drink in a public place, not to clean up your dog poop and to not to keep your dog under control. Next!

jkforde

snubbleste wrote: »

It's an offence to drink in a public place, not to clean up your dog poop and to not keep your dog under control.

to be exact, the law states dogs must "be under your effective control", it doesn't specifcally state on a leash. on http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/environment/animal_welfare_and_control/control_of_dogs.html#l1f4da under Bye-laws it says that "Many local authorities have introduced bye-laws to indicate areas where dogs must be kept on a leash or even prohibited. "

so why not pass a local bye-law that effectively enforces the "effective" part of the control that's lacking in the national law?

snubbleste

jkforde wrote: »

to be exact, the law states dogs must "be under your effective control", it doesn't specifcally state on a leash. on http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/environment/animal_welfare_and_control/control_of_dogs.html#l1f4da under Bye-laws it says that "Many local authorities have introduced bye-laws to indicate areas where dogs must be kept on a leash or even prohibited. "
so why not pass a local bye-law that effectively enforces the "effective" part of the control that's lacking in the national law?

Does anyone actually enforce the existing bye-laws

antoobrien

Lapin wrote: »

A place capable of hositng international events. Similar to the Odyssey Arena in Belfast on a smaller scale.

Believe it or no there was a time when Leisureland was the largest concert arena in Ireland. Dire Straits played there in the 80s.

Links234

I was out in the seapoint ballroom to see Stewart Lee, I never even knew that place existed, I just thought it was amusements. more stuff like that would be deadly, live shows, etc.