How would rejuvenate Galway City?

Also, there's more Tech shops in Limerick. And I've ordered tech gear from a Limerick based online business.

Many years ago, I bought a Pocket Camcorder in Galway in that well known Camera Shop.

Still have the receipt. Was in Galway for Christmas and the same shop looks bit tired.

Regarding the Bus Eireann Derry - Galway Coach service, while it's a nice big coach, it's always very busy in either direction.

There's an okayish train connection between Galway and Limerick as well but again, often turns into a clusterf*k I wonder when seat reservations can be made.

Finally, when is the food trolley being re introduced on the Dublin Galway train? ( yes, I did travel First Class on this a long time ago)

Dying? Or just changing, as technologies and lifestyles change?

On-line has fundamentally changed retail, and Covid sped things up and vastly increased WFH, which most people see as A Good Thing: the city centre has less business because working people are able to spend their money in the suburbs or small towns.

Property is slow to catch on, though, so cities have a surplus of retail spaces over need for them.

Banning "things like off licences, bookies, vape shops" would just be banning the *perfectly legal* shops that people go to for things that they want right now. It would push even more business on-line (gambiling) or into the hands of delivery agents.

Cities need to become "experience locations" if they want to have previous levels of business.

Then ban things like off licences, bookies, vape shops in Zone 1

So ban the only viable businesses? The places that people go and spend money in? And you want to rejuvenate the place?

Out of the box thinking here but I would roof Shop Street. Not enclose it like the Eyre Square shopping centre, just put a roof on it. Make a wander down Shop Street on a wet and windy day a more pleasant experience. Definitely more bins.

How about the people who live in the city centre? Or tourists staying there? Why can't they have access to shops like that?

What would you replace these viable businesses with?

How many off licences are there in Galway city centre. Can't be more than a couple ?

There should be an architectural heritage committee to consult on shopfront colour schemes/finishes, and only allow hand painted signage, not that ghastly vinyl or printed stuff.

Owners of empty shops and buildings should be compelled into keeping their premises in good order. Not left to rot and covered in green algae, moss and mould.

Same should apply to every town really.

More pedestrianisation.

I'd noticed the porridge oats on the footpaths in places, and figured it must've been put there by some nuthouse intent on feeding the pigeons, while inadvertently feeding the rats too.

Yeah lets make Shop Street look like every predictable UK high street

Increase dereliction tax and the criteria that qualifies for it. Get more turnover and transactions of commercial property

Pretty sure there's already a by-law about shop fronts but it's not enforced or there's a workaround.

Encourage local business. It's short sighted to focus on these big box retailers. They might be the only ones with deep enough pockets for the rates, etc. being charged, but they're generic and everything they sell is online. Going to kill tourism too because people want a unique experience, not to see the same old tat they see at home. Same goes for us locals. Make the city a nice place to spend time. We aren't shopping like we did in the 90s but they seem to be still trying to approach retail like we are. Take a chance on unique things like galleries, curiosity shops, etc. and there'll be more of a reason to go into the city and spend time around the place. That'll inevitably lead to spending money

The thread is about rejuvenation (making young again: young people tend to like gaudy and cheap tat, ).

Not regeneration (fitting the city for current lifestyles, including vastly changed retail patterns).

Or preservation of historical patterns of living (muted colour schemes, traditional businesses etc).

Many of the replies above (including mine!) are suggesting tactics to do different things than what the thread is about.

That residents will object to..