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How would rejuvenate Galway City?

CuriousCucumber

Galway city, like most big cities is dying. Perhaps slowly, but it seems to me, its following a well worn path towards a future of empty, derelict buildings.

What would you propose as potential solutions? You never know, people from the council might read boards, and try to implement some ideas

For me, I'd designate areas of the city by ever expanding zones. Say everything within a 500m radius of Eyre Square be considered Zone 1. The next 500m zone 2, etc.

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

Introduce massive charges for buildings not in use

Reduce council rates for certain commercial types, say restaurants with waiting staff

More bins

More murals around the city

Come up with a plan for Spanish Arch. It's a disgrace at the moment. A giant orange tube and a big fence. It's horrific

A partial cover over Shop Street. Something that lets light in, but keeps a lot of the rain out

More community guards walking the streets.

Make more use of Eyre Square. There should almost a permanent band stand in there that can easily be booked by local musicians

A dedicated space for a regular food market

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GBXI

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123321527#Comment_123321527

This is so true. It is embarrassing walking down Shop St. at like 9.30am on a weekday and the place is packed with cars and delivery vans.

what_traffic

A simple City Centre solution and one that will eventually happen. Convert the likes of Hynes Yard multi car park into a Last Mile Delivery Warehouse - then have last 500 meter Delivery's done from there (ALL Day) using small electric vehicles like one sees in European Country's. Too many heavy and big vehicles on the Pedestrian Zone up until 10h30/11h00 most mornings. Very noticeable in the summer what a mess it is when have ALL the tourists about in the mornings. Don't see how it helps retailers in City Centre zone to persist with this late 20th Century SCM solution

what_traffic

There is a City Council slogan buried somewhere deep in this "Kernel of truth" line Mr_A!

"For a city that's reputation is for culture and events it's a bizarre omission."

Mr_A

One thing Galway needs is a decent venue for gigs / comedians etc. That acts end up playing in Leisureland, a glorified school hall, highlights that there is an opening there. You see some playing Castlebar but not Galway as they have a better venue (4000 seats). For a city that's reputation is for culture and events it's a bizarre omission.

Oh and build the GLUAS so people can actually get around the place would help a lot too.

Mrs OBumble

How long do we think it will take to fix up the proposed Nandos building? It needs a LOT of work.

rustyfrog

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123317111#Comment_123317111

Remember the years of hype about Burger King coming! 😅 Then it came and nobody cared. We just enjoy the excitement of the chase, the reality of big chains moving into Galway City is more dull/grim.

Gremlinertia

I have zero influence and no ability that I'm aware of to encourage change. one thing I would like is someone in the right places in city council to be open to ideas and able to implement in a time frame that gives people the impression that things can change in a more visible/immediate way.

I'm also dismayed at the inaction on vacant sites, there are multiple reasons for various ones but a certain timeframe of complete stasis should probably instill a higher level of intervention by the council.

Now these are just some random thoughts because there is no one fits all solution, but sure wishes and horses

xckjoo

Think ye folks are missing the point. I was making a joke of the fact that people have been lamenting the absence of H&M since as long as I can remember as they were rumored to be opening in every substantially sized unit in the city at some stage. Nandos was the same but in smaller units.

In relation to rejuvenating the city, it's a bit of a lame duck. This constant belief that just one large retailer will swoop in and save us when they've had ample opportunity in the last 30ish years and never took it. Meanwhile I can jump on their website right now and order anything I want. Better to focus on promoting smaller retailers IMO. Preferably local ones or at least ones that offer something unique. "Experience" based economy and all that.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123317111#Comment_123317111

Very different prospects. Fast food places are very much on the up whereas clothing stores are mostly leaving the market. And isn't that Nando's gonna be outside the city centre which will do little to rejuvenate the place.

LambshankRedemption

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123317111#Comment_123317111

Nando's AFAIK is a franchise, so there's little stopping anyone basically setting up a Nando's. H&M are not, they have to find somewhere they like to set up a new shop.

xckjoo

We've been hearing rumors about H&M coming to Galway since the 90s. But the same was true of Nandos and now we appear to be getting one of those so stranger things have happened.

GBXI

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123315061#Comment_123315061

I highly doubt the rent part is true. Zara and H&M pay big rents in big cities but they have the footfall to cover this. The footfall in Galway would dwarf what there is in Athlone. And I can only imagine Galway City Council would love to have a big name retailer in the city as it would bring even more people in. I'd say the biggest factor is the correct premises hasn't appeared for them to open up in Galway, plus the traffic situation.

Mrs OBumble

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123314471#Comment_123314471

Athlone has those shops because of lower rents in regional towns, because they were there from before covid, and because places like Galway are in the catchment.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123314466#Comment_123314466

Yes of course there are examples of some being around. Limerick has a River Island.

But the overall trend is that new shops of this type are not popping up in small city centres. There certainly won't be enough to do much for a centre.

LambshankRedemption

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123314466#Comment_123314466

And a Zara :-)

GBXI

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123313733#Comment_123313733

There's a H&M in Athlone, so that's not true.

Mrs OBumble

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123313819#Comment_123313819

I wonder why no enterprising business person has rented a unit like Treasure Chest and done just that, then? (I suspect i know why ...)

Will be interesting to see exactly what retail units go in to Ceannt Station.

cr-07

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123313733#Comment_123313733

Yes, sorry, poor choice of wording with the "bring in". Are some of those large retailers not franchised? A quick google search shows up that Zara might:
https://zarafranchising.com/

Would make great business you'd imagine.

Regarding the size of Galway - Athlone has both Zara and H&M.

LambshankRedemption

A food court would be amazing - something similar to the Seven Dials in London.

Considering the climate, a sort of English Market like down in Cork could be a huge benefit.

Anyone know what the situation is with Taaffes? It's been unoccupied for decades

Apparently it's up for sale:

https://www.independent.ie/regionals/galway/news/iconic-galway-city-building-lands-on-the-market-after-being-vacant-for-nearly-30-years/a2115584660.html

Off topic, but years ago we had cousins from the US visiting and one of them wanted to buy an Aran sweater. So off to Taaffes we went. She saw one she liked but it was a bit too small, Mrs Taaffe says "I have bigger ones but the cat just had kittens in the box and I don't want to disturb them".

I remember the smell in the shop being… unique.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123313440#Comment_123313440

You can't "bring in" large retailers. They have to want to go there and all evidence points to them abandoning or ignoring city centres of Galway's size.

CuriousCucumber

I was in town on Saturday afternoon, and it actually wasn't as bad as I remembered. Place was pretty busy too.

One thing though, the place could really do with a clean-up. Some store fronts are in bad shape.

Could they plan some trees along Shop Street? Even in large boxes? Or is the street to narrow?

Anyone know what the situation is with Taaffes? It's been unoccupied for decades (?) now. How has nothing been done with the building? Would be great to get some decent high street brands, and some local businesses into town. I miss the days when Carpenters existed on Shop Street

cr-07

A food court would be amazing - something similar to the Seven Dials in London.

An unpopular opinion on Boards, I imagine, would be to bring in some large retailers that actually attract customers. This would be Zara, H&M, Sephora etc. I actually think a Uniqlo in Galway (none in Ireland?) would do amazing with the weather we get.

Someone pointed out the cost of parking in the city center. This is definitely too high for day-trippers.

A rejuvenated Spanish Arch would be nice too - other than removing the orange balloon as suggested here, not sure what else can be done to improve the area's attractiveness?

MenloPete

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123306239#Comment_123306239

Looks like it was designed by the guy who did the 'parklets'

what_traffic

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123300447#Comment_123300447

Looks like Claremont, Rahoon? Have same issue in Shantalla, Council "repaired" footpaths on Davis and Colmcille Roads in recent years but what we now have are now actually downgrades of what was there before with this slantly slope which as you rightly point are hazardous in the ice and also when very wet. Especially for the elderly who need flat surfaced footpaths This current generation of Galway City employees struggle so badly with the Basic 101 urban stuff.

zell12

Are those market stalls? And people loitering? 😯 Woodquay Park revamp

jkforde

https://www.galwaycity.ie/news/2025/salthill-village-and-seafront-framework-plan-survey

fyi, few days left to leave a submission

I see sheep

Public Buckfast fountains.

Unrealistic

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123300304#Comment_123300304

I presume it is but it's completely unnecessary. You can facilitate car access without having the entire footpath slant so that it's a slip hazard on frosty days and acts like a rollercoaster if you're pushing a child's buggy or an a bike on the cycle lane (Doughiska for example).

This is how they've been doing it in northern Europe for decades and, if builders where actually following the latest design manual, it is how they should be doing it in Ireland.

But this is what we have also got in Ireland, and it's what we're mostly still getting, even though the manual says it should be otherwise.

Gremlinertia

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123300304#Comment_123300304

It's 'dishing' for the vehicles using the house driveway and often badly done especially on roads with a high kerb, now a it's an obvious need for the resident but a surprising amount dish too low and become a puddle/mud trap

berrecka

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123299781#Comment_123299781

Is that to accomodate dropped kerbs?