Minister Browne turns sod on €23.6m housing scheme in County Galway
James Browne TD, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, has officially broken ground on a €23.6 million mixed-tenure housing development in Baile Chláir (Claregalway), County Galway. The 88-unit scheme, led by Galway County Council and supported by €12m funding from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage marks the county’s first council-led shared equity housing initiative. It will comprise of a mix of social and affordable units, alongside a crèche, landscaped open spaces, and a community playground on Lakeview Road, and other community amenities. Construction commenced this week and is scheduled for completion by September 2026. During his visit to Galway today, Minister Browne also opened housing developments in Ardrahan and Tuam, and toured community and transport infrastructure projects in Tuam and Oranmore. In Ardrahan, the Minister officially opened a 10-unit social housing scheme at Caisleán Raithin which was funded with €3.3m from the Department’s Social Housing Investment…
Clifden and Clarinbridge Shine in Pride of Place Judging
The Marconi Men’s Shed in Clifden and the community of Clarinbridge have welcomed judges from the 23rd annual IPB Pride of Place competition, an all-island awards programme highlighting excellence in community development. Nominated by Galway County Council, both groups are hoping to be among the winners at this year’s Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony, which will take place at the Strand Hotel in Limerick on November 7th. In Clifden, judges visited the Marconi Men’s Shed, a unique and pioneering initiative serving male family carers in the wider Connemara region. It is the first men’s shed in Ireland founded exclusively by male carers and has grown into a thriving community hub. Supported by FORUM Connemara CLG, the group has transformed four outbuildings into a well-equipped facility, combining workshop and storage areas. The shed currently has over 50 members aged between 43 and 85, who meet regularly for a range of activities.…
Tourism at a Slower Pace: Galway Shows Europe the Way
Galway County Council and the BIA Innovator Campus have taken a leading role in promoting slow tourism in the county, hosting European partners from the Interreg Europe Slowdown project. The week-long programme brought together nearly 40 delegates from eight countries to explore how slow tourism can support sustainable local and regional development, boost the local economy and foster responsible travel. The delegation last week toured East Galway to meet local food producers and explore heritage sites, before traveling to Connemara to plan pilot projects, visit Killary Fjord, Renvyle, and Clifden, and engage with regional stakeholders. The programme concluded with an Interregional Steering Group meeting at Kylemore Abbey, and a visit to Spiddal Village. Cllr. David Collins, Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council, said, “The week showcased Galway’s unique assets and strengthened international collaboration on responsible tourism. I fully support the Council’s participation in the Slowdown project and efforts to encourage visitors…
A First for Ireland: Free Tax Support for Vulnerable Groups Launched in Galway
Lone parents and survivors of domestic violence in Galway are to receive free, confidential help with their tax affairs under a landmark new initiative launched this week. The programme, called ‘Enabling Tax Literacy and Empowerment: Understanding Your Rights and Responsibilities’, is the first public tax education partnership of its kind in Ireland. It is being run jointly by Galway Public Libraries and the University of Galway’s award-winning Tax Clinic. Designed to help people navigate the State’s increasingly digital tax system, the service offers one-to-one consultations with trained tax advisers and supervised student volunteers. It will be available at selected library branches, with the option of online support. Recruitment is being handled through Family Resource Centres, FLAC, INTREO and the library network itself. “This marks a significant step forward in inclusive financial literacy,” said Eileen Ruane, Director of Services at Galway County Council. “Embedding tax education in trusted community spaces helps…
From The Mid-West to Kenya: Clean Ireland Recycling Helps Build New Disability Centre
Clean Ireland Recycling is backing Irish charity Project ESPWA in building a new disability centre in Bamba, Kenya, set to open in early 2026. The facility, which will cater to hundreds of children and adults with disabilities, has been steadily taking shape through multiple volunteer missions from Ireland. Headquartered in Shannon, Co Clare, Clean Ireland Recycling is providing building materials that are scarce locally, including timber, door locks, hinges, electrical sockets and switches. The shipment recently left Cork Port bound for Kenya. Managing Director Brian Lyons, who has a son with disabilities, will travel to Bamba with volunteers in February 2026 to help complete the centre. Lyons said the project is “very much driven by personal connections,” particularly the inspiration of long-time ESPWA volunteer Pat Barry and board member Dan Ducey. Project ESPWA, whose name means “hope” in Haitian Creole, has worked in crisis-affected communities worldwide since 2010. Each year,…
Galway County Council’s StoryMaps Project Wins eGovernment Award
Galway County Council’s innovative StoryMaps project, which has digitised the heritage of communities across County Galway into interactive online experiences, has been named a category winner at the 2025 Ireland eGovernment Awards. The project received the Open Data Award, having been shortlisted alongside the National Cancer Registry of Ireland. Galway County Council’s Heritage and GIS sections, working in conjunction with community groups and academia, have so far created over 40 town and village StoryMaps showcasing the rich heritage of the County’s towns, villages, and townlands. In addition, historical information relating to 1,000 townlands has been digitised, providing a valuable resource for communities, schools, heritage groups, Tidy Towns committees, academia, and the public. By integrating mapping technology with text, images, and multimedia content, StoryMaps delivers location-based stories that can be accessed on any internet-enabled device, from desktop computers to tablets and phones. Cllr David Collins, Cathaoirleach of Galway County, said, “This…
€6.6 Million Secured for Tuam Station House Enterprise Hub
Galway County Council has confirmed that the transformation of Tuam Station House into an enterprise hub will soon move to the procurement stage, after securing €6,662,440 in funding from the Northern and Western Regional Assembly (NWRA) through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). During a meeting in late May, elected members of the Tuam Municipal District (MD) gave their unanimous backing to the project. Plans for the site include a new enterprise hub with individual suites, a podcast studio, a café, and a multi-use space for community events and education. The building, located on the former train station lands on Sean Purcell Road, will be the first development as part of the wider Station Quarter Masterplan. Galway County Council will now complete a detailed design for the project, with procurement of a contractor to follow in early summer 2026. Welcoming the funding, Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council, Cllr. David Collins…
Two County Galway Projects in the Running for Pride of Place Glory
The Marconi Men’s Shed in Clifden and the community of Clarinbridge have been selected to represent County Galway in the 2025 IPB Pride of Place Awards, an all-island competition that recognises excellence in community development. Both groups, which have been nominated by Galway County Council, are preparing for the visit of Pride of Place judges on September 11th and 12th ahead of the Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony on November 7th at the Strand Hotel in Limerick. Organised by peacebuilding charity Co-operation Ireland and sponsored by IPB Insurance, the Pride of Place awards celebrate the voluntary efforts of community groups that improve their local areas through collaboration and dedication. Now in its 23rd year, the programme highlights projects that strengthen towns and villages across Ireland. County Galway has a strong history in the competition, with Kinvara Tidy Towns and Williamstown named runners-up in their categories at last year’s awards ceremony…
Ministers Calleary and Chambers announce investment of €35.7 million for Inis Oírr pier development
• First project to be announced following the review of the €275bn National Development Plan• €30m construction contract awarded to Ward & Burke Construction following competitive tender process• Construction expected to be completed within two years• Largest single investment in offshore islands and in the Gaeltacht by Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, and Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, Jack Chambers TD, have announced today (Thursday, 28 August) that funding of €35.75 million has been approved for Galway County Council to proceed with the Inis Oírr pier extension project, a flagship infrastructure project under the Government’s National Development Plan. The funding approval has enabled Galway County Council to award the main construction contact, valued at €30 million, to Ward & Burke Construction Ltd. following a two-year procurement process.The development…
Galway County Council expands fleet for roadworks and winter operations
Galway County Council has expanded its vehicle fleet to support road maintenance across its five Municipal Districts and to boost its capacity to treat the county’s national secondary and regional roads during the winter months. The council has taken delivery of three new 26-tonne Renault tipper trucks at a total cost of €600,000. Supplied by Dublin-based Setanta Vehicle Sales North Ltd., the vehicles will assist Municipal District Offices in delivering the annual roads programme. In addition, funding of just over €500,000 from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has enabled the purchase of two permanently mounted salt spreaders with brine-spreading capability. These vehicles form a key part of the Galway County Council’s Winter Service fleet, helping to keep strategic routes open during severe cold weather. Last winter, more than 1,300 kilometres of the Galway road network were treated, with over 8,000 tonnes of salt spread as part of winter operations. Cllr David…