National Famine Commemoration in Galway Confirmed for May 16th
Galway County Council has confirmed that the 2026 National Famine Commemoration will take place at the Irish Workhouse Centre in Portumna on Saturday, May 16th. The State ceremony, which will include military honours and a wreath-laying, will be broadcast live on national television. Newly elected Uachtarán na hÉireann Catherine Connolly is expected to deliver the keynote address from the site of the former Portumna Workhouse. Alongside the formal commemoration, Portumna will host a conference on the Irish Famine, bringing together leading scholars and researchers. A bilingual workbook for children is also being developed to support schools, offering accessible material on the Famine and the workhouse system. The Portumna Workhouse, opened in 1852 and regarded as one of the most complete surviving complexes of its kind, has become a hub for lectures, exhibitions and cultural events. This will be the first time the National Famine Commemoration has been held in County…
New Community Safety Partnership Holds First Meeting in County Galway
A new statutory body focused on improving community safety in County Galway held its first meeting at Áras an Chontae today, marking the formal end of the Joint Policing Committee (JPC) model.
€634,922 in CLÁR Funding Approved for Galway County Projects
Galway County Council has welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht Dara Calleary TD that €634,922 in funding has been approved for community and sports facilities across CLÁR areas in the county. The funding is provided under Our Rural Future, the Government’s five-year rural development plan, and will support 10 projects shortlisted and submitted by Galway County Council. Cllr David Collins, Cathaoirleach of the County of Galway, praised the community groups and organisations for their dedication to finding new ways to improve their local areas. He added, “Their commitment is reflected in the thought and care put into their project ideas and in their efforts to raise the match funding needed to bring these projects to life. I also wish to acknowledge the staff of the Council’s Rural, Community and Tourism Development department for working with the community groups in preparing the funding…
Galway County Arts Office Celebrates 40 Years of National Partnership
Galway County Arts Office was represented at a national event held in Limerick City Gallery of Art to mark 40 years of partnership between the Arts Council and Ireland’s 31 local authorities. The event, entitled Art in Every Place, was attended by current Galway County Arts Officer Sharon O’Grady and retired Arts Officer James Harrold. The event looked back on the milestones of this decades‑long partnership from the opening of the very first arts office in Clare in 1986 to Galway County Council’s appointment of its first Arts Officer in 1990. It traced the journey through the national roll‑out of arts offices under Better Local Government in 1997, and the landmark Arts Act of 2003, which gave arts planning a firm place in local authority life. Liam Conneally, Chief Executive of Galway County Council, said, “Since appointing our first Arts Officer, we have built a dynamic arts programme that supports…
Major Housing Scheme Set to Break Ground in Loughrea
Galway County Council has announced that site works on one of the largest social and affordable housing schemes delivered in east Galway will commence before Christmas. The local authority has signed a €14.95 million contract with C&N Higgins Construction for the construction of 56 homes at Cosmona, Loughrea. The scheme comprises 44 houses and 12 apartments and includes the first affordable homes to be delivered outside the Galway Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan (MASP). The project is situated on a 3.3-hectare greenfield site owned by Galway County Council, and completion is set for the third quarter of 2027. It is funded through the Government’s Social Housing Investment Programme. Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council, Cllr David Collins, said the Loughrea scheme represents a “major step forward” in meeting housing need in east Galway. “This development will provide high-quality homes for families and individuals in Loughrea and will form an important part of…
Free Galway County Council Webinar on Affordable Housing Scheme
Galway County Council is hosting a free public webinar at 1pm and 7pm on Thursday December 4 to explain how the Affordable Housing Purchase Scheme works. It follows a Council survey earlier this year in which almost a third of respondents said they were not familiar with the scheme. The survey highlighted the need for clearer information about the supports available to households seeking to buy a home. The webinar will set out how the scheme works, who can apply, what documentation is required, how prices are set and how the Help to Buy Scheme run by Revenue can support first-time buyers. The information session comes as Galway County Council continues to assess new sites for affordable housing in towns across the county. Seventeen homes have been completed at Garraí na Gaoithe, Baile Chláir, with a further 16 due by the end of 2025 and 28 scheduled for Quarter 1,…
British Ambassador Makes First Official Visit Outside Dublin with Trip to Galway
British Ambassador to Ireland Kara Owen has chosen Galway for her first official visit outside Dublin since her appointment in October. Ambassador Owen was previously British High Commissioner to Singapore. Her connections with the county are also personal, with her husband hailing from Ballinasloe. Ambassador Owen was welcomed to Áras an Chontae in Prospect Hill by Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council Cllr David Collins, Mayor of Galway City Mike Cubbard, Galway County Council Chief Executive Liam Conneally and Galway City Council Chief Executive Leonard Cleary. Cllr Collins said, “It was a real pleasure to welcome Ambassador Owen to Galway and to remind ourselves of the enduring spirit of collaboration that exists between Ireland and Britain. Such meetings help to maintain existing business relationships and build new commercial opportunities. Galway also shares incredibly strong cultural and ancestral ties with communities across Britain, and it is vital that we continue to celebrate…
Galway County Council announces record €203 million budget for 2026
Galway County Council has announced its Budget for 2026, with a record €203.3 million in planned spending. The expansionary budget, passed at today’s plenary meeting in Áras an Chontae by Elected Members, is a €10m increase on last year’s figure and outlines major investment in housing, infrastructure, staffing and digital services. There will be no change in the Annual Rate on Valuation (ARV), which the Council has confirmed will remain at its current level for 2026. A new rate incentive scheme will continue to provide financial support for eligible commercial ratepayers. Chief Executive Liam Conneally said the budget was “ambitious and forward-looking” and would support growth and improve services for residents, businesses, and communities right across County Galway. He said, “Budget 2026 strikes the right balance between supporting businesses and enhancing the services the people of County Galway rely on every day. We are committed to expanding housing and infrastructure…
Clarinbridge Triumphs at 2025 Pride of Place Awards
Clarinbridge has been named winner of the ‘300 – 1,000 Population’ category at the 2025 IPB Pride of Place Awards, held tonight (November 7) at the Strand Hotel in Limerick. Nominated by Galway County Council to represent the county in the all-island competition, the south Galway village was selected for its exemplary community development efforts. The Pride of Place Awards, now in their 23rd year, are organised by Co-operation Ireland and sponsored by IPB Insurance. The programme recognises voluntary groups that demonstrate a strong commitment to improving their local areas through collaboration and civic engagement. Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council, Cllr David Collins, said, “Clarinbridge’s Pride of Place win is a fantastic endorsement of the dedication and creativity shown by its residents. Their commitment to building a vibrant, inclusive community is truly commendable. I also want to recognise the Marconi Men’s Shed, whose pioneering work and promoting wellbeing sets a…
Galway County Council Launches Revamped Bilingual Website
Galway County Council has launched a completely redesigned bilingual website aimed at delivering faster, clearer, and more accessible information to residents, businesses, and visitors. The new site, available at Gaillimh.ie and Galway.ie, was developed by award-winning Irish web services company Annertech. It now offers 100 per cent Irish-language content, improved translation management, and the ability to deliver dynamic updates including rich media, event announcements, and severe weather alerts. Core services, including Planning, Housing, Environment, Libraries, Climate Action, Community, and Business and Economy, are easily accessible from the home page. Visitors can also sign up for location-based alerts on road works, planning applications, severe weather, and community notices through the MapAlerter service. With the majority of users accessing the site on mobile devices, page layouts automatically adjust to fit smartphones and tablets. Liam Conneally, Chief Executive of Galway County Council, said, “We have incorporated the views of elected members and the…