By Avril Horan

FÁILTE Ireland is gathering footfall data to decide whether major investment will be given for the refurbishment of Blackrock Diving Tower.

Councillors were told this week that the national tourism body has installed footfall counters to decide if a business case can be justified for a seven-figure restoration project.

“Fáilte Ireland had counters counting foot traffic,” the Executive confirmed at the West Ward Area Meeting.

“That is what the business case will be built on.”

The update immediately prompted questions about what, exactly, was being measured and how the numbers will influence the tower’s future.

“Is this people jumping from the top? What were they counting?” asked Cllr Alan Curran (Soc Dem).

Councillors expressed growing frustration that, after years of discussion, the long-awaited refurbishment appears no closer to fruition.

“We have spoken about this for six or seven years,” said Cllr Donal Lyons (Ind).

“Plans were brought forward, there was a public outcry regarding railings, and now we’re at this situation again,” he said.

Recalling previous announcements Cllr Níall McNelis (Lab) sought clarification as to whether the refurbishment “will happen or not.”

Director of Services Patrick Greene acknowledged the slow pace and stressed that the scale of the project leaves the Council dependent on external support.

“We have to get funding, as we are talking about significant numbers, into seven figures,” he said.

“The purpose is to bring Fáilte Ireland in to get a business case. Although it’s an iconic structure, we have to make a business case. It’s taking longer than we had hoped. It’s the one piece of information we need and we need to conclude that process.”

Tourism Officer Ruairí Lehmann noted that the national assessment process is lengthy.

“It takes 18 months and they will put a value on the local experience,” he told Councillors at the Area meeting.

The current vision focuses on a full rehabilitation that addresses structure and safety while preserving the tower’s character.

The emphasis is on restoration, not reinvention, avoiding the unpopular 2017 proposals that would have added intrusive railings.

While the long-term plans are stalled, progress on smaller works is emerging.

The required environmental screening for the reinstatement of the ladder at Blackrock is now complete, and Galway City Council has sought quotes.

Officials said they believe a contractor is now available but that procurement complications remain.

“We found it difficult to get someone to give us a quote and install the ladder,” officials admitted, “as they don’t believe it will last the next storm”.

“We found it difficult to get a contractor, but we are working on that. We believe we have someone on board and we have to get agreement to have only one quote in the door.”

Elsewhere in Salthill, securing funding for the proposed tidal pool project at ‘Ladies Beach’ is still challenging, after an unsuccessful LSSIF (Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund) bid.

This Government funding strand supports capital infrastructure for sports venues and facilities. Without it, European funding is likely to be the only possibility, and work continues to identify suitable funding opportunities.

“We did go for LSSIF funding and it wasn’t successful,” said officials.

“It may happen next year but we are not hopeful. The only option is possible European funding. We don’t have the funding streams at present.”

A feasibility report will be circulated to Councillors on the project in due course.

Wheelchair access to Ladies Beach is also advancing. As it is located within a Special Area of Conservation, a screening report is needed to move forward and is nearly complete.

All these individual projects are expected to form part of the wider Salthill Village and Seafront Strategy, which consultants are currently preparing. Final public engagement is due in January 2026.

■ Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.

Pictured: Blackrock Diving Tower: facelift needed.