Several historic buildings and protected structures on Dominick Street are in line for investment as part of separate conservation projects.

Galway Arts Centre and Áras na Gael – both publicly owned – are due for refurbishment works, while several private properties on the street back the West have recently been allocated refurbishment grants.

Galway City Council has confirmed to the Galway City Tribune that it is planning to prepare a Conservation Management Plan to determine the major investment needed at Galway Arts Centre.

The building at Number 47 Dominick Street Lower was suffering from damp and roof problems despite some capital investment in the historic former townhouse in recent years.

Meanwhile, Conradh na Gaeilge has confirmed it was planning an overhaul of Áras na nGael at 45 Dominick Street Lower, where Lady Gregory was a frequent visitor during the Irish Literary Revival. The historic building has been in a poor state of repair in recent years.

“Gael Forbairt na Gaillimhe are at the beginning of a process of refurbishment work and upgrading to the existing Áras na nGael building including upgrade of services,” a spokesperson for Conradh na Gaeilge said.

The City Council said Galway Arts Centre was identified as a ‘key project’ under the Government’s THRIVE – Town First Heritage Revival Scheme – Integrated Urban Strategy.

It hopes to prepare a Conservation Management Plan involving a “comprehensive review and assessment of the architectural, cultural and social significance of the building”.

This plan will “also assess existing mechanical and electrical services, accessibility, energy use and retrofit opportunities, and will include a comprehensive assessment of the condition of the building, any defects requiring remediation, and ongoing maintenance”, the Council said.

The plan will be a “key element” to determine the scope of works required for when the Council applies for further funding grants for the building in future.

It is hoped it will be a “major pipeline project” in the second round of THRIVE funding or other funding opportunities.

The City Council said around €73,000 had been invested in No. 47 Dominick Street through various funding sources, since 2019.

This included €8,582 Built Heritage Scheme funding, with €8,582 matched by the Council in 2023; and €14,000 Built Heritage Scheme funding in 2024, matched with €18,000 from the City Council.

These allocations, the local authority said, dealt directly with roof and rainwater drainage issues, as well as “impacts arising from rainwater ingress”.

In 2022, the Council invested just over €6,000 on building maintenance at the Arts Centre, including the installation of electric heaters, replacement of plugs and replacement of fire exit and emergency lighting.

In 2019, some €12,654 was granted by the Department of Arts for gallery lighting, and the Council gave a grant of almost €5,000 for front door restoration.

Elsewhere, the latest Built Heritage Investment Scheme has awarded grants to private owners of historic properties on the street to repair, restore, and protect them.

Number 39 Dominick Street Lower was awarded €8,000 and numbers 41-43 (Carroll’s Bar) was awarded €14,000 for works on external walls and roof.

Pictured: Galway Arts Centre (right) and the Conradh na Gaeilge Áras na nGael buildings on Dominick Street Lower, which are to be refurbished. Photo: Joe O’Shaughnessy.