From this week’s Galway City Tribune – A city hotelier has said he spent the past 20 years putting together a property portfolio which has culminated in a plan for an 11-storey extension to the Victoria Hotel.

Richard Byrne told Galway City Council the premises needs to be “a statement in design and functionality with smart bars and dining areas, preferably with rooftop views” to meet visitor demand.

He explained that since 1999, he has been acquiring adjacent premises, including the old stone warehouse once used by Coen’s General Merchants, Victoria House (formerly Rooney Auctioneers’ premises), the Archway Restaurant and Francis’s Stables.

Now, Byrne Hotel Management Ltd has sought permission to demolish the warehouse, restaurant and other buildings and to construct a 10-11 storey (over basement) extension to the Victoria, with:

• 109 new bedrooms (with a total of 270 bed spaces);
• Reception, lobby, seating areas, bars, kitchen, bathrooms, back of house and events area at the ground floor and first floor mezzanine;
• Bar/lounge and terrace at 10th floor level;
• Minor alerations to the existing hotel to provide openings to the extension;
• Alterations to Victoria House to provide seating area, conference/meeting room hotel office and administration rooms;
• A pedestrian link corridor from Ceannt Station leading to the mezzanine floor.

In a letter to planners, Mr Byrne said: “The demand for short breaks to Galway City centre is growing, as are visitors to Galway. The demands and expectations of the savvy, modern traveller have increased. We have to meet these requirements by providing a product that is sustainable and is a short transfer from public transport and carparking facilities.

“In order to progress our vision, we have spent the last 20 years acquiring adjacent premises.”
This is a shortened preview version of this story. To read the rest of the article, see the January 6 edition of the Galway City Tribune, which also reports on the Jurys name leaving Galway after 30 years and escalating construction costs delaying a new hotel on Dominick Street. You can support our journalism by buying a digital edition HERE.