From the Galway City Tribune – City Hall is planning street closures for five months later this year to again facilitate outdoor dining and drinking outside pubs and restaurants.

Patrick Greene, Director of Services for Roads and Transport, has signaled Galway City Council’s intention to close roads in Woodquay and ‘the West’.

The initiative was introduced during Covid-19 lockdowns initially, and the local authority said it intends to re-introduce the closures from Friday, April 28 to Sunday, October 1.

In Woodquay, from Daly’s Place to Headford Road, the plan is to close the street 24-hours per day, seven days per week (on McGinn’s/Hughes bars side of road).

Similarly, at Small Crane, from New Street West to William Street West, the planned closure is for 24-hours a day, all week.

Mr Greene said the reason is to provide space for “outdoor dining, festivals and events”.

Closures on other streets ‘back the West’, will be nightly from 6pm-11pm.

This includes from Dominick Street Lower to William Street West (from Monroe’s to Bier House); from Small Crane to Munster Avenue (from Mona Lisa to the Blue Note); and at Raven Terrace from Fairhill Road Upper to Father Griffin Road (outside Salt House).

The Council said local access would be maintained.

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No additional streets have been added to the plan since Covid, and areas where it was tried previously, such as Forster Street and Prospect Hill, were omitted this time around.

The public consultation period continues until March 31, and residents have until noon on that date to lodge objections or submit observations about the proposed closures.

Maps are available to inspect at City Hall, and online and submissions can be made to Patrick Greene, Director of Services, Galway City Council, City Hall College Road, Galway or by email to roads@galwaycity.ie