Bradley Bytes – A sort of political column by Dara Bradley

A commitment by management of Galway City Council to financially support Leisureland appears to have been undermined by a decision of a majority of city councillors to pull grant funding to the Salthill venue in 2026.

Chief Executive of Galway City Council, Leonard Cleary told the Local Government Auditor, Mary Keaney, that the Council “commits to continuing to provide financial supports to Leisureland for the foreseeable future”.

The commitment was contained in the 2024 Statutory Audit Report of Galway City Council, which was published in mid-December.

The report noted that the Council had budgeted a subvention of €307,000 for Leisureland in 2024, which was only “partially required” and the balance was ring-fenced for capital expenditure on the premises.

During 2024, capital expenditure totalling €1.8m was incurred on roofing and renovation works at Leisureland, from this and other funding, the report said.

Leisureland generated a surplus of €93,000 in 2024 – a big turn-around compared with 2023, when it had a deficit of €182,000.

“Based on commitments given by the Council to continue to support the business for the twelve months following the signing of the accounts on 23 May 2025, the company continued to be classified as a going concern,” the auditor said.

In November, after this report was compiled but before it was published, councillors in the ruling pact at City Hall voted for a budget that did not include €307,000 for Leisureland.

Management had included this subvention in a draft budget for 2026, but councillors took it out.

Galway City Councillor Clodagh Higgins (FG) has rightly asked, where does that decision by her colleagues leave Leisureland as a ‘going concern’ in 2026. Will Galway’s only public swimming pool – still frequented by Uachtarán na hÉireann Catherine Connolly – sink or swim in 2026; and will prices for swimming go up to cover the loss of City Council funding?

Pictured: Keen cyclist and swimmer, Uachtarán na hÉireann Catherine Connolly, is a regular user of the Leisureland pool. PHOTO: JOE O’SHAUGHNESSY.