City businesses recoil in horror over prospect of losing Races

Businesses have recoiled in horror at suggestions the Galway Races summer festival will be a non-runner for at least two years if plans for a new controversial city bypass are approved.

Four of the proposed routes for the new ring-road impact on the famous Ballybrit track, which would have to close to racing for at least two years. Race Week is worth €60 to the local economy annually and losing €120 million would amount to ‘financial Armageddon’ for tourism-related city businesses.

General Manager at Ballybrit, John Moloney, said: “All of the routes will cause chaos. It is something that would be catastrophic to us.”

A spokesperson for Galway Latin Quarter said its members are “horrified” at the prospect of two years without Galway Races.

“It’s absolutely ridiculous. Who comes up with the idea that you put a road through the racecourse – it just shows the lack of planning and thinking. It would be most important from our perspective, but also from a tourism perspective, that the races wouldn’t be stopped for two years for a road.

“We in the Latin Quarter are absolutely horrified at the thought of it. The consequences for the tourism industry would be catastrophic,” the spokesperson said.

Galway Chamber says it is “very worried” at the prospect of losing the Galway Races for two years – it is the lifeblood of the tourism and hospitality sector in the city.

A spokesperson said that the Chamber remains in favour of a bypass to solve the city’s congestion. “Of course Galway Chamber would be worried – very worried – about any negative impact on something like the Galway Races, which contributes €60 million to the local economy every year.”

The spokesperson said the Chamber is studying the options and will be making a submission. “The route has not been chosen yet. It is important that everyone makes their views known. We are concerned about all impacts this might have, including on events like the Races but also on people and the impact on their homes,” the spokesperson added.

Consultants working on the road project will choose the preferred route in April. One proposed bypass route goes right through the racecourse, cutting into the actual track twice, to make way for an underground tunnel.

Stables will have to be knocked and car parking spaces eliminated to make way for two other potential routes. And on another proposed route the main entrance to the track is completely severed and blocked off.

The developers on the project say the work can be done in nine months, but Galway Racecourse have warned it would be at least two years before the track is ready to host racing again.

For more on this story, see this week’s Galway City Tribune.