Civic arts space to be included in overhaul of An Post site

From this week’s Galway City Tribune – Arts groups have welcomed the announcement that a civic arts space will be included in a multi-million-euro redevelopment of Galway City’s An Post site.

But they warn that “big-picture thinking” will be needed to plan this much-needed facility so it will cater for various art forms, while providing the city with a proper art gallery.

The development of the 0.7-acre site that links Eglinton Street and William Street, is going to tender this week.

It will consist of a new Post Office as well as the arts space and will also “unlock the potential of the site”, according to Minister of State, Hildegarde Naughton.

She has been campaigning since 2019 to have part of the An Post site allocated as an arts amenity, after Galway International Arts Festival (GIAF) adapted it to provide a temporary gallery space.

“This has been a priority of mine since GIAF demonstrated the potential of the location as a creative space for the arts community,” she explained. “The redevelopment of the site represented a unique opportunity and it was vital that the space was retained for the benefit of the arts.”

As part of her campaign, Deputy Naughton brought Minister Richard Bruton, who then had charge of An Post, to visit the site during the 2019 Arts Festival, when he met with An Post CEO David McRedmond and with John Crumlish and Paul Fahy from GIAF.

“The Festival’s work highlighted its potential for the city,” she recalled.
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