Confusion reigns as Galway’s Councils club together to buy airport for €1.1m

Confusion surrounds the reasons why Galway’s two local authorities struck a deal to purchase Galway Airport – and where they’re getting the money to pay for it. 

The manner in which the sale was announced late Monday night has been described as “shambolic” and has cast a cloud over what otherwise is widely accepted to be a “good deal” for Galway City Council and Galway County Council, and in particular for Galway Chamber.

But the councils’ refusal to elaborate on the record why it purchased the airport, where the idea to purchase originated, where they are getting the money to follow through on the sale and what they intend to do with it, has led to accusations of secrecy.

The councils have agreed to purchase the loss-making airport from Galway Chamber and it is understood it will cease operating as an airport this week with the aviation licence to be returned to the Department of Transport.

The purchase includes 115 acres of land, the former terminal building and two hangars, all for €1.1 million, which is roughly €9,500 an acre for a prime site on the outskirts of the city close to the motorway.

The return of the aviation licence paves the way for the site to be re-zoned, which opens up several possibilities, such as developing a business park or industrial development park.

The Connacht Tribune last month exclusively reported that the negotiations to off-load the airport to the councils were at an advanced stage but Galway Chamber denied it at the time.

The announcement was made by City Manager Brendan McGrath at Monday’s City Council meeting and was brought up under ‘any other business’ at the end  when many of the City Councillors had left.

County Councillors only learned of the decision second-hand and on Galway Bay fm following morning; and County Council officials appear to have been taken completely unawares by Mr McGrath’s decision to make public the sale.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.