Culture Capital puts Galway in shop window

Galway’s selection as European Capital of Culture will put it in the international shop window – with the potential to attract a significant increase in Foreign Direct Investment into the region.

That’s what the head of Galway’s construction industry body told members at their Western Region Gala Ball at the Westwood House Hotel in Galway City last weekend.

Construction Industry Federation Galway branch chairman Paul Stewart described it as ‘a once in a century opportunity to show-case how attractive the city and region is for Foreign Direct Investment and as a counter balance to Dublin’s sprawling unplanned growth’.

“We must seize this opportunity to put in place the housing and infrastructure that will put Galway back on the map,” he said.

He also said that while Brexit represents a major threat to some sectors, it presents opportunities in others.

“Galway is eminently placed to attract companies in key sectors like financial services, med tech and so on.  We need to build on our strengths. Our industry is the only one that can shape this city and its infrastructure in advance of 2020,” he added.

His comments were echoed by CIF Director-General and former Gvoernment Minister, Tom Parlon, who also spoke at the event, returning to the calendar after a break of eight years.

“As Galway prepares to start building again and prepares to become the Capital City of Culture, it is the people in this room that will make the biggest contribution,” he said.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.