‘Dangerous’ laneway made safe following campaign

Light has finally been cast on a dark and dangerous laneway near a city college, where students had been victims of night-time attacks and thefts.

After a sustained campaign of lobbying, Galway City Council has provided street lighting at the laneway beside the Merlin Bar along the old Dublin Road.

The laneway has been made safer following the installation of public lighting, including five new street lamps.

The laneway is a shortcut used to get from GMIT to student accommodation at Gleann na Rí, as well as the apartments beside Bodkin’s Bar and the residential estate, Lios an Uisce.

According to Galway Mayo Institute of Technology Students Union, several of its members had been attacked and robbed at the laneway – students walking alone were particularly vulnerable after dark.

GMIT SU President Sam O’Neill, and Galway City Councillor Terry O’Flaherty (Ind), who worked together to lobby for improvements at the laneway, have welcomed the action taken by the local authority.

Cllr O’Flaherty said: “Following representations made by me and Sam O’Neill to Galway City Council, new street lighting has been installed at this laneway, which should go some way to making it safer for students, and indeed all residents, in the area.

“The City Council has also sorted out the drainage problem at that laneway, and so the water that accumulated there after heavy rain, which made it difficult to use, should now be resolved. I’d like to thank officials in City Hall for their co-operation in delivering on this project.”

Mr O’Neill also welcomed the works. “On behalf of the Students Union I would like to welcome the works that have been carried out, which were long overdue.

“The installation of new street lights at the laneway is timely now given that it is darker earlier in the evenings. The lights should help to make the laneway safe – before this, you’d have to use the light on your mobile phone to walk the laneway. Student safety is a priority of the Students Union,” he said.

Mr O’Neill thanked Cllr O’Flaherty for her help in securing the investment.

A spokesperson for Galway City Council confirmed its transportation department had carried out the works.

“When problems such as this are brought to our attention, we endeavour to rectify them in so far as we can, and within budgetary constraints,” he said.