Galway Rowing Club plans centre of excellence for Dyke Road

Galway Rowing Club has unveiled an impressive plan to create a regional ‘centre of excellence’ for water sports on the banks of the River Corrib in the city.

The club expects a planning application for a modern, multi-user, multi-sports and training facility on a site at the Dyke Road will be lodged next March.

The ‘landmark’ centre will house Connacht’s first rowing tank, which is an indoor training facility that mimics the conditions rowers face on the open waters. It will have facilities for all, including para athletes.

How the new clubhouse would look.

Galway Rowing Club has taken the lead in progressing the project, which has the broad support of an array of other city rowing clubs and other water sports organisations who will use it.

The exact size and footprint of the new building, and the exact nature of the equipment and facilities to be housed there, hasn’t yet been confirmed – all that will be determined by the level of interest and the needs of existing clubs and schools, as well as prospective new clubs and new schools who might be interested in using it, a club spokesperson said.

The cost of the capital investment, as a result, hasn’t been determined either. However, the club representative said it is envisaged that it would be built, “without putting a financial burden” on the City Council, in “either the delivery of it, or the operation of it”.

In 2004, plans to relocate Galway Rowing Club in Woodquay was turned down by An Bórd Pleanála after initially being approved the City Council planners. On that occasion, it was envisaged that the entire clubhouse would be moved. However, the club has decided to retain its clubhouse and remain in the community at Woodquay, moving only its rowing facilities to a safer, more modern, fit-for-purpose, and purpose-built building at another location upstream.

The design-brief will be drawn up in August and September following two months of public consultation, which begins in July.

A club representative said they will be anxious to hear the views of existing rowing and water sports clubs, about their needs, as well as the views of schools or people who might have an idea to set up a club in the future and are prospective users.

All other stakeholders – including people involved in Terryland Forest Park, to see how that might ‘compliment’ the development – and organisations with possible concerns, or observations, will also be invited to take part in the consultation process. “It will be a multi-user, multi-sports facility,” a club representative said.

Apart from Coláiste Iognaid (The Jes), which has a new boatshed, each rowing club in Galway “train out of old and largely decrepit sheds”, according to the plans outlined to City Councillors on Monday. NUIG’s rowing, kayaking and sub-aqua clubs, “are still using the old industrial units from the former pram factory.”

Representatives of the club outlined how water safety is the main challenge facing water sports in the city. “Members of every water sport in Galway have to pass by the weir as they enter the main river. From November to March this can be a highly dangerous journey, particularly for beginners, as they look to master new skills while negotiating a fast-flowing river,” it said.

The club emphasised in its proposal that the earmarked site would be safer as it is more than 500 metres upstream from the weir; and it boasts an “excellent line of sight both up and down river, ensuring that no clashes occur between water-based crafts travelling in opposite direction.”

It would help fill the infrastructural deficit in the city for water sports, as well as helping to cater for the increased demand for water sports, which currently is not possible.

The proposal points out that “rowing has never been more popular, particularly among young women”, but there isn’t sufficient rack space available at the existing facilities.

The Dyke Road site, on the left at the bend before you come to Quincentenary Bridge travelling outbound from the city, is in City Council ownership.

It is zoned recreational and amenity, and a special objective in the City Development Plan states that the local authority will “consider the development of these lands to accommodate municipal and club water-based facilities”.

A land-lease agreement with the Council may be considered, and the plans would have to go through the regular planning application process.

The club argued that the Dyke Road site is the “only viable site with the appropriate river access”. It has “excellent road access” and is nearby a public car park.

The centre will have storage space to cater for, “much larger fleets of rowing boats, kayaks, and other specialist water-based equipment, enabling far greater participation.” There will also be additional space to allow visiting clubs to come to Galway more often.

Former city mayor Pádraig Conneely (FG), lauded Galway Rowing Club for its “vision and foresight” in bringing forward progressive plans.

“Galway Rowing Club has a long and proud tradition, and the city has a long association with the club and the sport of rowing. The plans for a modern training centre of excellence will cater for existing rowers and will also encourage more young people to become involved in rowing.

“It is an ideal site, and the fantastic facilities they are proposing are of such a high standard that they will ensure that rowers from Galway and Galway’s rowing community will continue to be able to compete on the national and international stage.

“The big advantage of this plan is that it will be used by several other rowing and water sports clubs, who have smaller facilities dotted around the place. This will be one centre of excellence on one site for everyone’s benefit. I’ve no doubt Galway City Council would be amenable to making the site available,” said Cllr Conneely.