Galway shops are back in business!

Footfall in the city centre has been steadily rising as Covid-19 restrictions are gradually lifted – shopping centres were allowed to reopen from Monday last, with Penneys’ return drawing crowds into the city.

Figures compiled by the Galway City Business Association show an over 200% increase in footfall in the city centre from the lowest point of lockdown – rising from 48,000 recorded visitor movements in the week of March 29 to 150,000 last week.

City businessman and member of the GCBA Anthony Ryan says it’s likely that figure will be higher this week, but warned that the true reflection of consumer demand may take another couple of weeks to determine.

“At the moment, we are probably getting a lot of ‘revenge shopping’. People were deprived of it for so long for that they’re now coming out with a vengeance to shop again. That has been the case for the last two weeks. After two weeks, we’ll know where we are,” said Mr Ryan.

Meanwhile, manager at the Eyre Square Shopping Centre Avril Smith said visitors to the centre were on the rise since high street stores reopened, and since Penneys reopened this week, those numbers had more than doubled this week.

“When the high street reopened last week, we were already up 40% – each day, it’s growing,” said Ms Smith.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

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