Grant money key to new Galway City ‘cultural district’

Unless Fáilte Ireland stumped up a minimum of €5 million towards the refurbishment and extension of the Galway City Museum into Comerford House and onto the top of the Spanish Arch, the flagship 2020 project would be dead in the water.

That was the prediction by Chief Executive Brendan McGrath, who was responding to concerns by councillors about the €8.3m predicted price tag.

In an update about the planned new ‘cultural tourism district’ around the museum, Mr McGrath said the Council will submit an application for €6m to Fáilte Ireland – a million over what it generally awarded under the Grant Scheme for Large Tourism Projects.

However, the national tourism body had in the past upped its allocation for particular high-profile projects around the country and the Council had already pressed upon Fáilte Ireland officials the need to make an exception here.

The Council would have to make up whatever shortfall there was through the raising of a loan and pay for increased running costs of €300,000 a year.

Senior Executive Officer for capital projects and economic development, Mark O’Donnell, said the cost of the project was significant because of the complexity of the site located beside a national monument – the Spanish Arch – and protected sites such as Comerford House and the River Corrib.

The technology for the planned interactive exhibition spaces was also costly.

“We had a meeting with Fáilte Ireland and they’ve been exceptionally supportive from the beginning. I was very honest, very frank. I said if it’s a lesser amount it’s not going to be viable for us to go ahead with it.”

Cllr Mike Crowe (FF) said he would like to see the figures drilled down about “who’s costing us what”.

“Approaching €9m is a hell of a lot of money for an extension to a museum,” he said.

Cllr Collette Connolly (Ind) queried the ’low-to-medium flood risk’ ascribed to the site, saying she believed it to be a high flooding risk. She also said alarm bells were ringing about the projected cost given the massive cost overruns of the neighbouring arthouse cinema.

However, the project had one councillor dreaming of Bing Crosby returning to sing Galway Bay from the top of the planned Spanish Arch walkway.

“The positivity is oozing out of me,” Cllr Padraig Conneely grinned. “I won’t say anything bad. I’ve been looking for this for 12 years. It’s been delayed for many years and I have to pay dues to Brendan McGrath, he drove this matter forward – I want that noted.”

The Chief Executive said so far the design phase had cost €200,000, of which €150,000 had come from Council coffers.

“Without equivocation, if we get word that Fáilte Ireland aren’t providing at least €5m, the next report I’ll be bringing is to recommend it not go ahead.”

If all went to plan, Mr O’Donnell said the “landmark and exciting project” could be completed by the fourth quarter of 2020 and would need a two-month closure period for the museum, which is the most visited free amenity outside Dublin.

Councillors unanimously gave the green light for the project by approving the ‘part eight’ planning permission.