Locals call for People’s Park on former Connacht Laundry site

From this week’s Galway City Tribune – Demolition works have begun on the derelict Connacht Laundry premises in ‘the West’ – leading to calls from local residents for a People’s Park to be included in any redevelopment of the site.

Work began last week on tearing down the buildings on the 2.1-acre site on St Helen’s Street.

The site owners, Padraic and Martina McHale from Clonbur, had previously indicated they wanted to build an upmarket hotel on the site.

However, planning permission for that proposal expired in March 2019.

Catherine LaFarge of The West Residents’ Association told the Galway City Tribune this week that locals were relieved to see the eyesore buildings finally come down.

“We don’t know what they’re planning for the site, but we do want consultation on any proposals. It’s a huge space and so close to the centre of town.

“We have a fantastic community here and would love to see development in scale with what is already here.

“There are lots of suggestions as to what could be done on the site, like a People’s Park; an art space for studios and exhibitions; playgrounds and a Park and Walk scheme for local schools,” said Ms LaFarge.

She said that personally, she would like to see a mixture of social housing and owner-occupied homes as part of the site.
This is a shortened preview version of this article. To read it in full, see this week’s Galway City Tribune. You can buy a digital edition HERE.