Galway Bay FM News Archives
Major cruise ships plan to make Galway a regular stop
Date Published: 21-Mar-2011
BY ENDA CUNNINGHAM
Some of the biggest cruise liner companies in the world – which carry hundreds of thousands of passengers each year – want to include the planned new Galway Port on their travel itinerary.
In fact, a spokesperson for the Galway Harbour Company who spoke with liner representatives said: “They all want to come to Galway”.
And at a cruise ship convention in Florida last week, representatives of ‘The World’ – the biggest residential cruise ship on the seas – expressed strong interest in docking here.
Eamon Bradshaw, Chief Executive of the Galway Harbour Company and Harbour Master Brian Sheridan were at the ‘SeaTrade Cruise Shipping Convention’ in Miami last week, and had “very positive discussions” with some of the world’s biggest cruise ship operators.
Meanwhile, plans for the €200 million redevelopment of Galway Port are progressing rapidly, with liners expected to be docking in the city by 2015.
“We spoke with a representative for ‘The World’ who wants to come to Galway … there was a lot of interest and questions like would the city be able to facilitate entertaining the volume of people aboard, are the restaurants there etc.
“We were four days at the convention – there is a lot of competition with Dublin, Cork, Waterford, Belfast and Derry all vying for business. But they all want to come to Galway.
“Regent, Silver Sea and Carnival – they’re the biggest operators – all want to come to Galway. These companies are constantly looking for new locations, and if you have a medieval city where you are just minutes to the city centre, absolutely they want to come here,” said Mr Bradshaw.
‘The World’ travels the globe throughout the year, visiting up to 50 countries, with up to 300 residents and their guests regularly on board. Prices for onboard apartments range from $600,000 to $3m, while a presidential suite is valued at $13.5m.
A planning application for the new Galway Port under Strategic Infrastructural Development legislation is expected to be lodged in May or June – at the moment, the Harbour Company is assessing a preliminary report from An Bord Pleanála.
The project, which will be completed in four phases over seven years, will see the creation of a new ‘Waterfront City’, with up to 200,000 tourists arriving each year on around 50 cruise liners.
Read more in this week’s Connacht Sentinel
Date Published: 07-May-2013
Galway has a population of young people which is more than twice the national average.
According to information gathered by the Central Statistics Office, Galway’s population of 20 to 24 year olds is more than twice the national average.
The number of 25-34 year olds in Galway is also more than the norm nationally, with the two main colleges thought to be the main reason.
However immigration in Galway is much higher than in other areas at 19.4 percent, compared to the national average of 12 percent.
Date Published: 07-May-2013
A city councillor is encouraging people to donate goods directly to charity shops.
It follows allegations of thefts from clothes banks in Galway and across the country in recent months.
However, cameras are in place at some clothes banks and surveillance is carried out by local authorities.
Speaking on Galway Talks, Councillor Neil McNeilis said the problem of theft from clothes banks is widespread.
Date Published: 07-May-2013
A park ‘n’ ride scheme from Carnmore into Galway city could become a permanent service if there is public demand.
That’s according to the Chief Executive of Galway Chamber of Commerce, Michael Coyle.
The pilot scheme will begin at 7.20 next Monday morning, May 13th.
Motorists will be able to park cars at the airport carpark in Carnmore and avail of a bus transfer to Forster Street in the city.
Buses will depart every 20 minutes at peak times and every 30 minutes at offpeak times throughout the day, at a cost of 2 euro per journey.
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