New tech hub in Galway City centre gets green light

From this week’s Galway City Tribune – The go-ahead has been given for PorterShed to create a new technology hub on Market Street in the city, which will create office space for 350 people.

Galway City Council approved two separate planning applications this week – to redevelop the former Connacht Tribune offices and a warehouse behind Market Street carpark.

The €4.5 million project already has 80% funding in place from Enterprise Ireland, and talks are ongoing with sponsors to fund the balance.

Work on the warehouse building behind the ‘Old Mon’ is expected to be completed by the end of this year – it will create 130 co-working desk spaces and the existing PorterShed at Ceannt Station will be relocated here.

The former Tribune offices will separately undergo major works, creating 220 desk spaces and event spaces, and will be completed by within 18 months.

Mary Rodgers, CEO of PorterShed told the Galway City Tribune that they “cannot wait to get people back into the city centre and spending”, as people look to a hybrid of working in an office and working from home.

Meanwhile, the indoor artisan food market planned for the former Tribune printworks – which has been stalled by the Covid pandemic – is still going to proceed, with a new possible opening date of mid 2022.
This is a shortened preview version of this article. To read the rest of the story, including more details of the PorterShed and food market plans, see this week’s Galway City Tribune. You can buy a digital edition HERE.