No outdoor dining in Forster Street as Council wants to maintain traffic access to Eyre Square

Forster Street was not included in the latest iteration of this summer’s ‘outdoor living’ plans unveiled by Galway City Council.

Street closures to facilitate on-street tables and chairs for hospitality businesses will be enforced again in Woodquay, and back the West from May. A fee of €125 per table, which was waived last year, will apply to businesses availing of the street closures.

But City Councillors were told that Forster Street will not be included, because the Council wants to maintain traffic access to Eyre Square.

This will impact businesses such as Murty Rabbitt’s Bar, An Púcán, and others, which availed of on-street outdoor dining/drinking in 2021.

A report prepared by Brian Barrett, Senior Executive Officer at City Hall, said due to increased traffic and increased bus users, “the closure of the bus lane on Forster Street is not appropriate at this time”.

“An evening closure only is not suitable as the measures required to keep patrons safe cannot be installed each evening as through traffic must be retained on this route,” he said.

Councillor Mike Crowe (FF), who operates Crowe’s Bar on Bohermore, said Forster Street should be included. This could be facilitated by keeping open one lane of traffic for public transport and making private cars go around the long way in the evening.

He said the Council should be ambitious and also include other areas such as Prospect Hill and Bohermore. Mayor of Galway Colette Connolly (Ind) agreed.

Salthill was not included in the interim report presented to elected members at the April meeting, but it is understood that’s because it does not require road closures, and talks are continuing with stakeholders in the village to facilitate outdoor on-street hospitality this summer.

Councillor Niall McNelis (Lab) confirmed after the meeting that Salthill will be included, although concerns have been expressed about the loss of taxi-rank space from outside the Black Cat and The Office. “With some common sense, and dialogue, it should be sorted and outdoor living will be of huge benefit again to Salthill,” he said.