Pearse Stadium floodlights to go ahead

From this week’s Galway City Tribune – The Galway County Board has been given an extension of time to carry out controversial plans to erect floodlights at Pearse Stadium.

In November, the GAA sought a five-year ‘Extension of Duration’ on the planning permission for five columns of floodlights around the pitch.

The existing permission was due to expire at the end of January 2020, so the extension was sought on the grounds that finances were unavailable over the past five years.

Galway City Council decided last week to extend the permission to January 21, 2025 – although the GAA indicated that work will be completed next May.

The permission is for the erection of three 30.5 metre and two 36.5 metre high columns – each with between 33 and 40 lighting fixtures.

In 2014, the City Council approved the plans despite concerns expressed in nearly 100 objections from locals and residents’ groups that the lights would seriously harm the residential amenity in the area.

That decision was subsequently the subject of seven appeals –submitted by the Claddagh Residents’ Association, two from the Glenard Residents’ Association and on behalf of Rockbarton residents, while individual appeals were lodged ‘care of’ three other residents.

Concerns were raised over the impact the noise and lights would have on nearby homes, illegal parking, health & safety and traffic congestion.
This is a preview only. To read the rest of this article, see this week’s Galway City Tribune. Buy a digital edition of this week’s paper here, or download the app for Android or iPhone. This week’s City Tribune is in shops on Saturday, December 28th.