Plan to show hurling finals on giant screen in Eyre Square

For the thousands of hurling fans bitterly disappointed about not getting their hands on a golden ticket, a consolation prize for those not heading to Croke Park may be a public screening of the two matches in a carnival atmosphere in the heart of the city.

Galway City Council and the Galway City Business Association are in talks about staging a public screening of the All-Ireland hurling finals, featuring both the senior and minor teams, in Eyre Square.

Similar events in other towns and cities have attracted up to 3,000 spectators.

Galway City Business Association (GCBA) chairperson Áine Feeney said the application had to be lodged by Friday evening if the event is to go ahead.

“We are in the process of putting in the application for a fenced off area at the bottom of Eyre Square with the screen to be located in front of the Meyrick Hotel facing up to the square,” she explained.

“It’s hard to know what kind of numbers this would attract. With tickets so scarce and a huge want on people to go the match, we thought it would be great to create a real buzz in the city by having a screen.”

Businesses will be financing the event and there would be no other entertainment outside of the match screening.

“It will be plain and simple. Businesses are putting their hands in their pockets to stage it, we think it’s a great opportunity for businesses to benefit by having increased footfall in the city on All-Ireland final day.”

For more on this story, see this week’s Galway City Tribune