Planners urged to make beanstalk climbdown

The city has spoken – hands off our beanstalks.

A groundswell public support has shot up in favour of retaining the beanstalk murals painted on the facade of a city centre jewellers.

Killjoy Galway City Council planners and the planning appeals board, An Bórd Pleanála, want the colourful murals removed from Claddagh Jewellers on Mainguard Street.

Planners ruled that signage at the shop and the beanstalk mural, “by reason of their excessive scale, design, colour scheme and multiplicity of styles, would detract from the visual appearance of the building”. They also ruled the mural sets an “undesirable precedent” for similar developments.

But the public is outraged at the spoilsport planners – an online poll for the Galway City Tribune shows an overwhelming majority wants the colourful, cheery mural kept.

The survey proves the public wants planners to climb-down on their stance on the beanstalks.

A whopping 87% of respondents said the mural should be kept because is adds to the area. Just 13% agreed with planners and want it removed. “It’s beautiful. It’s a wonderful addition to the area and visitors love it,” said one contributor.

Called Grown in Galway, the mural by Ruairi O’Byrne was highly praised by Tidy Towns’ judges. The popular murals depict Galway scenes with giant beanstalk type plants decorated with Claddagh rings rising upwards towards an electric blue sky.

 And already prominent members of the business community are in favour of keeping the mural.

 The mural has been a big hit with tourists, according to a spokesperson for the Latin Quarter. “We’ve got incredible feedback from tourists who have complimented it. It’s viewed now as another attraction in the Latin Quarter,” the spokesperson said.

 Michael Coyle, CEO of Galway Chamber said beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

“Maybe now is the right time for someone to sit down and re-open the debate about what we want our city to look like,” said Mr Coyle.

For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.