Galway City Council says it will make a decision “in the coming weeks” on the future of pedestrianisation and outdoor hospitality measures introduced for the summer months.
The changes implemented in June and due to end on September 30th, include full pedestrianisation of some streets, evening pedestrianisation of others and infilling of parking spaces to facilitate outdoor drinking and dining.
But while the easing of most Covid-19 restrictions is expected to come this autumn, many in the city would like to see these particular measures extended.
“The pedestrianised streets really add to what we’re all about in Galway,” says Aonghus O’Flaherty of traditional Irish music pub Tig Chóilí in the Latin Quarter. “The outdoor dining has been a lifesaver ,” he adds.
Gary Monroe of Monroe’s Tavern on Dominick Street would like to see it continue . “It has been received very well and there is an appetite for outdoor dining from the public.”
He believes it would make financial sense if it continued. “It was a big investment, so you would want to get more than just one summer out of it.”
Pedestrians who spoke to The Irish Time on Galway’s streets this week were positive about the measures but would like to see some tweaks.
“I absolutely think pedestrianisation should stay and with improved infrastructure. I’d be less enthusiastic about eating outdoors due to the Irish weather, but I’d be more open to it with the proper infrastructure,” says Darren McDonagh from Rahoon, Galway .
Claire Henry, a city resident, is fully supportive of the measures but feels that “city planners need to liaise more with city residents, general public and business owners”.
John Higgins and Becky Walsh of Newcastle, Galway, say the outdoor dining is “long overdue” and “creates the atmosphere Galway is famous for”. However, they expect it to “vanish” and “people to go back inside when things return to normal”.
The council said the approach to outdoor dining and pedestrianisation will be decided in the coming weeks, taking into account input from stakeholders and in light of anticipated guidelines from the Government.