The planned new Galway Ocean Watersports Club will allow all the water sports bodies under one roof and provide a focal point for marine leisure pursuits in Galway.
This is the view of harbour master Captain Brian Sheridan, who has welcomed the recently unveiling of plans fo the club which is due to open late this year.
The club will be based in the new Galway Harbour Enterprise Park adjacent to the new harbour slipway that was built for the Volvo Ocean Race in 2009.
The centre will provide facilities for all the watersports organisations in the city and region, including offices, changing rooms, and storage facilities. There will be no social amenities or bars at the club but it is anticipated that it will provide impetus for attracting further watersports events to Galway.
The 25,000sq ft premises is being provided by Cold Chon (Galway ) Ltd for a nominal rent and the land is being provided free by the Galway Harbour Company.
Clubs and organisations can use these new facilities at a nominal rent. Some of the clubs that have already committed to this new facility include the Galway Sea Scouts, Galway Sea Sports Association, Galway Sub Aqua Club, Bádoiri an Cladaigh, OYTI, Galway Coastal Rowing, and Kayak Mor.
The building will also host the Let’s Do It Global office. LDIG ran the successful Green Dragon campaign and the Galway Volvo Ocean Race Festival. It also organised the recent Galway Powerboat Festival. It is now working towards hosting the finish of the Volvo Ocean Race in July 2012.
Plans for the new watersports club were unveiled last weekend by the Mayor of Galway Councillor Declan McDonnell.
“The Galway City Council is delighted to support this new facility which will provide much needed facilities for a range of watersports in the city,” he said. “It will ensure Galway maintains its position as a centre for maritime excellence.”
Harry Hermon, CEO of the Irish Sailing Association, said the club will help create a centre of maritime excellence in Galway and “attract national and international events”.
