A vibrant night-time culture and economy across Galway, and Ireland, will be vital in driving the recovery after the pandemic.
This is the view of Fianna Fáíl councillor, and president of the Association of Irish Local Government, Mary Hoade, who was speaking following the AILG’s submission of proposals to Minister Catherine Martin, in support of the Programme for Government objective of nurture night-time culture and its attendant economy.
"Our town and city centres have been hit hard by the pandemic,” said Cllr Hoade [pictured below]. “We are four square behind local-authority led initiatives to help business and cultural organisations working in the night time space to recover their vitality and viability."
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In its proposals to Minister Martin, the AILG highlighted that local authorities can help coordinate the agencies and resources needed to nurture a night-time economy that is “imaginative, diverse, appeals to all demographics while at the same time prioritising safety and security for visitors and for residents”.
Cllr Hoade noted that local authorities were “investing hugely” in the renewal of public lights to ensure they fulfill modern standards of energy efficiency and enhance the appeal and security of the public realm at night.
She added that councillors, with their roles in overseeing improvements to the public realm and their input to urban renewal strategies, are “well placed to drive forward the infrastructure , services, and vision that will be “assets on which night time enterprise and culture will thrive”.
