The Middle Arch walkway between Wolfe Tone Bridge and Claddagh Quay has been shut for almost all of 2021 to date. While it is expected to reopen shortly, this green riverside space was just briefly reopened in May before it was shut again nine days later after large crowds gathered at the end of the school term, generating rubbish and noise, and causing a big headache for local residents.
While officially it was shut to prevent the spread of Covid-19, reports suggest that anti-social behaviour, and the danger posed by large crowds drinking near water, were also primary motivations.
No doubt many people saw the large crowds that gathered in the midst of a pandemic and thought that closing the Middle Arch was the right decision. Others were relieved to see the area shut because of the hassle caused to local residents, plus the litter, public urination, and the dangers of people drinking near the river.
But it is important to remember what was lost too. Most of the time, the Middle Arch is one of the most peaceful places in the whole of the city centre, one of the few public green spaces in the heart of the city away from cars or busy shopping streets. That’s a rare and precious thing.
I’ve lived within a short walk of the Middle Arch for the past eight years. It’s amazing how quickly you can go from crossing through the busy morning traffic on Father Griffin Road, to the tranquillity of watching the river and the wide open sky at the end of the pier. It’s also a great place to watch wildlife: seals and otters at high tide, swallows and bats feeding in summer, or in the winter, the great northern divers that arrive here from Iceland, Greenland and Canada.
Precious spaces
Spaces like this are precious in a city centre, and everything possible should be done to make them safe, peaceful, clean and accessible. If a city road is to be closed to cars, traffic engineers must examine what the knock on effects will be, and how the city will function while it is closed. The road is closed for the shortest time possible. We do not seem to give the same amount of care, attention and planning to our green spaces.
But we are starting to understand how important these spaces are for our health and wellbeing. Research shows that access to green space is associated with lower rates of mortality, obesity, and type two diabetes. WHO Europe, in its “brief for action” on urban green spaces, says these places reduce stress and promote physical activity, and that contact with nature is essential for healthy cities. It says that urban green spaces are particularly important for disadvantaged and underserved groups, and recommends that all urban residents have easy access to green space, and that local communities be involved in how these spaces are managed.
No doubt many people — particularly those most affected by the noise, litter and crowds — breathed a sigh of relief when the Middle Arch closed. But on the other hand, we don’t know how many people lost their daily walking or running route, or missed the solace of just sitting and watching the river go by, perhaps during a time of stress or anxiety.
We need better solutions to managing crowds and drinking in these spaces than just closing them. Various ideas have been proposed in recent times to deal with the challenges of large numbers drinking in the city centre.
Offer more than just drinking
Some say barriers along more of the waterside areas would help with safety. Others have proposed designated outdoor drinking areas, and while some might imagine these would simply become places for sanctioned chaos, it’s also possible to imagine a more optimistic scenario in which these spaces are properly resourced and managed, with proper recycling facilities and public toilets. Other cities have established late night sports leagues to give young people healthier ways to spend their evenings. No doubt there are lots of other ideas out there too, and we need a public discussion on all of these.
Respondents to the Galway City Public Realm Strategy (2019 ) called for the city “to offer things to do other than drinking”. A report on “connecting with nature for health and wellbeing”, produced by the NEAR Health team at NUI Galway, recommends “initiatives to address drinking culture and associated littering”.
The most troublesome nights at the Middle Arch occurred at a time when pubs were shut, and when many sporting and other facilities were closed to young people too. Closing the area didn’t really solve many problems, either, but largely moved them to other locations in the city, like the Long Walk and Eglinton Canal.
We can only hope that Middle Arch will be calmer and safer once it reopens, but if or when the same challenges arise again, we need more imaginative, long-term solutions. The city centre needs more accessible green space, not less.
Lenny Antonelli is a member of the Better Galway group that campaigns for better public space in the city.
