The issues dominating Galway City Council’s penultimate meeting of 2023 almost all involved friction with Galway County Council.
Members grilled senior city officials on a number of projects to be progressed in the coming year, but joint city-county issues, including Galway Airport, the ring road and a new fire station, drew ire from councillors in combative form.
King of Knocknacarra, Councillor Donal Lyons (Ind ) led the charge for the city, labelling reported comments made by a county official as “disrespectful”. He was referencing media coverage of Galway County Council Director of Services Liam Hanrahan’s views that city council motions will not determine how many summer concerts the County should license at Galway Airport next summer.
“Saying our motions don’t matter is disrespectful to this council. Never in my 33 years of [political] life have I heard this type of language,” Lyons decreed.
Councillor Alan Cheevers (FF ) suggested inviting Mr Hanrahan to attend a city council meeting – no doubt cap in hand – and floated the idea of selling the City’s 50% share in the 114 acre airport to the County, “as it is a valuable landbank”.
Cheever’s party colleague and Taylor’s Hill solicitor Peter Keane demanded a panel of estate agents be appointed to value the airport, and bemoaned the fact that no one has yet figured out how much MCD Promotions will pay to hold a rake of concerts in Carnmore next year.
“It’s like Lanigan’s Ball – one foot in, one foot out – no one knows what’s going on,” he cried. “If the county council is interested in doing a deal rather than running off to the City Tribune or [Galway] Advertiser, then it should put its money where its mouth is,” he added. Unfortunately, neither newspaper was available to comment on their views of how the local authorities should operate.
Labour’s Níall McNelis rowed in, reminding colleagues that last May a county councillor inappropriately described a suggestion that Barna, Oranmore, Claregalway and Moycullen be added to the city’s jurisdiction, as a land grab akin to Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
“We’ve more important things to talk about than this,” despaired McNelis, before raising Storm Debi flood relief, but he did get the dig in first.
Councillor Mike Cubbard (Ind ) suggested a risk assessment for the mooted airport concerts, while Councillor Mike Crowe (FF ) voiced serious concern that the city’s interests were not being properly protected in negotiations between County officials and the suits in MCD.
“These aren’t two lads from Tuam pitching up with a cardboard box. This is a worldwide operation,” he warned.
Chief executive Patricia Philbin calmed the horses by promising to raise airport concert concerns with her County counterpart, Liam Conneally, and noted the property has not been valued for some time.
Gary McMahon, economic development director, confirmed the €50,000 per year airport maintenance cost is split between the two local authorities. He revealed the concert contract is under negotiation, and remains “subject to permissions, including health and safety”. With a hint of ‘get back in your box’, he reminded councillors they are responsible for selling Council property, but not renting it.
Councillor John Connolly (FF ) warned colleagues An Bord Pleanala is expecting County Hall to resubmit a planning application for the N6 Galway City Ringroad, after the High Court quashed the board’s previous decision in favour of a new orbital. ABP is demanding info on Galway City Council’s new city development and climate action plans, plus two broader environmental impact assessments. “Are we even aware of what the County is actually submitting?” he asked.
Cllr Crowe reminded councillors that Galway Fire Service is a joint city-county responsibility, and suggested limiting the County’s role when locating a long-promised new city fire station next year. City Director of Services Patrick Greene confirmed the project “is pretty much led by us,” and that a number of possible locations with decent east-west connectivity will be revealed soon.
Renmore parks, Lenaboy Castle, the city arts centre, roundabouts, bus lanes, murals, social housing, Sandy Road, Ardaun, pumping stations, Toft carpark in Salthill and Westside floodlighting were all city-only issues discussed with much less venom, after Mayor Eddie Hoare (FG ) admonished members for taking up too much time on County matters.
“We should just build the new fire station at the airport and be done with it,” muttered Cllr McNelis, off-mic. The wry smiles of city officials suggested the thought may have crossed their minds too.
