One of the final acts of the current Galway City councillors was to approve planning permission for 20 floodlights at Westside Running Track.
Councillors approved a €160,000 plan to install 10 hooded lighting pillars, underground cabling and two electricity cabinets along the 400m running track off Seamus Quirke Road. Floodlights are expected to be erected by September, and the public track will remain open during construction.
It is understood the floodlights will initially operate at low levels from 7pm to 10pm, with special sensors installed that increase lighting levels when they detect a runner on the track. This is to avoid any strobe-light effect which uses more electricity, may be a nuisance to nearby residents, or attract anti-social behaviour.
Mayor Eddie Hoare (FG ) said he has supported track lighting for a number of years. “I’m delighted to see this project get the approval to proceed,” he said. “And I hope to see funding for lighting like this for our city’s basketball and tennis courts, South Park and Millar’s Lane.”
The pact which has run Galway City Council for five years, comprising Independent, Fine Gael, Social Democrat, Labour, and Green Party councillors has allocated €100,000 in funding, with the Department of Community and Rural Development providing €60,000. If used for three hours per day, the annual lighting bill for the local authority will be less than €1,000.
Councillor Martina O’Connor (GP ) said lighting made sports facilities safer, and increased users’ confidence to head out later. Councillor Alan Curran (SD ), a self-described “avid runner,” called on council officials to replace kissing gates with wheelchair-friendly entrances to the Westside sports facility.
Knocknacarra plans too slow
Councillor Níall McNelis (Lab ) praised the speed of the Westside lighting initiative, in comparison to the Kingston Lands project in Knocknacarra “which has dragged on for 20 years during which a whole generation of children has lost out.” Galway’s new chief executive, Leonard Cleary accepted McNelis’ invitation to inspect the site near Knocknacarra national school where a carpark, playground, hockey pitch, changing rooms and a community centre is planned.
Galway City Council’s director of services, Patrick Greene, requested all councillors to remind sporting organisations across the city that the deadline for applications to central government’s Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund (LSSF ) is July 1. This €120 million fund will allocate grants of between €600,000 and €30 million.
Mr Greene said funding for planning of a playground and Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA ) in Renmore was ring-fenced, with designs expected to be published in early 2025.
