Galway is in with a chance of hosting international rugby if Ireland's bid for the 2023 Rugby World Cup is successful.
Pearse Stadium was named on Tuesday as one of the 12 Irish stadia that could potentially host Rugby World Cup matches when the IRFU launched its official bid. If the bid plans come to fruition, the list of stadia will be reduced to eight or 10.
The selection process for the tournament will run from now until November 2017, when World Rugby will decide on the successful candidate to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
The city has never hosted a senior men's international rugby match, with only Dublin, Belfast, and Limerick being bestowed the honour in Ireland.
The stadium in Salthill is one of only two grounds in Connacht to be named on the shortlist with Mayo GAA's home of McHale Park in Castlebar being the other. Home of Connacht rugby, The Sportsground, was not considered for the shortlist due to size restrictions.
In the past Pearse Stadium has been the scene for international sporting events as it played host to Ireland versus Australia in the first test of the 2006 Compromise Rules series.
Ireland ran out 48-40 winners on the day in front of a crowd of 35,000.
