The Gathering is first in series led by Garrity for Galway campaign
Press Release – February 17
GALWAY – Housing and traffic were the main topics discussed at a recent community meeting in Shantalla, the first in a series of meetings organised by the Garrity for Galway campaign.
Tensions with University Hospital Galway (UHG) also came up at the kitchen-table conversational-style gathering designed to give residents a say in voicing the problems they think need to be addressed by the next TD representing Galway West. Sheila Garrity, an independent, announced her candidacy last month for the vacant seat, which will be filled through a by-election in May.
“I’m focusing on solutions, and I believe that local people know the solutions to local challenges,” Garrity said. “That’s why I’m meeting with as many residents as possible ahead of the election so that I can be a representative who elevates their voices and brings about the change they want.”
At the Shantalla meeting, held last Thursday in St. Joseph’s Community Centre, residents spoke of their concern that and that Shantalla is being used as a traffic rat run, with tailbacks blocking locals from exiting or accessing their own streets. In addition, residents, many of whom work at or are retired from UHG, recognise the need for the hospital to grow, but voiced concern that this growth comes at a cost to the Shantalla community. Presently, the need to redesign UHG’s helipad infrastructure is posing a risk to the green space behind the community centre, which is the only proper parkland in the community. With Galway City Council also eyeing a stretch of the park for priority bus corridors, residents said they feel powerless at the loss of this green space and, in general, feel that power does not rest with local citizens. Proposed solutions included reducing hospital parking onsite, through increased park-and-ride facilities from Merlin Park for hospital staff and dedicated minibuses from bus and train stations for patients, along with improving bus schedules and extending hospital hours to very early and late in the day. The residents also discussed building up rather than out.
Garrity for Galway will hold its next community meeting on Thursday (Feb. 19) at 7pm in the Oughterard Community Centre. In visits with residents ahead of the meeting, Garrity said, Lough Corrib and its declining water quality came up in several conversations, particularly as Galway City Council issued health warnings last autumn after sightings of blue-green algae in the lake. The meeting is expected to continue discussions on the declining water quality’s impact on fish stocks and the village as a tourist destination as well as look at possible solutions, such as approaches taken in Sweden that saw improvements in water quality in as little as a year.
The series of meetings continues February 26th at the Ballybane Community Centre, March 5th in Clifden at the Alcock & Brown Hotel, March 12th in Clonboo at Regan’s Pub, and March 26th in the Oranmore Community Centre. All meetings are scheduled to start at 7pm. Meetings in Menlo, South Connemara, Knocknacarra/Salthill and the four islands are also being planned.