Galway City Council preparing to adopt new corporate identity as questions raised over rebrand value for money
Galway City Council is preparing to adopt a new corporate identity after councillors were invited to review three proposed logos as part of a new rebranding project.
Elected members will attend a branding workshop on Monday, August 17, where consultants will present three visual identity concepts before making a recommendation to the council 's senior management team.
The council said the review is intended to "assess and refresh" its visual identity to ensure it remains "clear, consistent and representative of the organisation and the communities it serves".
The process follows a stakeholder workshop with councillors held in July as part of the brand development project.
However, Independent Cllr Eibhlín Seoighthe has questioned whether the rebrand represents value for money.
“For a local authority that constantly tells me that they need to be careful about how public money is spent I would question is this a good use of the tax payers money,” she said.
“It does not matter which budget it is coming from a rebrand was not something that was asked for on the doors.
“I question the value that this rebrand will bring to the citizens of the city.”
In response to questions from Cllr Níall McNelis (Lab), council management confirmed the last rebrand took place in 2007.
They also confirmed that the project was awarded to a private consultancy firm following a tender competition.
The cost to date is €28,000 and it is funded through the council's communications budget.
While the project is being accelerated to meet milestones associated with the move to its new Crown Square headquarters, officials insisted the rebrand "is not being driven specifically by Crown".
“The project is in line with similar projects undertaken by leading local authorities,” they said in correspondence to Cllr McNelis.
“The project is being accelerated in order to meet milestones for the Crown project, but is not being driven specifically by Crown.”
Following the engagement process, a phased implementation plan will be developed. to roll out the new visual identity across Galway City Council assets.
Consultants say the aim is to develop a unified organisational identity that improves public recognition of the council's work, strengthens civic pride and creates greater consistency across council services, facilities and future initiatives.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme