Galway’s Westend summer pedestrianisation facing noise management review
Late-night music and street-side revelry in Galway’s Westend may have hit the right note with pub-goers this summer, but city councillors want to get ahead of noise complaints in a management plan for next year.
At a Galway City Council meeting earlier this month, Labour councillor John McDonagh called for a review of how outdoor entertainment is managed under the city’s Night-Time Economy Plan. He said it was time to “strike a balance between vibrancy and respect for the people who live there.”
The Westend has become a summer hotspot in recent years, with road closures allowing venues to expand seating and host live acts outdoors. The seasonal pedestrianisation, which typically runs from mid-May to September, was briefly delayed this year following a complaint about “cycling access”.
When the pedestrianisation finally began on May 19, local pubs celebrated the return of outdoor pints and live music.
But with the return of open-air drinking came the higher volumes of noise, particularly on big nights like Culture Night, when performances ran after midnight.
Cllr McDonagh said the issue should be reviewed before next summer “out of consideration for the people who live in the area.”
A briefing with the Night-Time Economy Team and the Tourism SPC will hear his concerns, with a view to establishing clearer standards for next year’s season.
The Irish Independent reached out to the Night-Time Economy Advisor for Galway City for comment.