Transformative €12.6m investment in Galway Museum – Kyne / Infheistíocht bhunathraithe €12.6m i Músaem na Gaillimhe – Kyne

A major investment in Galway Museum is a landmark moment for tourism, culture and economic development for the city and county, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Senator Seán Kyne, Fine Gael’s candidate in the Galway West bye-election said:

“This is exactly the kind of transformative investment that Galway has been waiting for. The redevelopment of Galway Museum will create a flagship cultural attraction that showcases the rich heritage of our city and region to visitors from across Ireland and around the world.”

The investment, delivered in partnership with Fáilte Ireland and Galway City Council, forms part of a total project valued at over €19.3 million and will transform the museum into a world-class, immersive visitor attraction in the heart of Galway City.

The redevelopment will deliver a completely reimagined visitor experience, including a new three-storey extension incorporating the historic city sea gate, a revitalised Spanish Arch experience and panoramic wall walk, the redevelopment of Comerford House into immersive galleries, a new public courtyard and event space, and modern exhibition areas featuring interactive storytelling and digital technology.

The project is projected to attract over 1.76 million visitors over a ten-year period, generate more than €47 million in additional visitor spending, and support approximately 124 jobs through increased tourism activity.

“One of the most significant aspects of this project is that it directly addresses a gap that has long held Galway back, which is the absence of a large-scale, indoor, all-weather attraction capable of drawing visitors year-round,” said Senator Kyne.

“The investment will change that, providing a family-friendly, weather-independent experience designed to increase repeat visits.

“With planning permission secured and a construction tender completed, this project is ready to deliver. The economic return speaks for itself.

“This is Fine Gael delivering for Galway, investing in our tourism infrastructure, creating sustainable employment, and positioning the city as a premier destination on the Wild Atlantic Way.”

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke said:

“This is a transformative investment in Galway’s future.

“It addresses many of the core objectives of our new tourism strategy, a New Era for Irish Tourism which aims to lengthen the season and increase visitor numbers and spend by up to 7% per annum.

“With planning permission secured and a construction tender completed, the project will proceed to the delivery phase, with construction expected to take approximately 19 months.”

===== 

Is tráth sainchomharthach don turasóireacht, don chultúr agus don fhorbairt eacnamaíoch sa chathair agus sa chontae í an mhórinfheistíocht i Músaem na Gaillimhe, a deir Seanadóir de chuid Fhine Gael.

Dúirt an Seanadóir Seán Kyne, iarrthóir Fhine Gael i bhfo-thoghchán na Gaillimhe Thiar:

“Is é seo go díreach an cineál infheistíochta bunathraithe atá de dhíth ar Ghaillimh. Cruthóidh athfhorbairt Mhúsaem na Gaillimhe tarraingt chultúrtha shuaitheanta a thaispeánfaidh oidhreacht shaibhir ár gcathrach agus ár réigiúin do chuairteoirí ó gach cearn d’Éirinn agus den domhan.”

Is cuid de thionscadal iomlán ar luach os cionn €19.3 milliún í an infheistíocht seo, atá á cur i bhfeidhm i gcomhpháirtíocht le Fáilte Éireann agus le Comhairle Cathrach na Gaillimhe, agus claochlóidh sí an músaem ina ionad tarraingthe tumthach den chéad scoth i gcroílár Chathair na Gaillimhe.

Cruthóidh an athfhorbairt eispéireas cuairteora atá athghinte ó bhonn. Áireofar leis sin síneadh nua trí stór a chuimseoidh geata sáile stairiúil na cathrach, eispéireas athbheoite ar an gCloch Mhaol (an tÁirse Spáinneach) mar aon le siúlóid phanaramach ar an mballa, athfhorbairt ar Theach Comerford ina ghailearaithe tumthacha, clós poiblí nua agus spás imeachtaí, chomh maith le limistéir thaispeántais nua-aimseartha ina mbeidh scéalaíocht idirghníomhach agus teicneolaíocht dhigiteach.

Meastar go meallfaidh an tionscadal os cionn 1.76 milliún cuairteoir thar thréimhse deich mbliana, go nginfidh sé níos mó ná €47 milliún i gcaiteachas breise cuairteoirí, agus go dtacóidh sé le thart ar 124 post de bharr an mhéadaithe ar ghníomhaíocht turasóireachta.

“Ceann de na gnéithe is suntasaí den tionscadal seo ná go dtugann sé aghaidh go díreach ar bhearna a choinnigh Gaillimh siar le fada, is é sin easpa ionaid tarraingthe mórscála, laistigh, atá feiliúnach do gach cineál aimsire agus atá in ann cuairteoirí a mhealladh ar feadh na bliana,” a dúirt an Seanadóir Kyne.

“Athróidh an infheistíocht seo an scéal, ag cur eispéiris ar fáil atá oiriúnach do theaghlaigh i ngach cineál aimsire, agus atá deartha chun líon na gcuairteanna athuair a mhéadú.

“Agus an cead pleanála faighte agus an próiseas tairisceana tógála curtha i gcrích, tá an tionscadal seo réidh le cur i bhfeidhm. Ní gá an toradh eacnamaíoch a chruthú.

“Is é seo Fine Gael ag seasamh do Ghaillimh, ag infheistiú inár n-infreastruchtúr turasóireachta, ag cruthú fostaíochta inbhuanaithe, agus ag cur na cathrach chun cinn mar phríomhadhcheann scríbe ar Shlí an Atlantaigh Fhiáin.”

Dúirt an tAire Fiontair, Turasóireachta agus Fostaíochta, Peter Burke:

“Is infheistíocht chlaochlaitheach í seo i dtodhchaí na Gaillimhe.

“Tacaíonn an tionscadal seo le cuid mhaith de phríomhchuspóirí ár straitéise turasóireachta nua, Ré Nua don Turasóireacht Éireannach, a bhfuil sé mar aidhm aici an séasúr a shíneadh agus líon na gcuairteoirí chomh maith leis an gcaiteachas a mhéadú suas le 7% in aghaidh na bliana.