A routine item seeking approval to extend Galway Flying Club’s lease of the Galway Airport site until December 2026 ignited a lengthy and impassioned debate at November’s plenary meeting of Galway County Council, as councillors demanded clarity on the long-delayed proposed sale of the 115-acre Carnmore site.
Galway County Council Chief Executive Liam Conneally introduced the item by noting that renewing the lease is “the annual process we go through with the flying club”. He emphasised that the one-year agreement “has no rights beyond that one year”, and that the club is aware of the “potential sale of the property by county council and city council” and the possibility that they may need to vacate if it is sold.
Fianna Fáil councillors Mary Hoade and Michael Connolly supported granting the lease, with Cllr Hoade proposing its approval. Cllr Connolly seconded but queried whether “the new owners become factored in” should a sale proceed. He added that the lack of an airport in Galway remained “a shame”, noting the importance of air connectivity for business.
Future of the site
Once raised, the topic of the airport’s long-term future overtook the discussion, with councillors from across the chamber revisiting concerns about the site’s potential sale and the absence of updates from management.
Fine Gael councillor James Charity urged transparency regarding expressions of interest received for the site and warned against short-sighted planning. “It would be very short-sighted not to have some protection for engagement on that site,” he said, highlighting the airport’s role in search and rescue operations and the value of preserving 15 to 20 acres for aviation use.
Cllr Mogie Maher (FG ) echoed the call for information, saying the council had been “waiting a couple of years” for clarity on the Expression of Interest process. He said alternative locations in Galway could potentially accommodate the flying club in future.
Independent councillor Tomás Ó Curraóin called for the airport to be protected, describing it as a vital emergency and aviation asset. “Once it goes, it is very hard to get it back,” he said. “Anything that you lose, you never get it back. I am suggesting strongly they leave it there.”
Fine Gael councillor Eileen Mannion noted that similar discussions arise annually. She pointed out that two state-funded aviation facilities in Connemara, built at a cost of €10 million, remain underused and could be explored as alternatives for the flying club.
Independent Ireland councillor Shaun Cunniffe argued the site should serve community needs if not retained as an airport, citing demand for sports and recreational facilities. “We have an enormous need for sporting and recreational facilities,” he said. “I think it should be left to keep the people of Galway moving.”
Feasibility study
Several councillors questioned whether any feasibility assessment had been carried out to examine reopening the airport. Independent Ireland councillor Declan Geraghty said it was “a fantastic facility” and asked whether anyone “who knows about aviation” had ever evaluated its viability.
Independent councillor Tom Grealish, recalling his time working at the airport, said it had been a “very busy airport” and stressed its value for business. “It has always been a great asset for Galway,” he said.
Sinn Féin councillor Dermot Connolly warned of the risk of strategic sites falling into dereliction, comparing the airport’s uncertain future to St Brigid’s Hospital in Ballinasloe. He encouraged exploring “sporting facilities” or “little housing developments for the elderly” as part of wider community benefit if aviation was no longer viable.
Independent councillor Geraldine Donohue expressed frustration that progress had stalled. “I am six and a half years here and I thought there would be something more concrete,” she said, adding that Galway Flying Club was now “waiting and waiting” for clarity as it approaches its 80th anniversary.
Fine Gael councillor Jimmy McClearn questioned why a lease approval had turned into a debate on the airport’s future, prompting heckles from the chamber.
Updates regarding sale
Cllr Ollie Turner (FG ) reminded members that it had been “almost three years” since councillors proposed buying out Galway City Council’s share of the site, saying the matter was “falling between two stools” as the facility lies within the county boundary.
Repeated calls followed from councillors, including Cllr Charity and Cllr Maher, demanding a direct update on the sale process and expressions of interest.
In response, Chief Executive Liam Conneally outlined the status of the site, noting that no flights have operated from the airport since 2011 and that both councils assumed ownership after its closure. The site has been designated a strategic economic development area under the County Development Plan. He said the council had conducted an EOI process with both private interests and state agencies, but stressed that any future owner would need to prepare a full development plan for the site before seeking planning permission.
He added that the council had “never had anyone come to us with a legitimate investigation into the airport” as a functioning aviation facility, aside from “one businessman” who was unable to advance a proposal.
Conneally also noted that Galway City Council is “not interested in selling the airport to us”, which prompted Cllr Ó Curraóin to question why the city was involved in ownership “when it is in the heart of the county”.
Cllr Parsons sought clarity on whether Galway City Council would sell to any buyer, even if not the county, asking “Why not sell it to us?”
The CEO said the site sits “smack bang in the middle” of a major development corridor linked to strategic projects in Athenry and Oranmore. He confirmed that the council is preparing an economic development strategy “to add value to the economic potential of the site”, and proposed holding a workshop for councillors to examine future options.
Cllr Maher welcomed the idea of a workshop, suggesting the site could even host outdoor concerts while long-term decisions are considered.
The lease to Galway Flying Club was ultimately supported, but councillors made clear that the future of Galway Airport remains far from settled, demanding urgent, structured discussion and plans for the future rather than another year of recurring debate.
