Fianna Fáil Galway West TD, John Connolly, has said that wherever location is chosen for the city’s new courthouse, the current courthouse which dates back to the 1800s, must remain in public ownership.
Dep Connolly raised this issue, following his question in the Dáil to the Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, for an update on where the new courthouse for Galway will be located.
Two sites are now being considered for the city’s new courthouse: Dyke Road and the County Hall car park.
The current Galway Courthouse, or The County Court-House as it was originally known, was designed by Robert Morrison (1767–1849 ), a pupil of James Gandon. Work began in 1812 and the courthouse opened in April 1815.
Dep Connolly was informed by Minister O’Callaghan that Galway Courthouse will be included in a submission being prepared by the Courts Service for a revised National Development Plan.
The Courts Service, the Land Development Agency, and Galway City Council is exploring the potential of including a new courthouse “in the future development on the Dyke Road”.
The Courts Service is also considering a location at the County Hall car park, which is a two-acre-site, and has engaged in discussions with Galway County Council about this potential location.
Minister O’Callaghan said both sites “offer significant potential for developing a modern, purpose-built courthouse in Galway”.
Dep Connolly has welcomed the update and the identification of the two potential locations for the new building. However, he said the future of the current Galway Courthouse must also be addressed.
“At some point in the coming years, Galway Courthouse will no longer function as a courthouse, so its future use and ownership needs to start being considered,” said Dep Connolly. “I would be extremely concerned if any consideration was made to selling this 18th century landmark into private hands. It must remain a municipal building for the people of Galway.”
Dep Connolly said that given its location opposite the Town Hall Theatre, developing the building into a cultural amenity should be examined.
“This could result in the area becoming a new and prestigious cultural quarter for the city, as the development of an official Cultural Quarter for Galway has long been an ambition of Galway City Council,” said Dep Connolly.
