The eastern environs of Galway City — encompassing Oranmore, Claregalway, and Athenry — are destined to become the principal growth area for Galway City and County over the next 25 years.
Historically, short-term and piecemeal planning has resulted in significant deficits in infrastructure, particularly in transport, wastewater, sport, and community facilities. These shortcomings are most evident in Oranmore and Claregalway, where development has frequently outpaced the provision of essential services.
Unless we establish a coherent long-term planning framework, the pattern of building housing estates without the necessary infrastructure, amenities, and community supports will continue.
The prolonged difficulties faced by Oranmore/Maree GAA Club and Cregmore Claregalway Football Club in securing adequate playing facilities are stark examples of systemic planning failures that must not be repeated.
Equally concerning are the environmental impacts arising from inadequate wastewater infrastructure, alongside the persistent failure to deliver effective public transport solutions.
While some progress is now being made to address these issues, current plans are insufficient to cater for a projected population increase of up to 50,000 people in this region over the next 25 years.
We must therefore develop a 2050 Vision — a clear roadmap for the creation of a sustainable, smart, and green living environment across the Oranmore–Claregalway–Athenry growth corridor.
At present, there are no plans for a modern wastewater treatment facility capable of accommodating the scale of future population growth east of Galway City. Any credible 2050 plan must prioritise innovative wastewater infrastructure that prevents pollution, improves energy efficiency, reduces carbon emissions, and protects the sensitive ecological environments of the Lough Corrib catchment and inner Galway Bay.
Our long-standing failure to plan properly for public transport infrastructure must also be addressed as an early and central component of this vision.
A clear example is the railway crossing in Oranmore, adjacent to approximately 260 hectares of state-owned land identified by the IDA as a potential site for semiconductor and advanced manufacturing industries.
Despite this strategic opportunity, there are no current plans to upgrade the crossing, even though Galway County Council acquired the necessary lands for a dual carriageway more than a decade ago.
Later this year, the completion of the passing loop at Oranmore railway station will reduce train intervals from 45 minutes to 15 minutes. Must we wait for this essential rail infrastructure to come under pressure before unlocking one of the most strategically important industrial sites in the country?
Must we wait until traffic congestion extends deep into Oranmore village before acting?
We must plan now — through the double-tracking of the Athenry–Galway rail line, the development of park-and-ride facilities, and the integration of public transport into land-use planning. The success of Oranmore railway station itself clearly demonstrates what is possible when infrastructure is delivered in tandem with development.
While 2050 may seem distant, the reality is that major infrastructure projects take decades to plan and deliver. Unless we begin laying the strategic framework now, we will continue to fall short in creating a sustainable, vibrant, and accessible living environment for future generations.
Finally, community engagement must sit at the heart of this vision. The people who live, work, and raise families in this region must be partners in shaping its future.
