Residents’ anger over the long-running street widening and regeneration issues in Dunmore dominated discussion at Galway County Council’s January Plenary Meeting this week, with councillors warning that frustration in the north Galway town is reaching a critical point.
Fianna Fáil councillor Mary Hoade said the strongest message coming from residents was not opposition to development, but anger at how it has been handled. She said there were “serious concerns about the people in Dunmore, who are most angry about the lack of communication with them,” adding that the message she heard repeatedly was that residents were looking for “clear timelines” and certainty.
Fine Gael councillor Ollie Turner thanked colleagues who attended the recent Dunmore protest, including councillors from Ballinasloe Municipal District. He said the demonstration showed solidarity with residents who feel the impact of the route daily. Referring to the protest, he said Galway County Council “bore the brunt of all the ire that day,” but agreed that communication was a core part of the problem. He warned that delays risked further anger, saying the regeneration team needed to return to Dunmore urgently rather than waiting until the next Tuam Municipal District meeting in March.
Responding on behalf of the executive, Director of Services Liam Hanrahan said Galway County Council “remains committed to a solution for Dunmore.” He confirmed that the regeneration scheme would involve reviewing and developing a new Part 8 or Part 10 process, with information to be shared with both councillors and the community. He said the municipal district would be “very much included”, and that council staff were finalising an on-site survey report. Mr Hanrahan also said dereliction issues were being examined and confirmed engagement with Transport Infrastructure Ireland regarding Bridge Street.
Fine Gael councillor Peter Keaveney, who lives close to the area, said he uses Bridge Street daily and described the atmosphere at the protest as “a very angry crowd.” He highlighted the impact on children, noting that students of three schools in the local pass through Dunmore daily, and urged the council to keep the issue “front and centre,” adding: “It is a shock, no words to describe it, we need to push on and get it sorted.”
Cllr Reddington said councillors had come under intense pressure at the demonstration, recalling an incident where a fallen slate from a derelict building was produced on stage. He noted that even the owners of the building were now seeking action and asked for clarity on how dereliction would be addressed.
In response to this, Mr Hanrahan stated that property owners are liable if something “falls off their property”, and that Galway County Council will be following up directly with property and landowners regarding this issue and that “immediate health and safety issues will be dealt with”.
Independent Ireland councillor Declan Geraghty described the situation as “a joke” and said Dunmore and the surrounding areas had been neglected for years, particularly along the N83 corridor. He called for urgent action, saying the town and region were being “left behind.”
Echoing that sentiment, Independent Ireland councillor Shaun Cunniffe warned that the council was now “in the area of last chance saloon with the people of Dunmore,” stressing that decisive action was needed to rebuild trust and deliver progress.
