Today (Saturday 12 June) Mayor of Galway, Cllr Declan McDonnell announced plans for a new watersports club in Galway which will provide facilities for all the watersports organisations in the city and region.
The new club will be based in the new Galway Harbour Enterprise Park adjacent to the new harbour slipway that was built specifically for the Volvo Ocean Race in 2009. The 25,000 sq ft premises is being provided by Cold Chon (Galway) Ltd for a nominal rent and the land is being provided free by Galway Harbour Company.
‘Galway City Council is delighted to support this new facility which will provide much needed facilities for a range of watersports in the city. It will ensure that Galway maintains its position as a centre for maritime excellence’ stated Mayor of Galway, Cllr Declan McDonnell
Clubs and organisations can use these new facilities at a nominal rent. Some of the clubs that have already committed to this new facility include the Galway Sea Scouts, Galway Sea Sports Association, Galway Sub Aqua Club, Bádoiri an Cladaigh, OYTI, Galway Coastal Rowing, and Kayak Mor.
‘The Harbour Company is pleased to assist in pulling together the various water sport bodies under one roof and in the heart of the harbour. The new facility and the recently constructed slipway will be the focal point for Galway’s marine leisure, getting Galwegians afloat and established in the city, commented Harbour Master’, Captain Brian Sheridan.
The building will also host the Let’s Do It Global (LDIG) office. LDIG ran the very successful Green Dragon campaign and the Galway Volvo Ocean Race Festival and more recently organised the Galway Powerboat Festival. The team is now working towards hosting a spectacular finish to the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 in July 2012.
At today’s launch John Killeen, MD, Cold Chon stated ‘Cold Chon is delighted to support another sporting facility in Galway. Over the years Cold Chon has provided support to facilities such as Pearse Stadium and Galwegians Rugby Club and the sponsorship is in line with our strategy of supporting sport in the region.’
The centre will provide operational facilities such as offices, changing rooms and storage facilities. There will be no social amenities or bars at the club however it is anticipated that the establishment of the club will provide impetus for attracting further watersport events to Galway.
Harry Hermon CEO, Irish Sailing Association commenting on the announcement stated: ‘The opening of the Galway Ocean Watersports Club will help create a centre of maritime excellence in Galway and thereby attract national and international events to Galway. It is in keeping with the national strategy for developing a municipal centre for a variety of sporting and recreational interests’.
It is planned to open the Galway Ocean Watersports Club late 2010.
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