Sailors and members of the wider community joined Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton for the opening of extensive new facilities at Galway Bay Sailing Club at the weekend.
The works include two new lecture rooms, a canteen for trainees, a new equipment building to house rescue boats, a workshop, and storage facilities for training equipment.
Representatives of the RNLI, Oranmore Maree Search and Rescue, Galway Mountain Rescue Team, the Atlantic Masters Swimming Club, the Accessible Sailing group, Irish Sailing, and Galway Bay Golf Club attended the event.
GBSC Commodore Pat Irwin praised the commitment of the members who have contributed to setting the standard that has now been reached.
He also paid tribute to the foresight of the early members who were instrumental in establishing the club at its popular Oranmore base.
Irwin paid thanks to Irish Sailing, and to those involved in coaching, and noted that junior sailors are now competing at major events around the country.
In turn, one of the GBSC founding members Barry Martin paid tribute to Irwin for his project management in seeing the development through.
At the GBSC opening (L to R) with Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton were Pat Irwin, GBSC Commodore, Vera Quinlan, Western Director Irish Sailing, Caroline Higgins, Lauren Irwin, Dave Garvey Irish Sailing, Patricia O'Sullivan, and Lorraine Scully
The club has been expanding its training courses in navigation, dinghy courses from the age of eight years to teenagers , along with courses for students and adults as well as kayak courses.
As a result, there is demand for the club to run both western and national racing championships on Galway bay.
This coming week, the club is hosting a coaching course for young sailors from around the 32 counties to prepare for national championships at Renville next weekend.
Up coming events include the Round Aran race and get together at Cill Rónain on Inis Mór.
Irwin invited anyone interested to “get afloat” no matter what age , and to come along on either Wednesday or Friday at 6pm and either ask for himself, or cruising captain Alan Laine.