Galway Set for Three Major New Watersports Centres

2nd June 2026

Afloat.ie Team

Three’s Company — Galway West TD John Connolly says three major watersports projects, including new facilities on the River Corrib, at the University of Galway and in Knocknacarra, are advancing with significant State funding support

Galway is set to get three new watersports centres, according to Galway West Fianna Fáil TD John Connolly. A floating pontoon on the River Corrib and a new greenway for walkers and cyclists are elements of the new watersports centre for Galway, which the city council intends to build. Galway City Council has issued a tender for the €2 million project with a closing date of June 15th.

Separately, Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport Patrick O’Donovan approved €3.25m in additional support for the Galway Regional Aquatic Project in Miller’s Lane, Knocknacarra, on the eve of the Galway West by-election.

Mr Connolly says he has also been informed by Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan that €8 million in funding has been approved for the University of Galway to develop a watersports facility on campus grounds at Newcastle.

The Galway city watersports facility involves transforming the old Galway Corporation Waterworks, dating to 1867, into a modern water sports facility. The proposed pontoon will be a 10m x 2m wide floating galvanised steel structure, connected to an access gangway by a roller connection. The pontoon will be anchored to the shore and set back from the riverbank.

New boundaries, a new pedestrian road crossing and drop-off area, hard and soft landscaping, footways, public lighting, connections to existing services, and ancillary site development works are also proposed.

Corrib Course — A new €2 million watersports centre is planned for Galway’s historic waterworks site on the River Corrib, with a floating pontoon, greenway connections and upgraded public amenities proposed

Work to be carried out on the Victorian structure will result in a gym, ergonomic training room, a café, function room, changing rooms, drying room, bathrooms, reception, first aid, equipment storage facilities, plant room, kitchenette, mother and baby room, communications room, offices, a test room, and a rowing storage shed.

The tender issue is the latest development in plans to convert the waterworks into a watersports centre, Connolly notes, welcoming the project's advancement. He has also welcomed the €8 million in funding granted to the University of Galway for the development of a watersports facility on its grounds at Newcastle.

“The university received planning permission for a hub for water-based sports within the college, which includes a floating dock and pontoon beside the Alice Perry engineering building just north of the Quincentenary Bridge. I'm delighted to see the project get this
injection of funds to help bring it to completion,” he said.

The Galway Regional Aquatic Centre in Knocknacarra involves a competition-standard 35m pool, adjustable-depth floor, sports hall, gym, spectator facilities, sauna and steam room, and a range of community and public spaces, alongside upgraded cycling and pedestrian facilities and access routes.

The additional funding announced for that project by Minister O’Donovan has been welcomed by the Mayor of Galway, Mike Cubbard.

Published in Galway Harbour

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Galway Port & Harbour

Galway Bay is a large bay on the west coast of Ireland, between County Galway in the province of Connacht to the north and the Burren in County Clare in the province of Munster to the south. Galway city and port is located on the northeast side of the bay. The bay is about 50 kilometres (31 miles) long and from 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) to 30 kilometres (19 miles) in breadth.

The Aran Islands are to the west across the entrance and there are numerous small islands within the bay.

Galway Port FAQs

How old is Galway port?

Galway was founded in the 13th century by the de Burgo family, and became an important seaport with sailing ships bearing wine imports and exports of fish, hides and wool.

How old is Galway bay?

Not as old as previously thought. Galway bay was once a series of lagoons, known as Loch Lurgan, plied by people in log canoes. Ancient tree stumps exposed by storms in 2010 have been dated back about 7,500 years.

What is the tonnage of the port?

It is about 660,000 tonnes as it is a tidal port.

Who is the harbourmaster of Galway port?

Capt Brian Sheridan, who succeeded his late father, Capt Frank Sheridan

When are the lock gates open?

The dock gates open approximately two hours before high water and close at high water subject to ship movements on each tide.

What's the biggest ship that can 'fit' in the harbour?

The typical ship sizes are in the region of 4,000 to 6,000 tonnes

Is renewable energy generating a lot of business for Galway port?

Turbines for about 14 wind projects have been imported in recent years, but the tonnage of these cargoes is light. A European industry report calculates that each turbine generates €10 million in locally generated revenue during construction and logistics/transport.

Is Galway a European cable location?

Yes, Iceland has selected Galway as European landing location for international telecommunications cables. Farice, a company wholly owned by the Icelandic Government, currently owns and operates two submarine cables linking Iceland to Northern Europe.

What's the update on the Galway port expansion plans?

It is "very much a live project", Harbourmaster Capt Sheridan says, and the Port of Galway board is "awaiting the outcome of a Bord Pleanála determination", he says.

Where does all the scrap go at Galway Port?

90% of the scrap steel is exported to Spain with the balance being shipped to Portugal. Since the pandemic, scrap steel is shipped to the Liverpool where it is either transhipped to larger ships bound for China.

Why is Galway Port exporting silage and the Irish farmers are crying out for it?

It might look like silage, but in fact, its bales domestic and municipal waste, exported to Denmark where the waste is incinerated, and the heat is used in district heating of homes and schools. It is called RDF or Refuse Derived Fuel and has been exported out of Galway since 2013.

When is the new ferry starting service from Galway?

The new ferry is arriving at Galway Bay onboard the cargo ship SVENJA. The vessel is currently on passage to Belem, Brazil before making her way across the Atlantic to Galway.

Is the Volvo Ocean Race coming back to Galway?

Two Volvo round world races have selected Galway for the prestigious yacht race route. Some 10,000 people welcomed the boats in during its first stopover in 2009, when a festival was marked by stunning weather. It was also selected for the race finish in 2012. The Volvo has changed its name and is now known as the "Ocean Race". Capt Sheridan says that once port expansion and the re-urbanisation of the docklands is complete, the port will welcome the "ocean race, Clipper race, Tall Ships race, Small Ships Regatta and maybe the America's Cup right into the city centre...".

When is Seafest coming back to Galway?

The pandemic was the reason why Seafest did not go ahead in Cork in 2020. Galway will welcome Seafest back after it calls to Waterford and Limerick, thus having been to all the Port cities.