February University of Galway announces Water Sports Centre

University of Galway has outlined plans for a new Water Sports Centre following the approval for planning by Galway City Council. 

The proposed Water Sports Centre will primarily aim to offer first-class facilities for Rowing, Kayak and Sub Aqua clubs at the University and their 150-plus members.

The new development will also house a gym, which will be open to other athletic clubs on campus, with the potential to cater for members of all other athletic clubs in the University.

President of University of Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, said: “At University of Galway, investment of this nature enables us to support our students and our coaches, their achievements and their sporting endeavours. As a university on the Corrib, with longstanding, outstanding success on the water, it is our hope that enhanced facilities will empower excellence, further success and the wellbeing of our students.”

University of Galway Director of Sport Mike Heskin said: “This new Water Sports Centre is designed to provide state of the art training facilities for watersports that University of Galway has excelled in, both at national and international level. 

“In 2022 our rowing club took home the biggest medal haul from the nationals. We are proud to have had two Olympians on our teams in recent years – Fiona Murtagh and Aifric Keogh. Now we have an opportunity to provide top grade facilities to help others excel.”

The development has been approved for planning permission on a site on the western bank of the River Corrib, near the Alice Perry Engineering Building on the North Campus. It will offer more secure facilities for water sports and also enhance safety for water users. 

It includes:  

:: Reception; first aid; changing rooms and bathrooms; gym; training room; comms room; offices; test room; café; mother and baby room.

:: Drying room; plant room; function room kitchenette; equipment storage facilities; a new storage shed for rowing. 

:: Two floating pontoons on the bank of the Corrib. 

:: A pedestrian and cycling riverside greenway. 

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