John Moloney (right) with his father Michaal© Photo Healy Racing
Galway Racecourse CEO Michael Moloney is confident the proposed development of the track's parade ring area will go ahead in the coming years, despite recent delays combined with a nearby road project planned for the city.
Plans were announced in July 2018 but have since met with setbacks due to covid and maintenance costs to grandstands, with a new proposed ring-road of the city also expected to pass nearby to the racecourse.
Initially costed at €12-million, renovation will include a completely revamped and modernised parade ring, as well as a pre-parade ring, directly adjacent to the main parade ring. New hospitality venues positioned to the north and south of the parade ring are also planned.
Moloney, the racecourse's CEO since 2015, reports “the redevelopment of the parade ring is something which is still in the pipeline and we have planning permission for another year. It is something the committee is very keen on going forward.
"It is unlikely we will start development in the intervening period (before late 2024) so it would be a case of resubmitting the planning application. There wasn't ever an issue with planning for that project so I don't think there would be any issues in reapplying for new planning permission.”
He added “over the last couple of years we did maintenance work on both our stands. Work on the Killanin Stand cost €2m and the Millenium Stand, which was built in 1999 and whose fabric required investment - rather than what the punters see, cost €3m.
"That €5m investment, on top of covid, has delayed the parade ring side of things but it is still something we are keen to do.
“The city's ring-road bypass project is still there and we are working with the Galway City Council for two new stable yards, one being temporary, to be built. They would house horses while the road work is on-going. That is a three-year period and the current stable yard will be knocked during the period of the bypass being built.”
"That project is back with An Bord Pleanala at present and once it moves forward, the most optimistic outcome is for the building of the road to start in 2026."
