New figures show that one in every five commercial premises in Galway City are lying empty.And the author of a new report believes the vacancy rates are down to the rising costs of doing business, changing consumer habits and hybrid working.A breakdown of the figures for the end of 2023 shows that for Galway City, the rate was higher than County Galway, at 20.1% of the 2,869 premises (up 1% year on year) and in Loughrea, the rate was 18.7% (up 0.9%) of the 277 premises. It was Tuam that recorded the biggest vacancy rate in County Galway, at 26.1% (up from 25.2% a year earlier) of the 412 premises. It was the sixth-highest town in the country, behind Edgeworthstown in Longford (30.2%); Shannon in Clare (29.8%); Ballybofey in Donegal (29.4%); Boyle in Roscommon (27.6%) and Sligo town (26.2%).A breakdown of the commercial building uses for Galway City shows that 52.6% are in the services sector; 20.7% in retail and wholesale; 13.7% in health; 3.6% in education; 3.2% in the financial sector; 2.9% in industry; 2.3% in construction; and 1% in public administration.Dara Keogh, Chief Executive of GeoDirectory said: &ldquo;The rate of commercial vacancies in Ireland has hit a new high of 14.3%, continuing the trend of increasing rates in recent years.&ldquo;This trend can be attributed to a number of factors such as the rising cost of doing business, changing consumer habits and hybrid working.&ldquo;Consideration must now be given to how some of these vacant properties can be repurposed and reused, in order to avoid long-term vacancy and potential dereliction of these buildings,&rdquo; he said.Annette Hughes, Director at EY Economic Advisory, said: &ldquo;Businesses have been impacted by a series of factors over recent years which have led to challenging trading conditions for many and so this increase is not unexpected. On a more positive note, the continued easing of inflation, ongoing reductions in energy prices and the anticipated cuts in interest rates should hopefully provide some relief for businesses this year.&rdquo;Full Report <a class="fr-strong" href="https://assets.ey.com/content/dam/ey-sites/ey-com/en_ie/topics/economics/ey-geodirectory-commercial-report-q4-2023.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">HERE</a>

One in every five commercial premises in Galway City are vacant

Walking and cycling take 29,000 cars off Galway Metropolitan Area roads every day, according to the Walking and Cycling Index.<h3 id="isPasted">6 in 10 adults in Galway Metropolitan Area walk or wheel at least five times a week, 1 in 5 cycle at least once a week</h3>The National Transport Authority has today published the findings of the first-ever survey of walking, wheeling and cycling in <a href="https://www.nationaltransport.ie/planning-and-investment/transport-investment/active-travel-investment-programme/walking-and-cycling-index/galway-metropolitan-area-walking-and-cycling-index-2023/">Galway Metropolitan Area</a>, which reveals that 6 in 10 (60%) of residents walk or wheel (meaning the use of a wheelchair or mobility scooter) at least five times a week, while 1 in 5 (20%) residents cycle at least once a week.Anne Graham, CEO of the NTA&nbsp;said: &ldquo;We&rsquo;re delighted to roll out the largest survey into walking, wheeling and cycling in Ireland. Over the past few years, the NTA has been working with local authorities across the country, including Galway, to deliver safe pedestrian and cycle infrastructure that encourages more people to engage in active travel.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s clear from the latest Index that more people in Galway want to cycle and walk each day. By encouraging people to make active travel a part of their daily journey, we can all play our part in creating a more sustainable future. The NTA will continue to accelerate our efforts to roll out walking and cycling infrastructure in Galway and other cities across Ireland.&rdquo;Read the full article <a class="fr-strong" href="https://www.nationaltransport.ie/news/nta-publishes-first-ever-survey-of-walking-wheeling-cycling-in-galway/#:~:text=The%20National%20Transport%20Authority%20has,1%20in%205%20(20%25)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">HERE</a>.

NTA publishes first-ever survey of walking, wheeling & cycling in Galway Metropolitan Area

Join <a href="https://www.giveusthenight.com/">Give Us The Night&nbsp;</a>on their nationwide tour as they delve into the pressing issues surrounding the new licensing laws and the current state of Irish nightlife.Starting on February 26th, Give Us The Night will traverse the country, placing a spotlight on licensing reform and the evolving challenges faced by the nightlife industry.&nbsp;Whether you&#39;re a venue owner, cultural programmer, promoter, performer, manager, worker, advocate, nightlife enthusiast, or supporter, based or working in Galway City, your presence is eagerly awaited at the Mick Lally Theatre on March 12 at 6 pm. Public representatives and election candidates are also encouraged to attend, especially as local and general elections approach. This is a prime opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the needs of local communities and night-time venues, as efforts are made to reshape Ireland&#39;s nightlife and night-time economy.Give Us The Night, an independent volunteer group of professionals within the night-time industry, is dedicated to advocating for positive changes in Ireland&#39;s nightlife, with a focus on music venues.Mark your calendars for these upcoming dates and venues:<ul><li>February 26: The Bodega, Cork - 7 pm</li><li>February 28: The Sugar Club, Dublin - 6:30 pm</li><li>February 29: Factory, Waterford - 7 pm</li><li>March 05: The Killarney Grand, Kerry - 7 pm</li><li>March 11: Garavogue Bar, Sligo - 7 pm</li><li>March 12: The Mick Lally Theatre, Galway - 6 pm</li><li>March 12: Treaty City Brewery, Limerick - 9 pm</li></ul>For more updates and information, follow Give Us The Night on Instagram (@giveusthenight) and Twitter (@GiveUsTheNight).

A nationwide tour of public talks presented by Give Us The Night, discussing the new licensing laws and the current state of Irish nightlife. 

Your thoughts and ideas matter—contribute now to the Galway City Council's Night-
Time Action Plan!

Have your say before 5th March,

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Be part of shaping the future of Galway City evening and night-time experience

Galway by Night

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