Galway Council Unveils Plan for 2,500-Home Coastal District at Murrough
The proposal covers 84 acres east of the city center and includes a new railway station and university expansion.
By Nadia Khalil ·
Galway City Council has released a strategic framework proposing the construction of up to 2,500 new homes on the city’s east side. The development targets 84 acres of land at Murrough, situated between Renmore and Oranmore, approximately four kilometers east of Eyre Square.
The plan outlines a new residential village supported by improved infrastructure. A new railway station will serve commuters along the Galway-Dublin line, which currently cuts through the site. To manage traffic flow and access, the design includes a new bridge over the railway tracks. The Galway-Dublin greenway will also be routed through the area, connecting a network of cycleways and footpaths.
Institutional and community facilities form a core part of the master plan. Atlantic Technological University, formerly the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, will establish a new university quarter on the site. The proposal also allocates space for retail outlets, public amenities, and flood defences. The council stated that a substantial portion of the land bank is reserved for public recreation, including green spaces, play facilities, and community hubs.
Ecological and geographic features present specific challenges for the development. Portions of the land front directly onto Galway Bay, where a small old pier is slated for conversion into a public feature and water access point. Significant areas of the site are designated as special protection areas or special areas of conservation, requiring careful management of the high ecological value zones. The council emphasized that the design prioritizes climate resilience through integrated coastal protection and flood defences.
The land ownership history adds context to the project timeline. ATU purchased 25 acres of the site, along with the protected Georgian building known as Murrough House, for €3.9 million in 2004. The institution originally intended to create a seaside sports campus, but the project was shelved after the economic crash and access difficulties. Local politicians and university management have sought a local area plan for these lands for more than a decade.
Reddy Architecture and Urbanism prepared the draft urban design vision. This document represents the first major step in unlocking the potential of the Murrough site. The council invited members of the public to view the plans at a drop-in event held at ATU on Dublin Road on Thursday. The deadline for submitting observations and comments is November 23.
