NUI Galway and Galway City Council have welcomed thes announcement by the government of funding of €4.3 million for the Innovation and Creativity District in Galway.

The development of Nuns’ Island and Earl’s Island as the focal point of an Innovation and Creativity District is at the heart of Galway’s plan to connect all of the resources that give Galway its vast potential.

The Innovation and Creativity District will incorporate a riverside campus as part of the urban regeneration of Galway city along with a landmark cultural and performance space, acknowledging the university’s role as a national cultural institution and its contribution to Galway as a Capital of Culture.

An artist's impression of the Southern area of the Innovation and Creativity District in Galway. Photo: NUI Galway

This transformative plan also includes:

• A performance space to enrich the artistic life of the city and unleash the creativity of cultural engagement.
• A new innovation hub and riverside campus to regenerate this part of Galway and strengthen the linkages between business, research and a living city.
• Enhanced public realm for everyone who lives in or visits the city.
• Expansion of the Galway to Connemara Greenway through the city and the university campus, to Moycullen, Oughterard and on to Clifden.

The Innovation and Creativity district development will consist of two distinct areas – Northern and Southern. Each will offer a distinct experience, atmosphere and sense of place.

The Northern area will comprise of an academic building, reinforcing NUI Galway’s role and contribution to the city and region, a multipurpose cultural venue, and a hotel connected to the university both physically and in terms of planned usage and integration with teaching.

An artist's impression of the Northern area of the Innovation and Creativity District in Galway. Photo: NUI Galway

The area will be framed within sustainable public realm to support engagement with the waterways and the natural landscapes of this urban environment.

The Southern area has two key zones of activity. Addressing the need for more housing in an urban area, Zone 1 will have a residential Waterways Village. Zone 2, the redeveloped Mills, will be the location for the innovation centre, city lab, NUI Galway’s Adult Education Centre, outreach and showcase venues for inspiring creativity and community engagement, and a host of new social spaces.

Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, president of NUI Galway, said: “I would like to thank Galway City Council, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, and all of the stakeholders who have approved this application, a milestone in supporting this vital project in and for Galway.

"This represents a major step forward in the planning phase of this new Innovation and Creativity District. It supports the creation of a city lab and landmark multipurpose cultural and performance space that will be transformative for Galway and the wider region, both to live and work in.

“NUI Galway is committed to the public good and this development very much speaks to this ethos and to our core values of openness, respect, sustainability and excellence.

'Best possible project'

"With these values as our guide, the plan for Nuns’ Island which this funding supports will continue to be developed following consultation with our local community. Following this funding announcement we look forward to further engaging with our community to deliver the best possible project of our region, for our world.”

NUI Galway and Galway City Council will engage fully with all stakeholders. An initial public consultation has already taken place and further consultations with stakeholders will continue throughout the process.

Brendan McGrath, chief executive, Galway City Council, said: “I am very grateful to the fantastic team of people who collaborated and worked in such a committed way on this project. This is a fantastic outcome for Galway City Council and the city and this scheme will be truly transformative for the city and the region. We look forward to working with NUI Galway and all stakeholders on plans to develop a world-class Innovation and Creativity District for Galway.”

For more information about the Innovation and Creativity District see: www.nuigalway.ie/buildings/nunsisland/.