Launch of the Greater Galway Charter for Sustainable Urbanism
People interested in future development of the region urged to consider supporting a vision for the future
A link to read and sign the Greater Galway Charter can be found at the end of this article. By signing the Charter, you are indicating broad support for its Principles and Propositions and further dissemination and discussion of these over the coming months and years.
Following a series of public workshops, and the AoU & RIAI's joint Re-imaging the Irish Town and City conference in April 2023, held in Galway, Ireland, the much anticipated Greater Galway Charter was launched on Wednesday morning, 18 October 2023.
An initial draft of the Charter was published at the April conference and has been the subject of discussion and progressive refinement under the guidance of principal author Kevin Murray AoU, working with a Galway-based steering group.
The Charter is intended as a living, working document which helps to stimulate cross community conversations about the kind of City and Places we want for Galway by 2070, and the steps to begin addressing today to deliver that fifty-year vision. It also aims to stimulate similar discussions across other towns and cities which are looking to provide increased housing in safe, inclusive and low carbon neighbourhoods.
The Chair of the Academy of Urbanism, Jas Atwal, who was also involved in the historic Freiburg Charter event in 2010, said, "it is fantastic that the AoU has been able, with our RIAI colleagues, to support such an imaginative and progressive process with the Galway community and institutional stakeholders. We look forward to supporting their steps as they push to an even more sustainable future.”
Jas and Kevin (pictured below with Charlotte Sheridan, President, and Kathryn Meghen, CEO, of the RIAI) both represented the AoU at the formal signing ceremony in Galway's St Nicholas' Collegiate Church, where the initial signatories were:
- Mayor of Galway, Cllr Eddie Hoare
- Professor Ciarán Ó hOgartaigh, President of the University of Galway
- Dr. Orla Flynn, President of the Atlantic Technological University
- Mr Dermot Nolan, President of Galway Chamber of Commerce
The Greater Galway Charter is intended to catalyse broad, cross community conversations around the kind of future city which Galwegians want to see evolve for themselves, their children and grandchildren. It is freely available for public viewing and discussion via the link here.
Everyone interested in the future direction of development of Galway, or indeed of Towns and Cities more generally, is invited to view the Charter, so please have a look. If you share the passion for a Sustainable, Inclusive, Responsive and Proud City of the future, there is a place on this page to sign up and signal your support for the Charter and in being part of the next stage of the conversation in the weeks and months ahead.