Galway Bay fm newsroom - Councillors have raised concerns over a plan to introduce an admission fee for visitors to Galway City Museum.
Non-Galway city residents will have to pay the fee to visit when the museum has undergone a significant refurbishment in Spring 2022.
The planned fee generated debate among councillors when it was discussed at a meeting of Galway City Council this week.
In September, Failte Ireland announced funding for the new Galway City Museum to the tune of €6.6 million.
It has emerged at a meeting of Galway City Council this week, that a stipulation to this funding allocation is that the city must charge some visitors an entrance fee.
The project, including renovations to the existing city museum, as well as a new adjacent building and a walkway on top of the Spanish Arch, is expected to cost over €10 million.
The project was widely welcomed by councillors at the meeting but many also voiced concerns at the idea of charging for admission.
The city executive advised that Failte Ireland regularly include these types of preconditions in their grants and that they are there to insure the longevity of the museum.
Independent Councillor Colette Connolly said she was horrified at the idea of charging people into the museum and that the city should be doing more to promote tourism that doesn't involve alcohol.
Green Party Councillor Pauline O'Reilly echoed councillor Connolly's concerns and said the museum is one of the only free places you can bring children when it's raining in the city.
The city executive was keen to stress that the museum will be free to minors and residents in Galway City, but that this would not be extended to adults living in Galway county or tourists.
It hasn't been indicated how much admission will cost but the city executive said it will be on the lower end of the pricing spectrum.
The project is expected to break ground in Q3 2020 - with a view to opening in Spring 2022.
