Galway Bay fm newsroom - The Mayor of Galway says the time has come to regain control of the city's public spaces.
Mike Cubbard has suggested trialing zoned designated areas for outdoor drinking.
It comes as large crowds gathered at the weekend at popular city amenity areas including the Spanish Arch and the Claddagh as good weather encouraged the public outdoors.
Mayor Cubbard told Keith Finnegan on Galway Talks that it's "time to get real" as crowds will simply move from one area to another when approached by Gardaí.
Galway West TD Catherine Connolly said the scenes in the city at the weekend were not acceptable, where the outdoor consumption of alcohol and the numbers were "out of control".
She told Galway Talks she went to the Garda Station and asked if it would be possible to close the off-licences in a bid to manage the situation, however was advised that they did not have the powers to do so.
The Independent TD says she has received multiple representations from residents across the city and there are bye-laws which make it an offence to drink on the street.
Deputy Connolly says she has great respect for young people but claims that the response to the weekend's scenes has been reactive with Gardaí "under-resourced and under-prepared".
