The Galway tourist office in Salthill was officially opened on this date nineteen years ago, on May 23rd 1997. For more than five years, it has lain empty and closed up, to the chagrin of the city council. The original lease for the site was granted to Fáilte Ireland (Ireland’s tourist agency) on the basis that it was to be used as a tourist office. As the Galway Advertiser reported back in March, the site is being returned to the city, so let’s see what happens over the coming year. It has been a shame to see a shuttered building in such a prominent location on the sea shore.
The interior of the tourist office (photographed through the window). As you can see, there isn’t a huge amount of space inside.
The plaque marking its opening looks a little tired. In fact, it was just by chance that I was strolling past the building yesterday morning and just happened to notice that the building’s anniversary was due the next day. I don’t think I’ve ever looked at the plaque before. The building was opened by the then Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Michael D Higgins. Though he might not have realised it at the time, it was the last time he would be a minister – the 1997 general election took place the following week and, though he held his seat, the Labour party lost almost half of their seats and went into opposition. The era of Fianna Fáil government under Bertie Ahern had begun. Though Michael D. did not become a minister again, he did go one better, becoming the ninth person to become President of Ireland in 2011. Perhaps, before he finishes his term of office in 2018, he can come back and open the new incarnation of the tourist office.