Galway City Council rebrand to go ahead despite controversy as Chamber voices support

Despite a groundswell of support to save the ‘quincentennial G’ Galway City Council is going ahead with its controversial new rebranding.

Published 9th Oct 2026, 18:45 BST Galway City Council Despite a groundswell of support to save the ‘quincentennial G’ Galway City Council is going ahead with its controversial new rebranding. Plans will now be drawn up to preserve the old capital G as part of the city’s heritage, potentially displaying it at the new City Hall at Crown Square or the Galway City Museum.

Following a workshop with councillors on the rebranding, Chief Executive Leonard Cleary acknowledged the attachment to the familiar capital G.

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“The capital G design clearly has a special place in the hearts and minds of those who saw it introduced for the 500 year celebration of the city,” he said.

Belgian firm considers legal options over splitting the ‘g’ Keep the Galway G’ campaigners make their voices heard at City Hall Mr Cleary said staff in Heritage, the Museum and Communications would be asked “to propose an appropriate display and cultural interpretation of the emblem in either new City Hall or the Museum.”

Meanwhile, the Council is continuing with its new branding, which is going through the formal trademarking process.

Mr Cleary said legal advice had indicated there were no issues with the new visual identity.

He also rejected figures that have been circulating about the potential cost of implementing the change, insisting the Council would take a “minimal cost” approach.

Digital changes will be made in the short term, while physical materials and designs will generally only be changed when existing items reach the end of their life.

The opinions of 120 local Galway businesses over new 'G' logo The new branding is already in use on the Council website, social media accounts and staff email signatures, while changes to report templates and the parking app are also being progressed.

Mr Cleary said the change was about making Council services more easily identifiable to the public.

“We are not replacing a logo - we are developing a brand for Galway City Council, that will be recognisable and aligns with the ambitions of the organisation,” he said.

The Council has also confirmed that the city’s coat of arms will continue to be used on reports and other materials as part of the wider branding strategy.

The workshop at City Hall included a presentation from Turas Branding on the work carried out to date and the next stages of implementing the new identity.

Meanwhile, the Galway Chamber of Commerce is not opposed to the new Galway City Council logo, arguing that there is a place for modern branding of the city alongside its historic coat of arms.

The business group said the coat of arms should continue to be used to represent Galway, but also sees potential in the Council’s new branding.

“Galway’s coat of arms is an important part of our identity and heritage, and it should be retained within the suite of logos used to represent Galway,” said Galway Chamber CEO, Karen Ronan.

“There is however room for contemporary branding alongside that established identity.

“The new 'g' does represent an opportunity to create a window into Galway with its use of imagery.”

'They are ignoring the public outcry’ – ‘Keep the Galway G’ campaigner hits out at new logo Mayor of Galway City opposed as Galway City Council unveils new logo and brand identity Galway City Council has already said the coat of arms will remain in use as part of its new “brand family” and will continue to have an important role in the Council’s civic identity.

The Chamber said the discussion around branding should also extend beyond the logo itself to how Galway presents itself to people coming to visit, invest or do business here.

And it has called for a dedicated website to bring together Galway’s offering and present it clearly to those audiences.

“Branding is hugely important to how Galway presents itself to visitors, investors and businesses,” said Ms Ronan.

“It also needs to be supported by a dedicated website that brings Galway’s offering together in a clear, accessible and compelling way. (Which we currently don’t have).”

But the Chamber said its main focus remains on the wider needs of Galway’s businesses and communities as attention turns to Budget 2027.

“Galway Chamber and our members are firmly focused on Budget 2027 and what Galway needs to support its businesses, communities and future growth,” she continued.

While acknowledging the strength of feeling around the branding debate, Ms Ronan said people were entitled to make their views known.

She expressed the hope that the conversation could now move forward.

“People are entitled to express their views on branding, but I hope we can move the conversation forward constructively and keep those wider priorities firmly in focus,” she said.