Keep the Galway G’ campaigners make their voices heard at City Hall

As he finished his few words to the gathered crowd outside City Hall, publican Fergus McGinn was embraced by world-renowned musician Sharon Shannon, who had come to lend her voice to the campaign to ‘Keep the Galway G’.

Published 2nd Oct 2026, 13:56 BST Gary Vaughan As he finished his few words to the gathered crowd outside City Hall, publican Fergus McGinn was embraced by world-renowned musician Sharon Shannon, who had come to lend her voice to the campaign to ‘Keep the Galway G’. Designed by his father-in-law, Jimmy Conneely, for Galway’s quincentennial celebrations, the distinctive logo has become a familiar symbol of the city.

Speaking to the Galway City Tribune, Fergus said he was “an-sásta” with the number of people who turned up at short notice to fly the flag for retaining the capital 'G'.

Sign up to our Connacht Tribune Today daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Connacht Tribune within your account.

A flurry of white ‘Keep the G’ flags were held aloft outside City Hall as the Council Executive held a workshop for elected representatives on the controversial rebranding.

Mr McGinn said he hoped the workshop would lead to meaningful engagement on the issue.

“I hope the workshop is constructive and not just a talk shop, and they really listen to the people,” he said.

“The overwhelming amount of people who have messaged me in the last three weeks – I’ve been inundated with letters and emails of discontent.”

Fergus McGinn The €28,000 rebranding project followed a review of Galway City Council’s existing identity and formed part of the development of a new Communications Strategy.

The Council said the review found that the public did not always recognise the full range of services it provides or supports.

The new logo, centred on a lower-case maroon ‘g’, is intended to create a more consistent and recognisable identity across Council services.

The Council says the design also reflects Galway’s civic and maritime heritage and gives greater prominence to the Irish language.

Meanwhile, Mr McGinn said he was “an-sásta with the amount of people who came out in support and voice their opinion and discontent, their shock and their horror, that this beautiful G with our crest is being done away with.”

Iconic Musician Sharon Shannon was among the crowd who want to keep the existing logo.

She felt strongly about both the capital G itself and the cost involved in replacing it.

“I am really unhappy about the amount of unnecessary expense it is going to cost.

“It is totally unnecessary. The total cost of rebranding is a total waste of money.”

Iconic Publican Gary Monroe said the strength of feeling around the issue reflected the attachment people have to the existing Galway identity.

“It is a distinguished brand and there is no comparison really, to be honest with you.

“I love Galway. Everyone knows that I wear my heart on my sleeve promoting Galway, and the other logo – there is no comparison.

“I am all up for openness and if it was nice I would be open to that, but there is nothing there that is nice about it.”

He acknowledged the difficult position in which the controversy has placed elected representatives, many of whom he knows personally.

“I know a lot of the City Councillors. They are caught between a rock and a hard place. It is not easy. Hopefully they have the bravery to say, ‘we got it wrong – leave it alone.’

“If there was something wrong with it I would say change it. But there isn’t, and we should stick with what we have.”

Read More Battle to ‘Keep the Galway G’ to return to City Hall as rebrand goes ahead The opinions of 120 local Galway businesses over new 'G' logo Mayor of Galway City opposed as Galway City Council unveils new logo and brand identity Well-known musician, John Conneely, questioned whether the decision could still be reversed and raised concerns about what the eventual cost of implementing a new identity across the Council could be.

“I don’t know if this is already done and dusted and we are late to the party,” he said.

“It is an extreme waste of money. There is loads we could spend €28k on.

“All the vans have to be done, all the jackets have to be done. This is only the start of it. Where will the money come from?”

Iconic For Phelim Gallagher, the controversy comes at a time when businesses in the city are already facing financial pressures.

“I think that businesses are struggling to earn a living,” he said.

“ The 15 per cent rates raise is excessive given that there was a big raise a couple of years previous.

“I don’t particularly like the symbol of the new sign and what it represents. I can’t even make out that it is a g, to be honest with you.

“I would say the original G – that is perfectly fine and it represents our culture and history.”

Mr Gallagher also pointed to his own family’s long connection with business in the heart of Galway city.

“Our family has been in business for generations, since 1909,” he said.

“It's McDonagh’s Seafood Restaurant on Quay Street – my mother is a McDonagh and they all grew up on that street. I think it is very important for businesses in Galway.”

Galway pub owner's voice heard as new council idea put on hold Galway City Council preparing to adopt new corporate identity as questions raised over rebrand value for money Music promoter Séamus Finneran from Taylor's Hill said the longevity and recognisability of the existing G were precisely why it should be retained.

“They really should keep the G,” he said. “It is a very important part of Galway. It is part of Galway’s iconic culture and it has been around for a long time.

“Why would we change something that has such a visual impact and people know it? Why would you change your logo?”

Musician Gerry Hanley said he did not view the gathering as a protest.

Instead, he saw those outside City Hall as supporting elected representatives in seeking further information on the rebranding and, in particular, its eventual cost.

“I don’t see it as a protest. I see it as support for the public representatives to get the information that is required.

“There needs to be a process put in place for cost centres to find out the final rollout cost of the rebranding.

“In fact, the Government tells us that projects won’t go ahead unless they are costed. It is a basic requirement. So that is the main thing.”

For Mr Hanley, however, the row over the G also raises a wider question about the priorities of the local authority.

“The people want performance from the top management team, who are meant to be planning for the next 20 years, for traffic congestion, for infrastructure for housing to develop,” he said.

“They are the big items. And that is where the focus is. The logo is only a symptom of the information that is not forthcoming.”