Galway row over South Park benches sparks public campaign

A campaign to save South Park benches has been launched following proposals to remove some due to ongoing anti-social behaviour in the area.

Published 1st Jul 2026, 08:00 BST Iconic A campaign to save South Park benches has been launched following proposals to remove some due to ongoing anti-social behaviour in the area. 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 petition with more than 100 signatures has been lodged with Galway City Council to keep the benches as a “crucial amenity” in the public park, with supporters gathering signatures in just five hours.

However, Cllr Josie Forde (FF) is standing firm in her request to have the four benches “flipped” from their current location outside the Fr. Griffin's Éire Óg clubhouse.

“I have seen the petition online and people are misreading the situation,” she says.

“I have no problem with benches in South Park. It is the benches directly in front of the Fr Griffin Éire Óg clubhouse that I have issue with. They are full of rust and broken. Take them out from where they are.”

READ NEXT: Galway Chamber supports campaign to save the runway at Galway Airport

Cllr Forde described the challenges the local community contends with daily and said hundreds of children who attend both the GAA club and West United are affected by the level of anti-social behaviour.

“There are human faeces, empty bottles, used condoms, empty syringes,” she says.

“They are using the corners to go to the toilet. This is what we are picking up every day. One day, when we were down there, we found ladies underwear. Those benches are causing chaos and unnecessary work in order to facilitate children who come down to play.”

She also said pupils from both Claddagh National School and Coláiste Iognáid ('the Jes') use the location for sports days.

There are human faeces, empty bottles, used condoms, empty syringes.

Cllr Forde said there is ample space to relocate the benches along the South Park walkway.

“People walk along the main area, they don't walk along the clubhouse,” she continues. “There is plenty of space for the benches to be relocated. It's not the ones along the walkway. They are perfect.

“These particular benches are attracting anti-social behaviour and we have been advocating for change for a number of years. They are kicking the can down the road by delaying this. They do not need to be in an enclosed area in front of two sports clubs.”

READ NEXT: Galway City Council’s zero tolerance approach to social media trolls and online abuse

The issue was discussed at the most recent Central Ward Area Committee meeting, where council officials said removing the benches could set an unwelcome precedent.

Officials warned that removing them would fail to address the root cause of the anti-social behaviour and could have wider implications for public spaces across the city.

We would be setting a precedent that anyone who sits on a bench and drinks, that it should be removed.

“We need a more robust solution,” officials said. “ We have intentions to upgrade the benches and we will happily do it next year.

“We can look at the orientation of them rather than a knee-jerk response to just get rid of them.”

Campaigners agree that removing the benches would not address the root cause of anti-social behaviour.

The petition argues that it would make South Park less accessible and that the council “should not punish the whole community for the behaviour of a few”.

“Older people, people with disabilities, people with chronic fatigue, parents, carers, walkers and visitors all need places to stop and rest,” said petition organiser Cathal Lawlor.

“A bench is the difference between being able to use the park and not being able to go there at all for some people in our communities.

“Removing benches will not solve anti-social behaviour. It will only make South Park less accessible for the people who use it properly every day.

“We should not punish the whole community for the behaviour of a few. South Park should be safe, welcoming and usable for everyone. Keeping the benches is part of that.”

Mr Lawlor believes that measures such as improved lighting and more frequent community patrols could help tackle anti-social behaviour in the area.

READ NEXT: Lack of funding could derail GLUAS as Galway Council can't do it alone