University of Galway eyes Nun’s Island site for student housing

The University of Galway President has said they have identified university-owned sites - including land at Nun’s island - that could be offered to private developers for future student housing projects to help alleviate the current crisis.

Published 14th May 2026, 14:49 BST University of Galway identifies Nun’s Island sites for potential student housing | Connacht Tribune The University of Galway President has said they have identified university-owned sites - including land at Nun’s island - that could be offered to private developers for future student housing projects to help alleviate the current crisis. 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.

Speaking during a Galway City Council meeting held at the Aula Maxima, Prof Burn said the university could not currently finance large-scale accommodation projects by itself.

“We have put forward a student accommodation strategy and have identified sites on land that the university holds,” he said. “We have land at Nun’s Island and those sites will be put out for developers to consider, so watch this space.”

Asked by Cllr Níall McNeilis (Lab) whether the university planned to build more on-campus accommodation, Prof Burn said current funding models made it difficult.

“We are not able to build our own accommodation,” he said. “The maths do not work out.”

He said recent government policy places the emphasis on public private partnerships.

“There is no money from government to build accommodation and we may be held to task by the Higher Education Authority.”

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Prof Burn warned that Galway’s accommodation crisis was already affecting student life, the university’s ability to grow, and the recruitment of international students.

“With the recruitment of international students, we struggle because of the accommodation offer that we are not able to make,” he said.

“It would be a gamechanger. It is a constant juggling act. There is a squeezing of funding and a diminishing size of the pie.”

We are not able to build our own accommodation. The maths do not work out.

The university expects an intake of approximately 5,000 students this September and is planning to expand programmes including pharmacy and zoology.

However, Prof Burn said Galway faces a particular challenge compared to other university cities because fewer students are able to live at home while attending college.

“A recent student survey showed that in Galway 33 per cent of students are based at home compared to a national average of 49 per cent,” he said.

“Areas like Dublin and Cork have a much greater local ecosystem where students can live at home and travel. We draw from a much wider constituency and have a greater dependency on accommodation.”

Areas like Dublin and Cork have a much greater local ecosystem where students can live at home and travel. We draw from a much wider constituency and have a greater dependency on accommodation.

Speaking as the father of a student at the university, Cllr Níall McNeilis (Lab) said many students were missing out on the social side of college life because of housing pressures.

“When you do an intake of first years, there’s only so many places people can sleep,” he said “They are missing out on the life experience of college such as the clubs, societies and entertainment.”

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Addressing councillors in the Michael D Higgins Auditorium, Prof Burn spoke of the significance of the occasion.

“We are currently sat in the oldest building on campus, which dates back to 1845,” he said.

“This is the first time the City Council has been in this room since it was renamed the Michael D Higgins Auditorium.”

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He also highlighted major investment and expansion plans, including the construction of the new Dr Karen Guinee Library, which he described as the university’s “pride and joy”.

The university, he said, spent €94 million on research last year, with strategic focus areas including health innovation, creativity and culture, sustainable environments, and transformative data and AI.

Related topics: Galway City Council Accommodation Students Galway 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.