Galway City Council is looking to raise the roof of Leisureland hall and introduce new catering and bar facilities in a bid to increase its attractiveness for theatre and concert use.
Local authority Chief Executive Brendan McGrath has told councillors that a feasibility study on the complex is ongoing.
He said the complex was “of an era” built to a particular height, and options to raise the roof would be looked at in order to accommodate lighting.
Mr McGrath added that alterations would have to be made to catering and bar facilities as the existing ones are not conducive to catering for large crowds.
He added that the feasibility study is also looking at the potential of the amusements site to the rear, which is only used during the summer and at Christmas.
“Getting it to beneficial use throughout the year is key,” he said.
Chairman of the board of Leisureland, Cllr Donal Lyons, said that the ‘Trad on the Prom’ show was signed up for the complex for the next two years.
“We want to make it [the future of the complex] a success. With resources, it can happen,” he said.
Fellow board member, Cllr Padraig Conneely said he was disappointed there seemed to be a great delay in appointing a successor to Paddy Martin, who is retiring after 44 years’ service.
He said Leisureland is progressing and there will be major changes in the next year or two.
Cllr Conneely said the board believes an ‘outsider’ should be appointed as manager, rather than a Council employee, and asked how many applications for the post had been received. He asked Mr McGrath if he agreed the job should go to an outsider.
The Chief Executive said Leisureland is performing well, and subsidies from the local authority have been reduced by more than 50% from €700,000 per annum.
He explained that the management post was advertised in December and interviews would be carried out by an independent panel at the beginning of February.
Cllr Conneely said reports had always said there was too much of a “civil service approach” to running Leisureland, and it should be operated more like a business.
Mr McGrath replied that the job had been advertised internally in the Council and externally and he “wouldn’t be allowed to advertise” the post solely externally or internally.
The post New proposal to elevate Leisureland as theatre venue appeared first on Connacht Tribune.