Galway City Council is planning for what it called a “night-time economy” aimed to boost the city’s “vitality” between 6pm and 6am.

The plan, named the Night-Time Economy Action Plan, is a collaboration of social, cultural and economic activities.

The survey for the plan’s implementation has begun and will last for 5 weeks, according to its official website ‘Galway by Night’.

It will ask questions like what the “main barrier” is of having a nice night out in the city for the public and the “challenges” of operating at night for businesses.

More to do at night

“I think it would be good because if there are only a few places open they will be too busy,” said Izzy Botton, an intellectual disability support worker in Roscommon, adding that “You won’t enjoy yourself that much.”

“Even if it’s just to go out for a walk and get a coffee,” she said.

Marta Bastiva, who is from Dublin and came to Galway for a 2-day getaway, said the plan was good because people who have to work 9 to 5 will have time to go shopping afterwards.

However, some cited the safety issue of antisocial behaviour caused by drinking.

“There’s a lot of trouble here at nighttime as it is”

A Galway resident named Frank said there should be “proper supervision.”

“It’s not going to work unless there’s adequate police protection for people,” he said, adding, “I think it’s a good idea but I think it has to be well thought out.”

“There’s a lot of trouble here at nighttime as it is. People coming out of night clubs drunk,” said Frank, who thinks more Garda officers are needed at night.

In the business sector, some workers mentioned the issues of safety, staffing and the cost of operating late at night.

Staffing concerns

Grace Hession and Adam Donohoe, workers at Tribes, a clothing store on William Street, both said they would love to work at night.

“I don’t know how other workers feel,” said Mr Donohoe.

They said that transportation for workers getting home would be an issue, and also considered the safety risk posed by drunk people at night.

Graham Keane, a weekend supervisor of P. Powell and Sons, a music store in the city centre, also welcomed the plan.

“There is so much fun to be had by opening up a bit more,” he said, before bringing up the issue of staffing and safety.

“If we were to do that, we probably have to find extra staff that would be willing to work later into the night.”

“There would need to be more policing on the streets to make people feel safer. It can get quite rowdy here late at night,” he added.

Maurice Daly, who works for Zhivago gift shop on Shop Street, said, “It would not be economically viable to stay open all night.”

Like Mr Keane, Mr Daly stressed the need for “more police present on the streets day and night … to deter any antisocial behaviour.”

According to the Council, the plan is projected to hit the ground between May and October this year.