GMIT acquires Crowley Park from Galwegians Rugby Club for €8.95M
The President of GMIT, Dr Orla Flynn, and the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, are pleased to announce GMIT’s acquisition of Crowley Park from Galwegians Rugby Club for €8.95m, €6.45m of which has been funded by the Higher Education Authority (HEA).
Crowley Park is a largely undeveloped site, circa 9.75 acres, situated 180m from the adjacent GMIT Dublin Road campus. Minister Harris visited the site today (Monday 14 February 2022) accompanied by GMIT President Dr Orla Flynn, GMIT Governing Body Deputy Chair Cllr Michael Maher, Galwegians RFC President Carl Blake and GMIT Students’ Union President Mr Colin Kearney.
Minister Harris participated in a campus tour and received a briefing on current GMIT capital projects and future plans. He also engaged with students, staff and researchers in the Enterprise Ireland Medical Engineering and Technologies (MET) Gateway.
Speaking in Galway, Minister Harris said: “I really want to welcome the purchase of this land to facilitate future expansion, which has long been an ambition for GMIT. The site will now enable the new Atlantic Technological University to expand and develop facilities beside its existing Galway campus, as demand for higher education continues to rise.
“Support for this acquisition demonstrates the commitment of this Government to advancing the role and ambition of our new Technological Universities and to driving regional growth and opportunities.”
The President of GMIT, Dr Orla Flynn, says the acquisition of Crowley Park is a significant development for GMIT in the context of the new Atlantic Technological University which will come into being on 1 April 2022: “Acquiring these lands will enable a safe expansion and development of Atlantic Technological University (ATU) in Galway City for the years ahead and facilitate projected growth in student numbers. ATU will have a strong footprint across the eastern side of Galway City, and we look forward to continued good relations with all our neighbouring community partners, including Galwegians RFC.”
“For now the site will continue to be used for sports purposes. As part of the sale agreement GMIT has granted a license to Galwegians to share the sports facilities with the institute for a number of years. I want to pay tribute to all those who have worked tirelessly over the years to bring this process to a very satisfactory conclusion.”
ENDS
Issued by Regina Daly, GMIT Communications & Press Officer, GMIT, Dublin Road, Galway.
0879618355 (m) regina.daly@gmit.ie www.gmit.ie/news www.cualliance.ie
