Uptown Quarter (Galway)

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A Chairde, The Uptown Quarter concept has been designed and submitted as an initiative to promote fixed businesses and fixed cultural endeavours in the area, which are bound to premises that will attract activity, both commercial and cultural. The key influencing factors were to establish an identity within the Uptown area to ; 1.

Attract commerce via centralized promotion of the Uptown area

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To promote and improve the service industries in the Uptown Area (pubs, restaurants and eateries)

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To promote the nightlife and cultural premises in the area

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Improve the identity of the Uptown area

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To lessen anti-social deterrents that affect commercial and positive cultural activity

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To drive tourism toward these fixed businesses in the Uptown Quarter

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To form a body of identity to represent better Promotion, Image and Policing of the Uptown area

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To improve upon the fixed premised cultural and commercial endeavours in the Uptown area

Throughout this document the physical boundaries , existing fixed businesses and fixed cultural premises will be presented , as the quarter has been assimilated with eight connected parts, focusing on each part and their strengths , characteristics and further potential qualities. The culmination of a celebratory event as one quarter to be announced into the future. The introduction of premise specific vlogs and business profiles will also be undertaken at a later stage.

Is mise le meas,

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Defining the Quarter The Uptown Quarter is defined as the area on the East side of the River Corrib from the Waterside to Bridge Street and is intersected by the Latin Quarter (Quay Street, Kirwans Lane, Cross Street , Spanish Parade, The Long Walk, Spanish Arch, Middle Street), the Uptown Quarter then consists of Shop Street to The Docks and as far as the outlying commercial activity at Lough Atalia and the Fairgreen. The Uptown Quarter further consists of The Fairgreen across to Bohermore and then as far as the Dyke Road car park. All areas within this boundary are inclusive, notably Eyre Square and the midtown streets of Abbeygate and Eglinton Street.

The map below presents the existing geography of the Uptown Area.

Image: Google generated and modified by Author

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The Uptown Quarter and it’s Eight Connected Parts

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Woodquay, Waterside and Eyre Street

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Bohermore , Prospect Hill and Dyke Road

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Abbeygate Street, Eglinton Street and William Street (Midtown)

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Eyre Square (including Shopping Centre)

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Fairgreen and Forster Street

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Bridge Street, St. Nicholas and Shop Street

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St. Augustine Street and Whitehall

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The Docks

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1. Woodquay , Waterside and Eyre Street Woodquay McGinns Hop House

Eyre Street Bar Italia Ciarlantini (Café)

(Gastropub , Live Sport and Music)

The Hole in the Wall (Gastropub , Live Sport and Music)

Caribou (Gastropub and Relaxed Musical Ambience)

Bridie Murphy’s Bakery Waterside

(Café)

Town Hall Theatre (Live Events) Renzo’s Gallery Café

Barr an Chaladh (Pub , Live Sport and Music) Galway Rowing Club (Bar , Live Events)

The Kettle Café

McSwiggans (Gastropub, Restaurant and Live Music) Commercial Boat Club (Bar, Live Events)

Jump Juice Papa Rich (Asian Restaurant)

Tigin (Pub , Live Music , Traditional Music)

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2. Bohermore/Prospect Hill, Hidden Valley, Dyke Road Bohermore/Prospect Hill Crowes

Scran (Café)

Dyke Road

(Gastropub , Live Sport and Music) Black Box Theatre The Dean

Alma (Café)

(Gastropub, Restaurant, Hotel)

Jungle Café Harry’s (Pub , Live Sport and Music)

The Western

Shakedog

(Pub. Restaurant, Hotel and Live Music)

Hidden Valley The Ol’55 (Pub, Live Music)

126 Artist Run

(Live Events) Mary Mullen’s Bar (Gastropub , Live Music )

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Anti-Social Counter Measures

To increase the awareness of ongoing threats to the Uptown Quarter area. To counteract these issues, adequate monitoring may prompt a quarter led effort to maintain the quarter’s image by it’s participants. Using methods such as installing electronic counter board displays on lampposts , strategically placed in different parts of the quarter , this may encourage participants and stakeholders to set targets up-keeping the image of the vicinity.

One perception being , that if speed limit notifications are hoisted to protect people, so should the real threats of anti-social behaviour. A counter of this type ,please view below, could display monthly and annually recorded anti-social incidents, inclusive of quarter part and the Uptown Quarter overall. Furthermore , a response mechanism could also be installed thus allowing a direct dialogue with emergency services on duty, using specific text alerts and a specific dial in phone number for Whatsapp and/or a direct call, this could also be an option, allowing emergency services to vet calls that are specific to an anti-social incident in the public realm of the Uptown Quarter.

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Epilogue

The Uptown Quarter is a much needed introduction to represent , promote and maintain an important part of the city. The influential factors of Tourism and Employment are at the heart of this development. Furthermore, honing a positive aesthetic that invigorates commerce , restores culture and sustains a memorable experience those who frequent and visit the Uptown Quarter.

Enhancing the Irish Language in the Uptown Quarter/Ceantar Uactharach na Cathrach Is also a key motive in the development.

I would like to thank the incumbent City Councillors and T.D.’s for their support and encouragement to date. I look forward to working with Local and National Authorities into the future, enhancing the agreeable composition of interests , bridging these interests into a comprehensive exposition.

It is of great privilege to undertake the development of the Uptown Quarter for the commercial, touristic and cultural benefit of Galway.

Joseph Francis Kelly Designer and Planner Uptown Quarter (Galway) 17