Galway hockey set for major boost as long-awaited pitch moves closer

07:00, 11 Sep 2026Updated 21:03, 11 Sep 2026

Galway's hockey community is celebrating a major step forward in its almost two-decade campaign for a new full-sized pitch in the city.

Planning permission has been approved for a full-sized, floodlit 2G sand-filled synthetic hockey pitch as part of the wider redevelopment of Millers Lane and Kingston Park.

Connacht Hockey says the facility would be transformational for a sport that has long been crying out for additional playing capacity in Galway.

The campaign stretches back almost 20 years, with Donal Dempsey a longstanding advocate for the development of a second hockey pitch in the city.

Aisling Keogh and Kevin Keane became actively involved in the campaign in 2020, while Cllr Clodagh Higgins subsequently helped bring the issue to the attention of decision-makers at local, national and European level.

Keogh said: "This is a hugely significant moment for hockey in Galway. This project has been built on years of persistence and the commitment of people who simply refused to give up on the need for another hockey facility in the city.

"Since becoming involved in 2020, Kevin and I have been privileged to work alongside so many people to help move the project forward.

"A full-sized 2G pitch would be transformational for our clubs, schools and representative hockey and, most importantly, for the generations of young players who will come after us.

"Seeing the project reach this stage means an enormous amount to everyone who has worked towards it."

Keane described the progress as the result of years of collaboration between those involved in hockey and the wider sporting community.

He said: "This has been a collective effort built on many years of persistence and collaboration. The prospect of a dedicated full-sized 2G pitch is enormously exciting and would provide much-needed additional capacity for our growing hockey community.

"It has taken a lot of people working together to get to this point and we are delighted to see that work continuing to progress."

The wider project is also expected to benefit a number of other sports and community organisations in Galway.

Galway Bohemians FC and Galway Bay Rugby Club are among those clubs set to be able to make the most of the new facilities.

Connacht Hockey added: "We know first hand what access to appropriate facilities means for grassroots sport. When one sport grows, the wider sporting community benefits.

"We look forward to seeing hockey, rugby, soccer and other sports thriving alongside one another."

The organisation also thanked Galway City Council, Hockey Ireland, local public representatives, clubs, schools and volunteers who have supported the project.

While acknowledging that work remains to be done before the plans become a reality, Connacht Hockey described the latest progress as "a huge step forward for hockey, for sport and for Galway."