Galway City Council is exploring new locations for allotments and community gardens across the city – and we’d love your input. Allotments and Community Gardens give people a chance to grow food in a community of like-minded people.
There are currently six community gardens and 77 allotment plots in Galway City – with residents now invited to suggest potential new locations.
Share feedback by 5pm on Monday 2 March 2026:
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or through printed surveys - available at city libraries (Westside, Galway City or Ballybane); City Hall, College Road or by calling (091) 536 400.
Lisa Smyth, Senior Executive Parks Landscape Officer, Galway City Council, said, “Increasing the number of Allotments and Community Gardens is a policy of the City Development Plan – they are fantastic amenities in an urban area, giving people a chance to grow their own food, to support biodiversity and to be outside in nature in their local community. There are many health benefits from growing your own food collectively with your community, besides consuming fresh food, there are also social and mental health benefits. We’re inviting people to let us know where they would like more of these in the city, so they can get involved in growing their own food locally.”
Galway City Council currently provides 77 allotment plots at two locations: Shantalla (City Central), with 33 plots established since 2012; and Merlin Woods Doughiska (East side of City) with 44 plots established since 2013.
Galway City currently has a number of community gardens at:
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Ballinfoile - Contact Galway City Partnership https://gcp.ie/
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Ballybane – Contact Galway City Partnership https://gcp.ie/
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Merlin Woods – see www.facebook.com/merlinwoodscommunitygarden/
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Westside – Contact Galway City Partnership https://gcp.ie/
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Salthill - see www.facebook.com/salthillcommunitygarden/
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Ballyloughane – see www.facebook.com/p/Ballybane-Community-Organic-Garden-100064632313922/
Residents are invited to suggest new potential locations for allotments or community gardens – within their local community – by 5pm on Monday 2 March 2026.
The results of the survey will help Galway City Council work with interested groups to identify suitable sites, and provide guidance for setting up new gardens and allotments.
For more information please go to www.GalwayCity.ie/Allotments and www.GalwayCity.ie/CommunityGardens