Campaigners Warn Galway Airport Sale Could Weaken Emergency Air Cover
A campaign group says selling Galway Airport at Carnmore could remove vital emergency aviation support for Ireland's west coast. The 118-acre site, which has a 1,300-metre runway and two hangars, is being considered by councils after six bids, with an expected price near €10 million. Critics argue replacing its role for air ambulance and search-and-rescue diversions could cost around €100 million, while the councils have not set a decision date.
Galway Airport at Carnmore covers 118 acres and has a 1,300-metre runway plus two large hangars. It has not handled scheduled commercial flights since 2011. The city and county councils purchased it from Galway Chamber of Commerce in 2013 for €1 million, saying it should remain in state ownership. Six bids are now under consideration, with an expected price near €10 million.
Campaigners also cite a 1993 incident when a damaged Irish Coast Guard Sikorsky helicopter landed at Carnmore during a west-coast rescue. They note that University Hospital Galway receives more than 40% of state air ambulance missions but has one helicopter pad and no fixed-wing runway. A petition with over 4,000 signatures proposes keeping the site for corporate travel, emergency services and technology innovation.
Count: First paragraph: Galway(1) Airport2 at3 Carnmore4 covers5 1186 acres7 and8 has9 a10 1,300-metre11 runway12 plus13 two14 large15 hangars16. It17 has18 not19 handled20 scheduled21 commercial22 flights23 since24 2011.25 The26 city27 and28 county29 councils30 purchased31 it32 from33 Galway34 Chamber35 of36 Commerce37 in38 2013 39 for40 €1 41 million42, saying43 it44 should45 remain46 in47 state48 ownership49. Six50 bids51 are52 now53 under54 consideration55, with56 an57 expected58 price59 near60 €10 61 million62. Second: Campaigners63 also64 cite65 a66 1993 67 incident68 when69 a70 damaged71 Irish72 Coast73 Guard74 Sikorsky75 helicopter76 landed77 at78 Carnmore79 during80 a81 west-coast82
If the sale proceeds, communities along Ireland’s west coast could face longer or more complex emergency aviation responses, particularly patients needing University Hospital Galway and crews handling search-and-rescue diversions. Local businesses and future aviation or technology projects may also lose access to a ready runway and hangars. Councils must weigh immediate revenue against long-term resilience, while residents and emergency services may see the decision as shaping regional access for years. Count: If1 the2 sale3 proceeds4, communities5 along6 Ireland’s7 west8 coast9 could10 face11 longer12 or13 more14 complex15 emergency16 aviation17 responses18, particularly19 patients20 needing21 University22 Hospital23 Galway24 and25 crews26 handling27 search-and-rescue28 diversions29. Local30 businesses31 and32 future33 aviation34 or35 technology36 projects37 may38 also39 lose40 access41 to42 a43 ready44 runway45 and46 hangars47. Councils48 must49 weigh50 immediate51 revenue52 against