Our Patron

In October 2020, the then President of Ireland  Michael D. Higgins applauded the people of Galway City for their campaign to be the Republic of Ireland’s first urban park, adding that it was a “powerful and tangible exemplar” of what can be done by grassroots campaigns.   Speaking at the launch of the campaign for the Galway National City Park status, the then President, who is the sole patron of the initiative, said the scheme will be “so enriching”.

The aim of the campaign is for Galway to be viewed as a city which is dedicated to sustainability, where citizens benefit from, and are strongly connected to, nature. He said “What you are doing here – planting trees and wildflowers, creating a series of linked woodlands, meadows, wetlands, parks, waterways and green spaces, providing ‘ecological corridors’ for wildlife to move into and out of the city – is such a magnificent example of active citizenship at its very best.”