Galway City Council and Salthill Village are delighted to announce that Salthill has officially been awarded the prestigious Purple Flag accreditation for its evening and night-time economy (ENTE). This is the first time that Salthill has received the award, and it joins Galway City which has retained its purple flag status, first awarded to the city in 2015.
The Purple Flag aims to raise the standard and broaden the appeal of town and city centres between the hours of 5pm and 5am. Purple Flag areas are spaces that provide diverse and well managed night scenes, with a range of entertainment and dining options including; pubs, bars, clubs, restaurants, cafés, live music venues, theatres, art, and even shopping.
Salthill’s excellent choice of pubs and restaurants, the number of venues promoting alcohol-free socialising and activities, and a solid sense of community amongst the businesses there and through the Salthill Village Group were some of the highlights of the submission in the judges report.
Judges’ positive feedback on Galway City’s submission included a co-ordinated approach to public policy development in Galway City, the new Night Time Economy Advisor role planned for 2023, the local live performance scheme which encouraged several concerts to take place in theatres and music venues, and the wide range of bars, restaurants, festivals and events throughout the Purple Flag area.
Galway Mayor Clodagh Higgins stated that, “Purple Flag zones are places where the Council, Gardaí, local businesses, and communities have worked together to ensure everyone feels welcome and safe. I am delighted that Salthill will be joining Galway City in attaining this great award. It shows the great work being done in our local community to work together to make all users feel protected while enjoying the great local welcome.”
The Purple Flag award was officially granted to both Salthill and Galway city for 2023 at a ceremony in Liverpool last week. It is reviewed and awarded on an annual basis.
Source: Galway City Council
