09/09/2026
MILLERS LANE – A HUGE STEP FOR HOCKEY AND SPORT IN GALWAY
Connacht Hockey is delighted to see the continued progress towards the development of a full sized, floodlit 2G hockey pitch at Millers Lane, Galway.
For our hockey community, this has been a very long journey.
The campaign for additional hockey facilities in Galway stretches back almost two decades. Donal Dempsey and Galway Hockey Club has been a constant advocate throughout that time with support through the years from various public reps, working tirelessly to keep the need for a second hockey pitch firmly on the agenda.
Aisling Keogh and Kevin Keane and other community members such as Yvette Quinn, Tanja Schafer and Fintan O'Flynn, became actively involved from 2020 to push for Millers Lane as our regional centre for Hockey in Galway, building on that longstanding work and helping to drive the project forward.
From that point, Cllr Clodagh Higgins became a strong champion of the project, helping to open doors and make key connections at local, national and European level. Her support helped bring together the political and sporting communities, creating opportunities for important meetings and ensuring that the case for improved hockey facilities in Galway was heard by key decision-makers and stakeholders.
This collaboration between hockey, our public representatives and the wider sporting community became an important part of maintaining momentum behind Millers Lane.
There have been countless meetings, submissions, funding applications and consultations along the way. The award of Sports Capital funding in 2022 represented an important milestone, followed by the inclusion of the hockey pitch within Galway City Council’s wider plans for Kingston Park and Millers Lane.
The proposed development now includes what our hockey community has sought for so long a full-sized, floodlit 2G sand-filled synthetic hockey pitch, together with associated changing and community facilities.
A COLLABORATIVE WIN FOR SPORT IN GALWAY
This development has never been about hockey alone.
Connacht Hockey is equally delighted for Galway Bohemians Soccer Club, Galway Bay Rugby Club and the other sporting and community organisations that stand to benefit from the wider development of Millers Lane and Kingston Park.
One of the real strengths of this journey has been the collaboration between hockey, rugby, soccer and the wider sporting community. While each sport has its own needs, we have shared a common objective improving sporting infrastructure and creating more opportunities for people to participate in sport in Galway.
We recognise and appreciate the considerable work undertaken by our colleagues in rugby and soccer in progressing their elements of the development. It has been a collaborative effort, and we are delighted to see progress that has the potential to benefit so many clubs, sports and communities.
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.
We also extend our sincere thanks to the public representatives who have supported and advocated for this project, Galway City Council, Hockey Ireland, our clubs, schools, volunteers and everyone who has contributed to bringing it to this stage.
There is still work to be done, but today we can recognise just how far this project has come.
Decades of persistence. Many sports. Many people. One shared vision.
A huge step forward for hockey, for sport and for Galway and for the next generation. ❤️🏑⚽🏉
Hockey Ireland Galway Bohemians
The development will include facilities for hockey, soccer and rugby as well as numerous facilities and amenities for children and young people.
