Galway families fear losing homes after 14 eviction notices served in Ballybane
A Galway mother, who is one of 36 people being evicted from a city apartment block, says they all feel helpless as they face homelessness.
Mary* (*not her real name), and her eight-year-old daughter, are among 14 families who were served with Notices to Quit their homes in Cúirt Éigis, Ballybane Road, Ballybane.
The households, including nine children ranging in ages from a new-born to teenagers, have been told to vacate the building by September and October.
Some families have been living in the apartment block for up to 18 years, and have nowhere to go due to the ongoing housing shortage.
The landlord issued eviction notices through a local letting agent. The letters, seen by the Tribune, show the owner plans to refurbish the building, and was granted planning permission in 2023 to convert the existing roof space to add four more one-bed apartments.
“When we are not crying, we are trying to be positive”
Galway native Mary, a 37-year-old single mother, who is seven years living in Cúirt Éigis, said the community is shocked.
“Nobody knows what to do. I had a total breakdown at work, and was roaring crying when I got the courtesy call. When I came home, I met three neighbours and we were like ‘what are we going to do?’. We were all crying,” Mary said.
“I haven’t had a proper dinner since I heard this. I’m sick in my stomach all the time . . . when we are not crying, we are trying to be positive,” she added.
She and her neighbours fear they will end up in Emergency Accommodation this Autumn when they have been told to vacate the one- and two-bed complex on Galway’s east side.
Mary, and some others in Cúirt Éigis, are in receipt of Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). This is state support to pay rents but is not accepted by many private landlords.
“There isn’t one single two-bed apartment on Daft.ie in Galway City, and the last one was available for rent of €1,900. For those of us on HAP, we have a cap, and my cap is €850. You wouldn’t get a single room for €850 never mind a bloody apartment for a mother and a child,” she said.
Galway West TD Mairéad Farrell (SF), who has met most of the families involved, told the Tribune they are “devastated” by this “huge blow”.
Deputy Farrell said this was the third large scale eviction notice “that we know of” across the country in recent weeks, and she met with residents earlier this week to determine how to proceed.
The Mervue-based TD said the residents are terrified that they will not be able to source alternative accommodation in Galway’s ongoing “housing crisis”. She said she was “alarmed” by this decision and called on Government to act.
Galway City Councillor in City East, Aisling Burke (SF) emphasised the human impact of the eviction notices.
“This is a terribly stressful time for all of those who are impacted and my heart goes out to them. I, alongside Mairéad Farrell, will work to advocate for anyone impacted and to ensure renters are protected,” she said.
Mary said the landlord was a good one over the years, and this decision came out of the blue. She and her neighbours feel helpless due to the shortage of alternative housing, including because of short-term lets such as Airbnb. “Galway and Ireland has been in a housing crisis long before Ukraine (war), it’s just the houses aren’t there, and aren’t being built,” she said.
In a statement to the Tribune, the residents said “the situation is extremely stressful and frightening, especially during the current housing crisis in Ireland”.
“Finding alternative accommodation in Galway right now is extremely difficult and expensive. Many of us fear that we may not be able to find another home within the required time frame,” they added.
The reason given for the Notices to Quit was proposed refurbishment and attic conversion on the existing building that was constructed about 20 years ago. This includes construction of four new one-bed apartments.
The evicted families expect to be offered a chance to return once the building is completed but at a higher rent.
The landlord was contacted for comment through his letting agent.
City East Councillor Helen Ogbu, Labour’s bye-election candidate in Galway West, said the development was “deeply troubling”.
“Behind every one of those notices is a family, a worker, a child in a local school, a person who has built their life here in Galway and who now faces the very real prospect of losing their home,” she said.
Deputy Mayor of Galway, Councillor Alan Cheevers (FF) said “no families should be out on the street”.