Design for a €28,000 rebrand of Galway City Council is in discussion under a new Communications Strategy to “improve communication and build trust with the communities they serve.”

Galway City Council is currently reviewing three rebrand designs with consulting partners Turas Branda – a branding agency out of Castlerea.

In a statement to the Irish Independent, Galway City Council stated the Request for Quote to the consulting agency is estimated at €28,000 out of the Council’s communication budget.

“The current branding project is about much more than a visual identity or logo,” Galway City Council said. “Branding is an important communications tool that helps an organisation present a clear, consistent and recognisable identity across all interactions with its audiences.”

Engagement meetings with elected members, Turas Branda, and Council staff have been ongoing this summer over the three visual expression options in review.

Once one expression is chosen, a brand strategy and implementation plan will be put in place with a timeline. The new branding will be featured in the new City Hall at Crown Square.

A “strong visual identity” helps raise awareness to residents that those services are available to them, the Council stated.

The 2025 Local Government Customer Service Report concluded Connacht ranked lowest for levels of satisfaction in 11 out of 13 services provided by the local authority. Equally, Galway City Council said the there are low levels of public awareness over many of the services that are available in the first place.

“The Brand Strategy will provide a clear framework for the Council’s purpose, positioning, personality, visual identity and tone of voice. This will help ensure that communications are consistent, recognisable and people-centred, while supporting the objectives set out in the Corporate Plan.”

Questions from councillors remain over whether the rebrand is an appropriate use of budget as Galway City Councillor Eibhlín Seoighthe said: “Galway City Council should not be spending public money on a corporate rebrand while residents face an ongoing cost-of-living crisis and homelessness continues to devastate lives across the city.”

“This is not an essential service; it is a discretionary expense at a time when every euro should be scrutinised and directed towards housing, homelessness prevention, and frontline local services.”

“The Council already has communications channels, staff, and design capacity. It should work with what it has rather than paying for an unnecessary external branding project. A new logo or corporate identity will not put a roof over anyone’s head, reduce rents, or address the real pressures facing Galway households,” she added.

Some councillors raised concern over the wider cost of rolling out the preferred rebrand design on city-wide signage.

Galway City Councillor Eddie Hoare believes there is “value for money” in the rebrand given that it is rolled out across all forward-facing signage and media.

“My main prerogative would be once the new branding is in place, that it’s used,” Cllr Hoare told the Irish Independent. “That is where we will get the greater value – if it’s used consistently and effectively going forward.”

The Irish Independent reached out to Galway City Council for comment on the roll-out budget.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting scheme.