The Mayor of Galway has said he is extremely disappointed that next Sunday's St Patrick's Day parade in the city will be staged over a shorter route than in previous years.
Niall McNelis was speaking after Galway City Council formally approved a licence application for the annual event.
The traditional parade route through the pedestrianised city centre has been altered, due to street enhancement works which were scheduled to take place this month.
However, the works have not yet started and a number of Councillors have expressed a view that the shorter route will take away from the public spectacle next Sunday.
Council officials say the new route from NUI Galway to Eyre Square was deemed safer, given the possibility of roadworks on the day of the parade.
They also raised the possible danger posed to members of the public should building materials be in storage on the public thoroughfare.
The local authority says a major refurbishment of the pedestrianised zone will commence in the coming weeks.
Despite the concerns expressed by elected representatives, they were told they could either approve or block the new route and that it was too late to alter the plan at this stage.
More than 30,000 people are expected to line the streets for the parade. Participants will leave NUIG at 11.30am and follow a route over the Salmon Weir Bridge, up Eglington Street, before finishing on Eyre Square North.
Motorists are being advised that a clearway will be in force across the parade route from Sunday morning and that any unattended vehicles will be removed
