The three benches were recently placed in Salthill, Ravens Terrace, and Eyre Square by Galway City Council as an experimental project. The smart benches have free WiFi, battery backup, and complete solar power.
To express their opinions, people have turned to online forums. The vibrantly painted seats have been hailed by some as "eye catching" and a useful tool for both residents and visitors.
Galway City has recently installed three new solar powered smart benches as a trial initiative in Salthill, Ravens Terrace, and Eyre Square.
— Galway City Council (@GalwayCityCo) January 18, 2025
They provide wired/wireless charging for devices with , along with free Wi-Fi.
Very handy if you're caught short of battery or data! pic.twitter.com/J5cuCns9UT
A "waste of taxpayers money" is how some have criticised the program. Additionally, there were worries that antisocial behaviour would result from the benches being vandalised.
The benches offer free WiFi as well as wired and wireless charging for gadgets that can be charged wirelessly or via USB. According to Galway City Council, the specially designed benches will be highly beneficial for those who are short on data or batteries.