Gateway Shopping Park in Galway has opened a Sonas Early Learning Centre that offers childcare to children from 6 months up to 12 years. It is the fifth unit to open in the shopping park’s newly completed extension in the last three months.

Sonas Early Learning Centre offers quality childcare to babies, toddlers, pre-school and after school children, in a caring, comfortable, and child-led environment. The centre has large, secure outdoor play areas equipped with infant-friendly surfaces, climbing equipment, play equipment and sports and exercise equipment. Sonas is part of the Spraoi Early Learning Centre group and this is Spraoi’s sixth centre in Galway and its eighth centre in Ireland.

Theresa Murphy from Spraoi said “We are delighted to announce that our newest early years service is now open, delivering excellence in childcare in our state of the art, purpose designed, spacious 5 playroom service. Our services focus on the delivery of a child led early years experience, implementing a curriculum under the Aistear Curriculum framework. Our service has recently undergone a TUSLA inspection and achieved full compliance with all the regulatory requirements. Our on site chef delivers delicious and nutritious meals prepared with the nutritional needs of your child in mind. We look forward to welcoming you.”

Sigma Retail Partners are the asset management company for Gateway Shopping Park. Paddy O’Connor, Asset Manager for the park, said: “There are many young families in and around the surrounding areas of Gateway Shopping Park and coupled with a school right next door, we knew that a crèche would be a wonderful addition to the development. We are therefore very pleased that Sonas has joined our newly extended park and we wish them all the best.”

The new shopping park extension is the first provision of retail space outside of Dublin since 2008 and the first in Galway in more than two decades. The development provided over 150 jobs during construction phase and is expected to create over 300 jobs in Knocknacarra and Galway when fully occupied. It will have open-use retail units, food and beverage units and a gym.

Gateway Shopping Park already has an impressive line-up of retailers including Dunnes Stores, B&Q, New Look, Next and McSharry Pharmacy, with four new stores recently opened in the Phase 2 extension, Harvey Norman, Boots, Carraig Donn and Petstop.