Galway City Council is meeting this evening to discuss the dispute over the Eyre Square redevelopment in the city.
The contractor on the Eyre Square relandscaping project, Samuel Kingston Construction Ltd, withdrew machinery, temporary offices and other equipment from the site shortly before 4am.
A spokeswoman for the company refused to comment on the situation saying the company would be making an official statement sometime "in the next 24 hours."
A spokesman for Galway City Council said officials were seeking legal advice. He said the site had been abandoned the job without notice.
"Galway City Council wishes to express our deep disappointment and annoyance at the decision of Kingston Construction to walk off-site at Eyre Square despite repeated and ongoing attempts with the contractor to secure the completion of the contract by the November deadline," he said.
The spokesman said no warning had been given of the stoppage, adding all work carried out on-site, under terms of the contract, had been paid for in full by Galway City Council.
Work on the redevelopment of the square began in May of last year and was due to be completed by November. But the redevelopment has been dogged by criticism from the outset due the slow pace of work and the massive disruption to businesses in the city centre.
The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) carried out a number of inspections at Eyre Square over the last year. No safety issues were identified by the HSA that would warrant the site being closed.
Earlier this year workers walked off site in a row over wages.
SIPTU has criticised Galway City Council’s handling of the €9 million euro Eyre Square refurbishment contract.
The city council is one of a number of local authorities which is, SIPTU claims, "far too lax" in monitoring compliance of registered employment contracts on major construction projects.