8 July 1998

HISTORIC PUBLIC SECTOR INVESTMENT IN TOURISM AMENITY

Report: TOM GILLESPIE

A £5 million lakeside Holiday Village has been opened in Castlebar in a unique development involving, for the first time, public sector financial backing.

The official opening of the Lough Lannagh Holiday Village was performed jointly by Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern and the chairman of Castlebar Urban Council, Mr. Blackie Gavin.

The village was developed at the Westport Road, on the property once known as Creagh Villa and owned by the Gillespie family. The novel project has been funded by Castlebar Urban Council and Mayo County Council.

The proceedings were opened by the Acting Town Clerk of Castlebar Urban Council Ms Mary Browne who called on Canon Paddy Curran and Rev. Gary Hastings to bless the building.

The Chairman of Castlebar Urban Council, Mr. Blackie Gavin formally welcomed the Taoiseach to Castlebar on behalf of the people of the town.

The Holiday Village project, he said was the flagship of the council of which they were very proud. It would attract visitors from all over the world. The Taoiseach's presence at the opening was an indication that he shared their pride in this project.

Mr. Gavin referred to the Taoiseach's outstanding tole in bringing peace to this country. "We all hope that your efforts will not be in vain and that your hard work and that of many other will be rewarded with a lasting peace."

Mr. Gavin then read a formal address of welcome to the Taoiseach from Castlebar UDC

Mr. Ahern said the Lough Lannagh Village was the solution to a problem that had long held back Castlebar from reaching its full tourism potential.

"The problem was that many tourists, who would like to overnight, or spend a few days enjoying the town, and the local amenities, were unable to find a range of accommodation, to meet their individual requirements.

"In order to measure the extent of the problem, and to identify the opportunities in tourism, Castlebar UDC commissioned the Dublin based consultancy, Tourism development International, to undertake a research, development and marketing pln for the project. The solution was the development of Lough Lannagh Village. The Village is a weather independent, leisure-integrated holiday village.

"It has cost well in excess of £4 million. The UDC are to be congratulated in securing an EU grant of £2.7m under the Operation Programme for Tourism, and Mayo County Council are to be congratulated for providing the balance.

"This is the first major public-sector tourism project for Castlebar. It will have enormous benefits for the area in terms of job and economic development."

He complimented the Urban Council for undertaking the project, in a most professional manner from concept to construction stages Great credit was also due to Mayo County Council for their wholehearted commitment to 'this unique tourism development'.

Mr. Ahern continued: "A large workforce was employed in the construction of the Village. When fully operational, the enterprise will create new jobs and contribute to significant secondary employment in the local area.

"The village has the capacity to cater for over 200 guests. The employment potential is therefore obvious. The close proximity of Castlebar will ensure that the town will enjoy significant business in servicing the village and in providing entertainment, food, drink and shopping for the visitors"

He said the Village had been designed and constructed to the highest standards. He congratulated the architects - The Taylor Partnership and the contractors Michael McNamara and Owen Dervin.

They had produced an imaginative, distinctive holiday village which would be enjoyed by visitors from many countries, who were seeking a quality rural accommodation base, from which to explore some of the country's most spectacular sites and visitor attractions.

He told the distinguished gathering that the Holiday Village will be managed by Paul and Geraldine Lennon who were both graduates of the College of catering, Cathal Brugha Street in Dublin and have wide ranging experience at home and abroad.

"They have a challenging role ahead of them, which includes the marketing of the Village within Ireland and also in the overseas market. I know they are already actively engaged in promoting this project to the general holiday and special interest markets."

Mr. Ahern said many other organisations and individuals had played a role in getting the project to fruition, particularly Castlebar Tourism Action Group, Mayo Naturally, Ireland West Tourism, Castlebar Chamber of Commerce, Castlebar Community Development Association and the local business community in the town.

This was one great example of what could be achieved when local authorities, politicians, in partnership with others got together.

"This is an excellent example that deserves our praise. As Taoiseach I want to say to everybody concerned well done. I think people can feel justifiably proud of this and I hope it is an enormous success in the years ahead," he concluded.

The Chairman of Mayo County Council, Mr. Pat Kilbane said this was a unique occasion when they lunched a product which was brought into being by a local authority at a time when there was much criticism of the workings of local authorities.

"Here is a typical example of partnership and co-operation. We have a development which will assist in the promotional activities of the town of Castlebar and the greater extended county. It is a unique development costing in the region of £5m. It has eleven cottages, a leisure centre, a rural conference centre, caravan park and a 24 bedroomed lodge which is a facility that will be the envy of any county.

"The forward thinking of the elected members, the management of Castlebar UDC, the management and executive and elected members of Mayo County Council, which collectively brought into being this very fine development, is to be acknowledged and lauded here today."

He said Mayo County Council and Castlebar UDC were undertaking their primary role as a development council in all aspects whether it be in terms of development of the day to day workings of the county, the setting in place of infrastructure or creating as had been done at the Holiday Village, in a unique co-operation basis, an innovative village type complex which is the way forward for now and the future.

To mark the occasion the Taoiseach unveiled a plaque on the main reception building at the Village.

Connaught Telegraph - News & Sport - July 1998