President opens new Connaught Telegraph HQ
April 10 1996
THE PRESIDENT of Ireland, Mary Robinson has officially opened the new headquarters of the Connaught Telegraph at Cavendish Lane, Castlebar. She performed the task by unveiling a plaque on the side of the building on Thursday afternoon. A large crown had gathered for the occasion and Mrs. Robinson was applauded as she arrived at 2.30p.m.
She was greeted by Connaught Telegraph directors Dr. John Connolly, P.J. Hennelly and Tom Gillespie. Castlebar Concert Band were on hand to play the Presidential salute and other tunes during the historic ceremony.
The buildings, which cost £ 500,000 to erect and equip, were blessed by Rev Gary Hastings and Very Rev. Paddy Curran P.P., Castlebar. The President was taken on a tour of the premises after which the formal speeches tool place in the company's newsroom.
The Chairman of Castlebar Urban District Council, Mr. Paul Ainsworth formally welcomed her Excellency to the town
In her address President Robinson said local newspapers were the voice of the local community which they served.
She said: "They are the means of expression, the way of capturing vibrancy, the way of passing on local information, news, the way of making known the sporting activities, the cultural activities that are taking place, the events that are important to people, the weddings, deaths, the various activities of a community.
“"If you've got a very vibrant local newspaper it's a sign of a very vibrant community and that is certainly present both here in Castlebar and I'm glad to say in Mayo as a whole and I think it is most important at this crucial time the development of our people and the building up from grassroots level of a local vibrancy of self development that there would also be a recording of that in its detail and as part of an ongoing local history by our provincial newspapers.
"It really is a landmark in a town and a county that a newspaper which spans that length of time from 1828 draws new breath in these fine premises and serves the modern needs of the local community and the wider needs of readership in Castlebar."
Representatives of the newspaper industry, locally, provincially and nationally were present for the occasion as were local authority and political representatives and many other invited guests.
Connaught Telegraph - News - April 1996
