Harlequin hotel extension a boost for local economy

A MAJOR expansion programme is planned for the Harlequin Hotel and Royal Quarter in Castlebar.

Martina Nicholson, a member of the management team at the hotel, confirmed that an extension of up to 30 bedrooms is to be provided at the centre. Plans are also in place to further brand the location, which includes shopping units, a multi-storey carpark and a conference and entertainment centre, as the Royal Quarter.

The announcement comes less than two months after Islandeady Properties (Castlebar) Limited, a firm based at the Royal Theatre, withdrew a planning application before Mayo County Council for structural alterations to an existing loading bay to form a new coffee shop. The area of works for which the proposals related was 180 square metres.

It is understood a new application, to include the hotel extension and other works, is due to be submitted shortly. The name of leading coffee retailers, Starbucks, has been linked with the site for a number of months.

Ms. Nicholson said the Harlequin Hotel is very excited about the future plans to bring entertainment, conferences, food, beverages and shopping under the one roof at an easily assessible site.

She added the Royal Quarter is buoyed by the forthcoming hosting of Fine Gael’s national conference which will bring up to 4,000 people, including 2,000 party delegates, to the county town for the weekend of February 20 and 21.

Her views were endorsed by Pat Jennings, artistic director of the Royal Theatre. He told The Connaught Telegraph the conference will kick-start a very busy season for the centre, with many big events and entertainment acts scheduled to arrive in Castlebar over the coming months.

“The spin-off to the local economy cannot be underestimated at a time when there are clear shoots of a recovery following the work of Taoiseach Enda Kenny and his government,” added Mr. Jennings.