17 jobs lost by shock closure

SEVENTEEN full-time and part-time workers have been cast onto the dole queue in Castlebar by the shock and sudden closure of the popular pub and restaurant, Sam Adams.

Workers had no inkling of the closure when called to a staff meeting at the weekend by the proprietor, Donal Dunne.

There was a shocked silence when Mr. Dunne said the business was closing immediately due to financial losses.

Mr. Dunne stressed to the workers that he had done his utmost to keep the business – which is situated at Linenhall Street – going but closure was ‘unavoidable’.

One staff member said: “We were gobsmacked by the news. When called to the meeting we expected we might be told somebody was taking over. Instead we were told the business was closing down with immediate effect.'

The Sam Adams building, formerly the Town Hall Tavern, is owned by a Castlebar businessman and is leased to Mr. Dunne.

Efforts by The Connaught Telegraph to make contact with Mr. Dunne proved unsuccessful.

Councillor Michael Kilcoyne, a former trade union official, expressed concern about workers ‘left high and dry’ by the sudden closure.

“These (Sam Adams) workers will now have to go through hoops in order to get social welfare payments,” he complained.

According to company records, Sam Adams Bar & Restaurant was set up as a company on March 20, 2012, with Donal Dunne and Patricia McDaid listed as directors.