Local councillors welcome €11m. investment in regeneration of historic Castlebar buildings

Elected members of Mayo County Council have this morning welcomed confirmation that €11 million in urban regeneration funding has been awarded to Castlebar for works on the former Imperial Hotel at the Mall, the old Post Office at Mountain View and the Military Barracks at Rock Square in the town.

The Imperial Hotel site is to become an Innovation Hub, the old Post Office will be repurposed as a Community Youth Resource Centre while the Military Barracks site is set for major facelift.

All three properties are in the ownership of Mayo County Council.

In a statement, the cathaoirleach of Castlebar Municipal District, Councillor Blackie Gavin, congratulated the staff of Mayo County Council who, with the support of elected members, designed an excellent plan and completing a successful application for funding.

Councillor Ger Deere has been campaigning strongly for the investment since his election to Mayo County Council in 2019 and tabled a motion in October of that year for action to be taken in respect of the Imperial Hotel which had fallen into rack and ruin.

He said it is tremendous that a plan and funding are now in place to restore one of Mayo's historic properties where the Irish National Land League was founded on August 16, 1879 - a plaque highlighting the fact is in place on the frontage.

Said Councillor Deere: "It has been sad to see the building falling into decline over the past number of years.

"Now we can look forward to the building getting a new lease of life while its historical value will be preserved as part of the new investment.

"It is also a significant day for Castlebar that investment is in place to repurpose the old Post Office as well as beginning the transformation of the Military Barrack site."