Mayo town centre thatched cottage to be a tourist draw

A thatched cottage is to be constructed in Ballina town centre and will serve as a tourist attraction.

Ernie Caffery plans to demolish a section of an existing workshop and to build a traditional thatched cottage with display area to the rear for the purposes of a tourist attraction at Garden Street/Tone Street in Ballina.

His proposal has received the thumbs up from council planners.

The site operates as a gift shop and art gallery, with ancillary workshop. The proposed feature building of a thatch cottage which will be ancillary to the commercial business on site and act as a tourist facility.

A number of local business people endorsed the application and efforts being made to promote tourism projects, which they consider vital for their continuing business success.