Mayo Leisure Point celebrates 30 years in business
It's the complete family fun destination
By Tom Gillespie
Mayo Leisure Point, Moneen, Castlebar, is celebrating 30 years in business.
Congratulations to the Mulroy family on a wonderful business success story.
It all started when the old bacon factory site in the county town was purchased in 1989 by building contractor, the late Mr. Joe Mulroy.
However, it took the Mulroy family some years to formulate plans for the extensive property.
When they discussed the matter, the opening of a bowling alley was the unanimous decision.
And today the highly successful Mayo Leisure Point has reached an important milestone.
Cora Mulroy told The Connaught Telegraph how it all came about.
“We opened in November 1993 and we have evolved since into what we are 30 years later.
“It all came about when my dad, Joe, purchased the old bacon factory site in around 1989.
"When it came to the early ‘90s we had a look to see what we could do with it. There were a lot of buildings that were still intact that could be used and some which had to be knocked.
“We had a family meeting one night and a bowling alley was mentioned and two weeks later my dad had the plans drawn up for it.
“In November 1993 we opened. We had no experience of running a bowling alley. There was a bowling alley in Dublin that was closing. They had 16 bowling lanes and we bought eight and a Sligo company bought the other eight.
“My dad and brother John and team dismantled the lanes in Dublin and they brought eight of them to Castlebar and installed them into the bowling alley.”
Cora continued: “Originally we had eight lanes of the bowling alley along with pool and snooker tables, some video games and a snack bar area.
“Over the years we added on and we progressed in to providing Nokey’s, the kids play area. We put in the Q2000 laser, we opened the Hogs Heaven pub 27 years ago and we opened Mayo Movie World 25 years ago.
“In the meantime we had go-karting for a while in the car park and in 2015 we did a big revamp in Mayo Leisure Point and we put in a whole new bowling system, we moved reception and we knocked windows into the walls and gave it a whole new facelift.
"We updated all of Nokey’s Adventureland, the kids play area, new laser equipment and arena and continue to provide a family entertainment centre for 30 years.”
Cora said the facilities are very popular with special needs groups, and added: “On a weekly basis we have special needs groups from all over Mayo and Sligo that come in here. It is like a home from home for them.
"They have great camaraderie with the staff, they have something to eat while they are here - it's part of their week and they have great fun and they love it.”
There are 20 full-time and 40 part-time staff at Mayo Leisure Point and summer-time and holiday periods are always very busy.
“But,” added Cora, “what we love about Mayo Leisure Point and the whole area is that everybody can do something here. If you are nought years of age or 99 years of age, there is something for everybody here and it is so inclusive and it is wheelchair accessible.
“The staff and the management have been here for over 28 and 25 years. That makes a massive difference to people as they see the same faces when they come in. They know the people, there is a great connection there.
“We are a family, providing family entertainment to families every day. What we see is many grandparents bowling on the bowling lanes with their grandkids and family and they have great fun.”
* See this week's issue of The Connaught Telegraph for a special 12-page feature on the anniversary.