LETTER: Why so many young people are leaving Mayo's county town

Sir,

I READ the story in last week's issue of The Connaught Telegraph on a decision by local investors to withdraw from a planned major development at Castle Street car park in Castlebar.

I am a recent school leaver working to save money to move to Australia. My friends and I grew up in and around Castlebar.

Counting my friends and their friends, about 40 or so of us are saving up to move to Australia.

We feel we have to get out of Castlebar as we find it depressing. We are all struggling with our mental health.

There are no decent jobs in the town, few good pubs or nightlife, and the cost of living and rent could be better also.

Castlebar is full of old dirty buildings. Main Street is like so run-down looking. The roads are always so filthy, with weeds growing all over town.

There is nothing in this town for younger people, and no nightclubs, modern pubs, or late bars exist.

We regularly travel to Westport on Moran's bus to escape the depression of Castlebar for a few hours. Westport is superior to Castlebar in every way.

There is nowhere to meet friends and hang out in Castlebar.

We all have friends from years ahead of us now living in Australia. The towns and cities there are so modern and clean, and the streets are so clean; there is so much to do there.

The jobs are more exciting, and you can afford to rent there. The towns and cities have pubs and nightlife, and life is more fulfilling.

The only thing Castlebar has is old dirty buildings like the Imperial Hotel, Military Barracks, Old Post Office, Hat Factory, closed pubs, and a Main Street with empty buildings.

Castlebar has been stopped from growing and becoming modern too many times because it might upset the town's history and the large group of people stuck in the past.

My friends and I can't wait to move to Australia, start a new life, and forget about Castlebar's dark chapter in life.

Yours sincerely,

Robert.

(Full name and address with editor).