Councillors to be asked to approve sale of historic Mayo hotel

COUNCILLORS will be asked to approve the sale of the Imperial Hotel property in Castlebar for redevelopment as a hotel when they meet on Monday.

The hotel, where the Land League was founded, is owned by Mayo County Council, and has lain vacant and falling into dereliction for a number of years.

Prospective purchasers PJ Staid and Joe Egan propose turning it back into a 22-bedroom hotel. If councillors approve the sale, they will acquire the adjoining Glenpark building - home to the motor tax office and roads design office, which will bring the bedrooms total up to 44.

Each property is valued at €700,000, Castlebar area councillors were told at a municipal district meeting in Balla. The council had looked at Glen Park before this proposal and it required a €700,000 investment to bring it up to standard, director of service Catherine McConnell explained.

Responding to questions, she was satisfied as to the financing of the hotel refurbishment, which will recognise its historical importance.

The developers operate two existing hotels of similar size in the county and they intended to apply a similar model, she said.

Discussions have taken place with staff in Glenpark, its development being phase two of the project. The motor tax office will be retained in Castlebar, she confirmed.

Noting they bought Glenpark for £700,000, this was the only building he knew of in the country that had dropped in value, Councillor Michael Kilcoyne commented, as he queried the status of staff in the building.

He felt the least the State could do would be to have a special place in town dedicated to Michael Davitt. But the council seemed intent on 'selling off the family silver'.

However, Councillor Al McDonnell said this is an exciting proposal - a 44-bedroom hotel operated to the highest standards. He noted how its historical significance had been identified by a previous owner, Mary B. Jennings, with aspects like the Davitt lounge and the fantastic dining room. He was convinced the new developers would respect its significance.

Concern was expressed by Councillor Blackie Gavin that the tax and roads offices might be lost from the town. There was no plan, he said.

He was also concerned that over €5 million in funding was sent to Castlebar five years ago 'and not one euro has been spent yet'.

He was pro development but it was backwards they were going. On the town council, they got projects done, but nothing was happening now.

It seemed the train has left the station, said Councillor Harry Barrett, and they were going to be railroaded at a general meeting.

He sought assurances around due diligence in respect of financing the project.

Councillor Ger Deere first proposed that Glenpark be included in a sale for hotel use a few years back, but was told 'no way'.

Castlebar, he said, is crying out for a hotel and the majority of people in the town want to see it opened up again as a hotel.

Cathaoirleach Councillor Donna Sheridan, who admitted she had been very much on the fence, felt strongly that this is a good idea.

She sought a commitment that the tax and roads design office will remain in Castlebar.

The sale will come before a full meeting of Mayo County Council on Monday for formal approval.