Councillors at odds over future of historic Mayo hotel

Mayo councillors in favour of developing the old Imperial Hotel building in Castlebar into a hotel were told it is not going to happen and to ‘get over’ the idea of a hotel.

The future of the historic Imperial Hotel building on the Mall in Castlebar was discussed at the monthly meeting of the Castlebar Municipal District with the seven councillors divided on what should happen to it.

The historic building, which is where the Irish Land League was founded, is currently in the ownership of Mayo County Council after a proposed sale to turn it into a boutique hotel fell through at the end of April.

Members of the Castlebar Municipal District were informed the plan now is to revert to the original proposal of converting the building into a business innovation hub.

A number of councillors in favour of turning the building into a hotel expressed disappointment that the proposal had fallen through and hoped that another investor could be found.

However, Independent councillor Harry Barrett said it was time to forget about the idea of a hotel.

“We have to get over the whole idea of it being a hotel. These developers have looked at it and run the numbers and decided they can't knock the profit out of it. It is never going to be a hotel. Yes we do need a hotel but a proper hotel which has a banqueting hall and conference hall and parking.

“Get over the whole concept of it being a hotel,” he said.

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Cllr Barrett said that he would like to see civic offices for the municipal district incorporated into the plan for the building.

“Is there flexibility there for us to go back again and look at including a proper municipal chamber for the people of this district in the Imperial Hotel in conjunction with an innovation hub?

“Every other municipal district has a municipal space that reflects the district and we should have one too and there is an opportunity to look at that again,” he commented.

Up to €7 million in funding was allocated to develop the Imperial Hotel into an innovation hub before the idea of selling it was muted and both Cllr Blackie Gavin and Cllr Michael Kilcoyne called for that money to be spent.

“For God's sake, spend the money,” said Cllr Kilcoyne. “It has been five years since the funding was allocated, there is no local authority who has money left for that long. They have it spent and are looking for more.”

Cllr Al McDonnell was among the councillors in favour of selling the building to convert it into a hotel and news it will not happen has been met by disappointment around Castlebar he said. The Fianna Fáil councillor said he still hoped an investor will be found who will go with the idea of a hotel.

“I would just hope that someone will knock on the door and say I have the money and the resources and will develop it and not throw it away. I accept what is being said about the municipal [offices] but it is no replacement for what was proposed. It is a major disappointment and lets hope the door is not completely closed,” he said.

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Cllr Cyril Burke was of a similar view saying he agreed the municipal district needed proper offices but did not feel it was a right project for the Imperial Hotel building. Cllr Ger Deere added he too was in favour of a hotel but questioned why the reasons for the deal falling through have not been given to local councillors.

Head of the Municipal District, David Mellett said the council officials were as surprised as anyone to hear the proposal for a hotel had fallen through but work was progressing on the innovation hub. He said that he expected the tenders will be ready to publish before the end of June subject to department approval.

In relation to the idea of locating the civic offices into the building, he said that it was not an option as all the space was needed for the innovation hub.

“For that building to function as an innovation hub and to be operationally viable we need every square metre we have in there as a hub enterprise space. For us to take a floor would undermine the operational costs of that,” he said.