Ballina bookies closes doors

Ballina bookies closes doors


Anna Marie Flynn

THE Ballina outlet of Celtic Bookmakers was one of 16 shops closed by the receiver of the national bookmaking company last week.  In all, the closures left a total of 56 staff redundant. The Castlebar branch, the only other outlet in Mayo, remains open.
The outlet at Garden Street in Ballina closed on Wednesday evening last despite reports it may survive given the small number of employees at this branch.
Neil Hughes, of Hughes Blake, told national media that the closures were a “necessary move if we are maintain the viability of the majority of the shops in the network and protect the remaining jobs.
“With the offers received for the remaining outlets, I am now confident that it will be possible to safeguard the vast majority of the remaining jobs.” All of the staff affected closures were assured they will receive their full statutory entitlements. Aside from Ballina, branches also closed in Sligo town, Roscommon and Tuam, as well as Kilkenny, Mallow, Cork, Limerick, Dooradoyle, Carrick-on-Suir, Cashel, Listowel and four outlets in Dublin.
Aside from the branches which shut, the remaining 29 rescued outlets across the country are expected to be sold off as going concerns to competing bookies in the coming weeks.
While Ballina is now closed, it will reopen later this week for one day to settle all bets.
Customers who are unable to make it to a shop for their refund can contact the receiver at the offices of Hughes Blake. Contact details are available via a re-direction site on the company’s website, www.celticbookmakers.com.
Celtic Bookmakers was placed into receivership this month. It was founded by former politician and media personality Ivan Yates in 1987.
The company thrived and prospered for several years and expanded nationwide at a rapid rate. Sadly, like so many other business ventures, it succumbed to recession pressures.