Castlebar on cultural cusp

Castlebar on cultural cusp

Áine Ryan

CASTLEBAR is on the cusp of a social and cultural revival after a period of disconnectedness arising from unprecedented growth. That’s the view of Economic Consultant and Strategic Analyst, Padraic McGuinness, who, in recent years has worked at the coalface of key projects designed to rejuvenate a town that, in the last decade, has witnessed an unprecedented population increase and retail development.
Mr McGuinness – who is involved in the Castlebar 2020 Vision Project – believes that last weekend’s inaugural Féile on the Mall is not only a symbolic example of this new community energy but will also prove a launch-pad for its growth.    
“There has been a sense of where is our community and do we have to reconstruct it? Because, over recent years, there has been a deficit in community spirit, consequently the grapevine hasn’t worked as well as it should. The town has become disjointed. But this is about to change now,” said Mr McGuinness, who runs PMG Consult, which is based at the Innovation in Business Centre at Castlebar GMIT.
Referring particularly to Féile on the Mall, he observed it will be a good testing-ground for further festivals, since it also coheres with the Culture and Events section of the 2020 Vision programme, which is led by the Chamber of Commerce.
“In this section the promotion of more summer outdoor events using ‘quality public spaces’ is viewed as a method of stimulating civic and community pride,” Mr McGuinness explained to The Mayo News.
He also said that the completion of the new Royal Theatre – the second largest auditorium in the country after the Point Theatre – and its ability to attract such acts as Riverdance was a major resource that must be harnessed.
“The fact that we have this huge asset along with the National Museum of Country Life must be embraced. I believe also that the town centre development is at an advanced stage regarding planning; this means that everything is coming together. Implementing 2020 Vision will prove to be a big boost for business confidence in the town,” he said