Pearse Street to be ‘i Street’....but just for one day!

Pearse Street to be ‘i Street’....but just for one day!


Anna-Marie Flynn

Ballina is to transform Pearse Street into ‘i Street’ for a day – in a bid to win a €50,000 competition.
As part of the official re-launch of the town’s main shopping thoroughfare, councillors are backing an idea to scoop €50,000 worth of advertising by entering a competition currently running by Galway-based iRadio i102-104 in association with Connacht Gold.
As part of the competition, retailers have to use their initiative and creativity to develop an i-themed display using shop window space by downloading the iRadio logo online and building their display around it.
At the May meeting of Ballina Town Council, Cllr Mark Winters (pictured), mooted the idea which he said was originally suggested by a local business person. “This competition is running at an ideal time with the re-launch of Pearse Street being planned. I know there are ideas for a street carnival and comprehensive re-launch to promote the revamped street and I think this would be perfect to top off the day. I propose we turn Pearse Street into iStreet for a day and get involved with this great initiative,” he said.
Mayor, Cllr Mary Kelly, seconded the proposal, saying: “Pearse Street is going to look absolutely fabulous when it is completed. Already, it is starting to look so much better than I ever anticipated and I certainly support the iRadio idea. I think it would be a great incentive for businesses and fits in well with the re-launch of the street.”
Town Manager Paddy Mahon also supported the novel idea. “I don’t think there would be any issue with renaming the street for a day so it is certainly something to consider,” he said.
Elected members and the local authority officials also praised the on-going work on Pearse Street and the acceleration of work in recent weeks to ‘get the revamp completed as soon as possible’. The main street is scheduled to be re-opened to traffic on June 8 next.