Ballinrobe pub undergoing refurbishments despite removal of nearby parking spaces

A Ballinrobe pub that has been closed for some time is set to reopen.

Wiring and plumbing has already commenced on O’Malley’s Bar on Convent Road while a three-bedroom flat above the premises is due to be finished in a month’s time. A three-bedroom flat above the premises is due to be finished in a month’s time.

The pub is owned by local man Adrian O’Malley, whose family have run the business in prior years.

Speaking to The Mayo News Mr O’Malley hit out at the removal of parking spaces along nearby Glebe Street to facilitate the instillation of traffic lights.

Locals held a meeting in O’Malley’s funeral home last Monday to voice their objection to the removal of parking between three and four car parking spaces, which is set to take place in the coming weeks.

The removal of a bus stop and a parking metre to another part of Ballinrobe is currently being considered to provide more parking space.

“The consequences for us are massive, residentially commercially,” said Mr O’Malley, who lives on Glebe Street.

“I’m willing to work with them [county councillors] and make decisions on my own behalf to get things in place safety wise for my family first of all and secondly down the line for the pub.”

Mr O’Malley added that lighting would need to be improved on Watson's Lane, a road located near the entrance to the pub, to ensure the safety of patrons. 

“There’s no parking on New Street, Watson’s Lane, you’d be very lucky to get a spot there and even if you do get a spot on Watson’s Lane how do you safely cross the road from there? Cars fly in the Convent Road there, the only thing that slows the cars down is if cars park on the left hand side.”

First opened in 1944, O’Malley’s was previously operated by Mr O’Malley’s grandparents, father and his brother before it closed roughly a decade ago.