Contracts valued at over €2.5 million signed for Castlebar rejuvenation projects

Mayo County Council this week signed contracts on two different projects that will revitalise the town centre of Castlebar.

Under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (Call Two) the Castlebar Historic Core Reactivation project received a grant of over eight and a half million towards the overall project cost of €11.37 million.

The project is aimed at stimulating regeneration by redressing the deterioration of underutilised historic properties and back lands that frame the Mall in Castlebar.

This week, Mayo County Council signed a contract valued at €2.22 million with MVS Construction Ltd for the restoration and reconfiguration of the former Post Office Building Castlebar, and conversion to a new Community Youth Resource Centre.

A contract valued at €282,900 was also signed with Taylor McCarney Architects to develop a Public Realm Masterplan and design work for the Mall and the back lands of Ellison Street, to refurbish and rejuvenate its setting and to provide an enhanced connection to other parts of the town, including the Military Barracks and Ellison Street. 

Cathaoirleach of the Castlebar Municipal District, Councillor Donna Sheridan, welcomed the signing of the contracts, calling it a ‘fantastic day for Castlebar’.

Cllr Sheridan said the new youth centre will be ‘a place where dreams are nurtured, and futures are forged’.

“This is more than just a building, it is an investment in our community’s future, it will foster creativity, encourage teamwork, and empower the youth of Castlebar to reach their full potential.

“The development of a Public Realm Masterplan for the Mall and the back lands of Ellison Street will provide us with a roadmap of how we will continue the rejuvenation of this historic area in the town and set it up for an exciting future,” she continued.

David Mellett, Head of Castlebar Municipal District, added: “The signing of these contracts marks a significant milestone in Mayo County Council’s journey to revitalise this historic area of Castlebar.”

He said the ‘masterplan’ will ‘transform [the] public spaces into a vibrant and welcoming hub for communities’. 

“The construction of the new youth centre along with the masterplan is not just about bricks and mortar, it is about investing in our future, our culture, businesses and the quality of life of residents of the town and making it more attractive for those who visit,” he concluded.