Castlebar set to receive ‘the largest educational investment in County Mayo’s history’ at former military barracks

A proposal to transform the former Castlebar military barracks into a ‘state-of-the-art’ educational facility has been unanimously welcomed by Castlebar Municipal District Council. 

Mayo County Council have proposed the sale or ‘significant portion of the site’ at Gorteendrunagh to the Mayo Sligo Leitrim Education and Training Board for a sum of €704,835.

This would pay for the construction of a 6,000 square metre state-of-the-art educational campus, including laboratories, community spaces and employer engagement hubs. 

As part of the deal, Mayo County Council will retain ownership of two buildings which have already been refurbished and are in good condition. Any development of the facility would have to protect the cultural heritage of the military barracks. 

There are 14 listed buildings on the 2.4 hectare-site, which was acquired by the council in 2022 for €600,000. 

Catherine McConnell, Mayo County Council’s Director of Services for Planning, said the proposal would represent ‘the largest educational investment in County Mayo’s history’. 

Ms McConnell said that funding allocated for an innovation hub at the Imperial Hotel from the Urban Regeneration Development Fund (URDF) could be re-appropriated to develop the new educational campus at the barracks.

She said that the investment would drive economic activity in the town, offer high-quality employment opportunities and enhance Castlebar’s profile as a destination for third-level students. 

The Mayo county town is currently home to two third-level institutions; ATU Mayo and Mayo College of Further Education. 

The proposal to use the military barracks as an educational facility was welcomed by the elected members of Castlebar Municipal District Council when it was presented to them at their monthly meeting in Balla Community Centre. 

Cllr Michael Kilcoyne (Independent) said it was ‘well past time that something was done’ with the barracks. 

The council had a caretaker agreement in place after the facility was decommissioned as a working military barracks in 2012.

The Castlebar military barracks was constructed during British rule and could accommodate hundreds of troops. It has since seen limited use for events such as the annual ‘Horror In The Barracks’ fundraiser. 

Cllr Blackie Gavin (Fianna Fáil) described the proposal as ‘a great news story’ for Castlebar. 

“We’re crying out for different tradespeople like plumbers, electricians, mechanics, you name it, and we’ve fallen a long way behind when you see the amount of money that is being invested in the likes of Sligo and the likes of Galway. This is a start, and this is a great start,” said Cllr Gavin. 

His comments were echoed by his fellow councillors, including Cllr Harry Barrett, who said it will make Castlebar ‘a thriving town’. 

“This facility will put Castlebar right in the centre of education provision in this province,” said the Independent councillor. 

Cllr Donna Sheridan (Fine Gael), Cathaoirleach of Castlebar Municipal District, thanked Mayo County Council for their support in preparing the proposal, which was first initiated over a year ago. 

“It’s going to be a game-changer for Castlebar, possibly one of the best projects we are ever going to bring into the town,” she said. 

The proposal must now be approved by elected members of Mayo County Council at their monthly meeting on Monday for it to progress.