Mayo councillors asked to approve lease agreement for old Castlebar post office building

Mayo County Council and the Foroige organisation have agreed a reduced lease agreement which will see the former post office building in Castlebar used as a dedicated youth centre.

The old An Post building on Mountain View in the centre of Castlebar was recently renovated following a €2.2 million investment after it was purchased by Mayo County Council for the purpose of providing a dedicated Community Youth Resource Centre in Castlebar.

An agreement signed between Mayo County Council and Foróige in 2021 envisaged a partnership approach to the development of the former Post Office building as a Community Youth Resource Centre and included an indicative rent of €20,000 per annum for years one to five and €25,000 per annum for years six to ten.

However, following recent discussions between Mayo County Council and Foróige, it was agreed that the annual rent will be set at €15,000 per annum for the full ten-year lease term.

The matter is due to come before Monday's monthly meeting of Mayo County Council where councillors will be asked to approve the lease agreement.

In a circular to councillors in advance of the meeting, Julianne Gavin, the Head of Property, Internal Audit and Organisational Change in Mayo County Council outlined the reasons for the agreement.

“The agreement was founded on a shared commitment to develop and operate the facility in the interests of young people and the wider community.

“Following recent engagement with Foróige as the project nears completion, and taking account of the €80,000 contribution made by the Castlebar Community Development Association towards the acquisition of the property, the significant community and youth services to be delivered from the facility, the increase in operating and energy costs and the need to support the long-term sustainability of those services in an uncertain funding environment for Foróige, it is proposed that the annual rent be set at €15,000 per annum for the full 10-year lease term.

“This revised rent reflects the partnership nature of the project and will help ensure that the building is fully utilised for its intended purpose as a dedicated Youth Centre serving Castlebar and the wider area,” she stated.

The building with its distinctive red bricks was designed in 1902 and built over the next two years before opening as a post office in 1904. It continued to operate as a post office until it closed in 2001 and was later sold.