Mayo hotel initiates reopening plans

ONE of Mayo's best-known establishments, the Welcome Inn Hotel in Castlebar, is taking steps to reopen.

An application has been made to the Mayo County Registrar's Office for a publican's seven-day licence in respect of the facility which has been closed since entering voluntary liquidation in February 2016 with the loss of 20 full-time and 25 part-time jobs.

The application, made in the name of George Maloney, receiver, RSM Ireland, is scheduled to be considered by the Circuit Court in Castlebar on April 25.

It represents a significant move as new owner Thomas McHugh, a son of Mary McHugh and the late Tony McHugh, begins the process of relaunching the business which opened in May 1962.

Last June, Mr. McHugh acquired the property after reaching an agreement with Dublin-based firm Baker Tilly Ryan Glendon Limited, the receivers who have been handling the sale on behalf of the Bank of Ireland.

A number of legal issues have delayed the reopening and these have now been resolved.

The McHugh family is not issuing a statement at this point. But it is understood the hotel will be relaunched by the staging of a family wedding when the licence is in place.

A number of bedrooms are being renovated as part of the initial investment to get the hotel back up and running.