The Bridge Inn, Ballymiles.

The Bridge Inn in Ballymiles on the N5 has new owners

TWO prominent Mayo businessmen – Oliver Kelleher and Kieran Tuite – are about to breathe new life into a disused former pub in central Mayo.

Oliver and Kieran have confirmed their purchase of the Bridge Inn on the N5, near Bohola, which has been closed for two years.

The pair are already successfully involved in the running of the Village Inn in Partry.

The developers say they plan to spend €0.5 million on the spacious premises, replacing the kitchen and upgrading the diningroom and accommodation area.

In a statement to The Connaught Telegraph, they outlined: “We plan to re-open the premises before the end of the summer with a restaurant diner selling quality food.

“Included in the plans are public toilets and showers and other facilities for truckers and commuters on this busy thoroughfare.”

The business partners say they won't be applying for grants to develop their new property nor have they been approached by anyone offering them grants.

Their statement continued: “Like every business, all we are asking for is that stumbling blocks won't be put in our way in the form of long drawn out rules and regulations that have become part of doing business in Ireland.

“We prefer to try and get on with the job of opening a business and creating jobs in our local community.

Speaking to The Connaught Telegraph, Oliver Kelleher says he hopes that all going well the premises will be re-opened in three months’ time.

“There is great potential in the location,” he explained.

“It is situated on the main Westport to Dublin N5 roadway. The total floor area involved is over 5,000 square feet.”

Both Oliver and Kieran have played a major role in the business life of Mayo in recent decades.

In 1976, Oliver established Oliver Kelleher Castlebar Limited. The company now operates the largest hygiene and catering equipment cash and carry showrooms nationwide, selling over 6,000 products to bars, restaurants, hotels and the many major manufacturing outlets throughout Ireland.

The Kelleher family also run All-Affairs Catering Hire and Fancy Dress Shop, Gifts Supreme and OK Trophies & Awards in Castlebar.

Kieran Tuite, who is now resident in Switzerland, played a major role in sustaining jobs in Mayo in the 1980s when he was financial controller of Travenol Healthcare, now Baxter.

In the 1980s, 1,200 job losses were threatened when Travenol decided to close its operations in Castlebar and Swinford.

Kieran, along with two other members of the Mayo management team, travelled to the United States to try to convince company management there was a good future for them in Ireland.

They were given 12 months to turn the company around. Thirty years later, Baxter (Travenol) is one of the largest employers in the west of Ireland.

The Bridge Inn was previously owned by the O'Neill family.

It first came on the market in February 2015. No details of the selling price agreed with the new owners has been divulged.