Castlebar Chamber chief slams 'negativity' towards town
THE president of Castlebar Chamber of Commerce has hit back at what he described as 'negative' social media coverage of the town.
Wilson Bird said the perception created that the county town is in decline could not be further from the truth.
He stated: “It’s no surprise Westport was voted the best place to live as locals have real pride in their town. No one mentions the bars that are closed midweek, that hotels closed over Christmas or that big retailers are leaving. Every message is a positive one.
“In contrast, we are not being fair on ourselves or our town. We should be comparing our town to Sligo and Galway and stop comparing it to Westport.
“The reality is that Castlebar has never had so many new restaurants, with more set to open. More retail space is being filled and it is getting harder for anchor tenants to find a site in Castlebar.
“Each of the six big grocery stores have shown growth in 2016 and have a positive outlook. There is improved parking and cheaper rates than Galway. Our new bypass will make a positive difference.”
In regards to the nightclub scene in Castlebar, Mr. Bird said this market has changed dramatically in the last few years nationally. “For most nightclubs it’s a very tough time. Going to Westport has always been done by people in Castlebar over the years, even when we had nightclubs. The trend will change, but it does take time.
“Knocking the town and promoting Westport doesn’t help this change, but positive messages and stories on social media sites do help change trends.”
“Look at how many bars have closed in Castlebar over the years. The same is happening to nightclubs. The whole drinking culture has and is still changing. Coffee is the new pint. Bars are being replaced with coffee shops.
“There is a market for a nightclub to open again, but it’s the market that will dictate when the timing is right for one to open. The same way the market has dictated that there is room for another bar in Castlebar next year.
“Tralee has a population of 25,000 and had a five-year period with no nightclub up until last year.
“Claremorris and Ballina have nightclubs but there are still busses going every Friday and Saturday night to Westport.
“At any time, a publican in Castlebar can apply for a late licence, but at present there is not the market.”
Mr. Bird, manager of Breaffy House Resort, said Irish hotels don’t really benefit from the increased numbers coming into the country as most visitors are Irish people coming home and staying with their families.
“It's true that 95% of hotels in the country close over Christmas. Breaffy House Resort did try and open this year and after spending in excess of €25,000 on advertising and promotions, were not able to get the numbers to justify opening.”
On a final point, Mr. Bird said he grew up in Limerick and he never hears the people of city talking down their town.
“The people of Limerick always talked up their city, even with all its issues over the years. It was the rest of the country that would make comments on Limerick,” he said.