Plans for Mayo recreation area will include outdoor space for performances

PLANS for a performance space on the Mall in Castlebar have not been lost.

It will be incorporated into future plans, municipal district cathaoirleach Councillor Blackie Gavin has assured.

Proposals for a bandstand at the Mall took a turn at a recent meeting when a 'mobile' option was suggested, which could be used in other areas.

Since then, a joint application for funding for a mobile bandstand stage had been submitted by the Castlebar and Westport-Belmullet Municipal Districts.

However, Councillor Ger Deere said he was unhappy about the way it happened at their last meeting, saying there was total confusion, and it needed to be looked at again.

He was sure councillors had received communication, with people unhappy with what was gone through that day.

His understanding was that there should have been more discussions on what project should have gone in.

It was a 'missed opportunity'.

The application was gone in now but they needed to seriously look at the money which was allocated for the historical core and the Mall.

There is a 'huge appetite' for a bandstand to be put in place and they needed to look at it again.

Councillor Gavin said they would have some sort of hardstand or feature incorporated into the Mall where a band might play, people dance or deliver a speech.

“It has not been lost,” he said, and it will be incorporated into the plans for the Mall.

The matter will be discussed at a workshop to be held on April 16.

Municipal district head Iarla Moran said it was discussed at their last meeting and clarified and the motion was as per the minutes.

Each district was asked for a proposal for the outdoor public space scheme and they put in a joint one with Westport-Belmullet MD for a mobile bandstand.

The proposals will come before the main council meeting in May, so they would see it again.

With regards the Mall, as part of the historical core application there was an opportunity to put in an open area events space and that will be looked at in the design, and that will come before councillors again.