TV images of dereliction on Mayo street made for depressing viewing

by Auld Stock

PAT McGrath’s RTÉ News report on the derelict state of a number of houses on Ellison Street, Castlebar, made for depressing viewing.

I pass those houses a few times a week and they are there for so long we take them for granted.

However, when the houses were beamed into our homes on the national television service, they didn’t make a pretty picture.

A plan is now in hand to vastly improve this area of Ellison Street and it was encouraging to hear the positive outlook of Tom Gilligan, director of services for housing at Mayo County Council, when he spoke about the major improvements planned for the street.

The acquisition of private properties for development is a slow and tedious process.

However, steady progress has been made to revamp the derelict area so full marks to Tom Gilligan and others involved in the Ellison Street project. I look forward to the completed revamp of the area.

*Ellison Street is named after Rev. Ellison, rector in Castlebar in the late 1700s. Anthony McHale and family lived in the area of Ellison Street to be revamped, Dermot Fahey had an electrical shop there, P.J. Durcan, solicitor, had his office in the area and Miss Condon had a sweet and coffee shop in the area.

Anthony McHale worked in The Connaught Telegraph and his son Laurence, a building contractor, was a prominent member of Castlebar Boxing Club.