Mayo County Council approves hotel sale

Mayo County Council has agreed to the sale of the historic Imperial Hotel in Castlebar.

Councillors supported the proposal to transform the vacant premises and the adjoining motor tax office building into a 44-bedroom hotel.

Mayo County Council was seeking to sell the Imperial and the Glenpark building to a hotel operator for €700,000. The prospective buyer already runs the Gateway Hotel in Swinford and the Cill Aodain Hotel in Kiltimagh.

The landmark building located at the Mall, was the site of the foundation of the Land League in 1879. It was also agreed at the meeting to sell part of Castlebar Military Barracks and land to Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim Education and Training Board in order to establish a new Mayo College of Further Education on the site.

Fine Gael’s Cyril Burke said the people of Castlebar want new life breathed back into the Imperial Hotel.

 Cllr Al McDonnell said it is an “exciting” project.

He said the door of the premises has never been opened since Mayo County Council bought the building in 2011.

Cllr Blackie Gavin received assurances at the meeting that the motor tax office and the National Roads Design Office, located in the adjoining Glenpark building would remain in Castlebar.

Cllr Michael Kilcoyne said it was “shameful” that the building is being sold for less than the council originally paid for it. The building was purchased by Mayo Council in 2011 for €800,000.

His fellow Independent Harry Barrett repeated his feelings that it should be refurbished as new civic officers.

Cllr Ger Deere said the project “offers a new lease of life for that building.” He proposed that the local authority should return offices to Marsh House if it is vacated by Castlebar Educate Together.