Connacht GAA Dome re-opening date to bring 'new vibrancy' to local Mayo businesses

COMMUNITY NOTES: BALLYHAUNIS - WESTERN PEOPLE (APRIL 14 EDITION)

The reopening of the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence Dome in Bekan in six weeks will be a big boost for catering business in Ballyhaunis, predicts Dinal Swaris, who operates the local Supermac’s franchise.

John Prenty told a recent episode of popular sports show Off the Ball that the structure would be functional again in five to six weeks, with workers from Slovenia already in situ and working on the reconstruction.

Its reopening is keenly awaited.

“We had many teams call in when they visited the Dome. We have gotten very few buses from the Dome in recent months,” said Swaris who believes the structure’s reopening will bring new vibrancy to local hospitality and retail.

“January was very quiet. It’s been a decent enough year, we’re just ahead of where we were in the first three months of 2025.”

Swaris said finding workers remains challenging.

“The younger generation wants to work and the 16- to 18-year-olds want to work weekends. But it remains difficult to find full-time mature workers.”