TV star calls Mayo town "depressing"
The architect and TV host made the comments on radio this morning.
Architect and TV presenter Hugh Wallace labelled a Mayo “depressing” during a radio interview this morning.
The Home of the Year star appeared on the Oliver Callan Show on RTÉ Radio.
Citing a recent reader's letter to the Connaught Telegraph where a school leaver said they were emigrating from Castlebar due to a lack of opportunities and activities for young people, Wallace agreed with the letter writer.
“Robert is a young guy who is saying he has to get out of Castlebar because it’s depressing. And I know Castlebar and unfortunately it is depressing,” The Great House Revival host remarked.
He said Castlebar could learn from other towns in the country. “Clonakilty was a dump 25 years ago and now it’s spectacular, it’s fabulous.” “That’s all about spending money in the town,” he added.
The award-winning architect bemoaned a lack of town centre housing in Castlebar.
“People don’t live in Castlebar over the shop. That horrendous car park out the back of Main Street. If there were 300 families living there that would bring €12 million right into the town centre.” We have to get our head around this and not be snobs,” he commented.
Independent Castlebar councillor Michael Kilcoyne said planners and the powers that be appear to have a "death wish" against Castlebar.
He said he fears the town is on a "slippery slope" due to a lack of proper development and affordable housing.
