New businesses

martyos121

irishgeo wrote: »

doesnt say anything about doing up the nightclub?

You're right, either I misread it or assumed they'd do up the venue while they're fixing up the rooms (which are the most thing in need of work).

They'd be stupid not to improve the nightclub though, there's not an awful lot of work needed but it just looked dull and miserable the last few months it was opened. The most important thing for them is to get plenty of business in there when it reopens so they can open up all the other sections of it. Very few other places in the country have I seen a nightclub have so many areas and bars closed off nearly every week due to lack of custom. It's a fine place when the back bar and upstairs areas are open.

yop

Opensparkz
http://www.midwestradio.ie/index.php/news/33533-25-staff-to-be-hired-over-the-next-3-months-for-vertical-farming-company-setting-up-in-the-former-volex-plant-in-castlebar

Castlebardude

martyos121 wrote: »

Bit of good news at least for the day that's in it, the Welcome Inn is to reopen under new management (still in the McHugh family I believe though) as well as plan to refurbish the rooms and venue itself. Could be some time yet but at last we know it's

More relief than anything, whatever bit of nightlife the town had was drained when it closed down, it'll get a huge amount of business for the few weeks after it reopens but they'll need to figure out how to keep that going for as long as they can because the place was dying for a while until they shut the doors.

Yeah its nice to see it back with the family but what happens those staff who worked there for years and presumably didn't come away with any redundancy ? Seems unfair that in business you can close the doors without paying your debts, leave a lot of people or staff unpaid, then buy it back or reopen again on the cheap and start over with a clean sheet. This is the third high profile case of this in Castlebar alone in recent times and it seems very wrong.Can I do that with my mortgage ?

It's closure didn't really have much affect on the town's nightlife because it was already a lost cause by that time.I and some friends had been in the lounge one Saturday night not long prior to closing and I counted 30 people in the place.The nightclub was already closed down too by then. If they reopen without a serious refurb. and just expect people to support them, they will fail spectacularly. Now is their chance to put together a good new progressive management team, new staff, new blood, invest in the place and reinvent themselves as a town centre boutique hotel perhaps. They won't be long in making it back.

ifconfig

yop wrote: »

Opensparkz
http://www.midwestradio.ie/index.php/news/33533-25-staff-to-be-hired-over-the-next-3-months-for-vertical-farming-company-setting-up-in-the-former-volex-plant-in-castlebar

Did I misread that Midwest piece online just now.
Hungary planet ??? as opposed to Hungry (sic??)

Good to hear of the jobs.

Made me hungry for some Hungarian goulash though

yop

Castlebardude wrote: »

Yeah its nice to see it back with the family but what happens those staff who worked there for years and presumably didn't come away with any redundancy ? Seems unfair that in business you can close the doors without paying your debts, leave a lot of people or staff unpaid, then buy it back or reopen again on the cheap and start over with a clean sheet. This is the third high profile case of this in Castlebar alone in recent times and it seems very wrong.Can I do that with my mortgage ?

It's closure didn't really have much affect on the town's nightlife because it was already a lost cause by that time.I and some friends had been in the lounge one Saturday night not long prior to closing and I counted 30 people in the place.The nightclub was already closed down too by then. If they reopen without a serious refurb. and just expect people to support them, they will fail spectacularly. Now is their chance to put together a good new progressive management team, new staff, new blood, invest in the place and reinvent themselves as a town centre boutique hotel perhaps. They won't be long in making it back.

Nail on head, leaves a very bad taste. Yet them still expect people to be enthusiastic when they return....:mad::rolleyes:

PARlance

yop wrote: »

Nail on head, leaves a very bad taste. Yet them still expect people to be enthusiastic when they return....:mad::rolleyes:

Sure even Castlebardude started by saying it was nice to see it back in the family!?

It's fairly black and white in my book, if they pulled a fast one, then it's not nice to see it in the family.

naughto

PARlance wrote: »

Sure even Castlebardude started by saying it was nice to see it back in the family!?

It's fairly black and white in my book, if they pulled a fast one, then it's not nice to see it in the family.

Of course they did debt written off just like a lot of business in the area and back in control of it again.

Castlebardude

[ote="PARlance;100199374"]Sure even Castlebardude started by saying it was nice to see it back in the family!?

It's fairly black and white in my book, if they pulled a fast one, then it's not nice to see it in the family.[/quote]

It's not that a fast one would have been pulled, there is obviously a loophole or way for business people to "fail" or "go bust" but get back into the same position again legally. We've seen it so many times recently (this is the 3rd hotel in Mayo I know of). IMO It is nice to see it back in the family especially after Tony's untimely death rather than a large corporate but it's easy for me to say that when I wasn't owed money for goods or services provided or an employee that might have been due a large redundancy. I understand why many would say "leaves a bad taste" as it's we the taxpayer that's probably picking up the bill ultimately.

PARlance

naughto wrote: »

Of course they did debt written off just like a lot of business in the area and back in control of it again.

I'm in no doubt but until the details come out, I didn't want to be declaring it. When the details do come out, I'm sure we won't see it splashed across the papers as being as sad day for Castlebar and it's taxpayers.

irishgeo

Its a clear cut fast one. The ballroom and hotel were separate and baowned by different family members. The hotel was for sale but not the ballroom.

No one else is going to be interested in deal where you can buy the hotel but not the ballroom which is linked to the hotel.

That's a stroke of the highest order. I'd love to know where they got the money to pay for the hotel considering the couldn't pay their debts.

godskitchen

I'm not sure whoever it is that has purchased it will be in for an easy time.

The place needs gutting, it's in a bad location, can't expand and the town is not exactly a hive of activity. Saturday nights have all but disappeared, Westport has won that battle.

irishgeo

godskitchen wrote: »

I'm not sure whoever it is that has purchased it will be in for an easy time.

The place needs gutting, it's in a bad location, can't expand and the town is not exactly a hive of activity. Saturday nights have all but disappeared, Westport has won that battle.

Going to be hard to beat 10 euro return on the bus and free entry to the niteclub.

Westernyelp

irishgeo wrote: »

Its a clear cut fast one. The ballroom and hotel were separate and baowned by different family members. The hotel was for sale but not the ballroom.

No one else is going to be interested in deal where you can buy the hotel but not the ballroom which is linked to the hotel.

That's a stroke of the highest order. I'd love to know where they got the money to pay for the hotel considering the couldn't pay their debts.

The old switcheroo......classic......not for the creditors though :mad:

irishgeo

Westernyelp wrote: »

Not open yet. very close though. same owner as Nico's across the road

Judging by some photos on Facebook it appears to be open.

Castlebardude

irishgeo wrote: »

Going to be hard to beat 10 euro return on the bus and free entry to the niteclub.

It's only free in to the nightclub on Fridays and Sunday nights as far as I know.

Castlebardude

irishgeo wrote: »

Judging by some photos on Facebook it appears to be open.

What's it called to search for on FB ?

martyos121

Castlebardude wrote: »

What's it called to search for on FB ?

Montana Steak House and Grill. Looks a really great spot going by the pictures and reviews. They've a photo of their menu uploaded too which looks excellent.

Aeternum

Castlebardude wrote: »

It's only free in to the nightclub on Fridays and Sunday nights as far as I know.

Saturday's before 12 is free if you get the bus. Not free on bank holidays.

PARlance

martyos121 wrote: »

Montana Steak House and Grill. Looks a really great spot going by the pictures and reviews. They've a photo of their menu uploaded too which looks excellent.

I'm eager to see what a €35 30oz Rib Eye looks like. All burger photos so far.

Westernyelp

PARlance wrote: »

I'm eager to see what a €35 30oz Rib Eye looks like. All burger photos so far.

wide angle lens needed

Xenji

I hope the steakhouse does better than Don Carlitos did.

martyos121

Xenji wrote: »

I hope the steakhouse does better than Don Carlitos did.

Who owned that place do you know? It wasn't in a great spot but the food was actually lovely, and I'm not normally one for Italian grub.

Westernyelp

martyos121 wrote: »

Who owned that place do you know? It wasn't in a great spot but the food was actually lovely, and I'm not normally one for Italian grub.

JC of the Chipper fame ran it. he is opening the italian trattoria/winebar across the road from the new steakhouse. couldn't make that other location work.

looks like it will be ready soon.

Xenji

martyos121 wrote: »

Who owned that place do you know? It wasn't in a great spot but the food was actually lovely, and I'm not normally one for Italian grub.

Same guy who has the Steakhouse now I think and has Nicos, although I thought Nicos changed hands after it changed from JCs.

Xenji

Westernyelp wrote: »

JC of the Chipper fame ran it. he is opening the italian trattoria/winebar across the road from the new steakhouse. couldn't make that other location work.

looks like it will be ready soon.

So JC is doing the winebar and the guy who now has Nicos is doing the steakhouse?

Westernyelp

Xenji wrote: »

So JC is doing the winebar and the guy who now has Nicos is doing the steakhouse?

Yep. musical chairs! To add to that i believe the actual owners of the Montana are the lads from Al Muretto next door.

naughto

Jcs not near as nice since it changed hands

Westernyelp

naughto wrote: »

Jcs not near as nice since it changed hands

Don't really do chippers myself so don't know. Nico did have it originally before JC took over and I remember it was nice then. a long time ago now. it's all very confusing :pac:

martyos121

naughto wrote: »

Jcs not near as nice since it changed hands

I'd agree there, but Rocco's on the hill has blown it away in terms of quality IMO, and that goes for the old JC's too. I know it's not completely related to the topic at hand, but it's the best takeaway I've ever had in the town.

naughto

martyos121 wrote: »

I'd agree there, but Rocco's on the hill has blown it away in terms of quality IMO, and that goes for the old JC's too. I know it's not completely related to the topic at hand, but it's the best takeaway I've ever had in the town.

It's grand after a feed of beer but I've kept away since it changed hands. Must have a look a roccos next time iam getting chipper food

PARlance

And the New Biz thread turns into a debate about the best chipper in town....says a lot.

Will give Montana a try soon but the decor and prices aren't all that inspiring.

martyos121

PARlance wrote: »

And the New Biz thread turns into a debate about the best chipper in town....says a lot.

Will give Montana a try soon but the decor and prices aren't all that inspiring.

Nico's are a new business (technically speaking), as are Rocco's (relatively new but I haven't seen any posts about them until I brought them up), so it's not an entirely irrelevant discussion. Hardly a debate either in all fairness.

PARlance

martyos121 wrote: »

Nico's are a new business (technically speaking), as are Rocco's (relatively new but I haven't seen any posts about them until I brought them up), so it's not an entirely irrelevant discussion. Hardly a debate either in all fairness.

It was a joke / throwaway comment.

martyos121

PARlance wrote: »

It was a joke / throwaway comment.

Fair enough, wouldn't be at my sharpest after midnight anyway to pick up on that.

PARlance

martyos121 wrote: »

Fair enough, wouldn't be at my sharpest after midnight anyway to pick up on that.

A smiley face on my behalf would have helped.

ethical

......Sacred Heart Hospital renovation announced again!!! My word they are really tearing the arse out of this,must be the fifth time it has been announced in the last 4 years!!! The sod is now turned ,onwards and upwards,thank you ENDA.

Dudda

ethical wrote: »

......Sacred Heart Hospital renovation announced again!!! My word they are really tearing the arse out of this,must be the fifth time it has been announced in the last 4 years!!! The sod is now turned ,onwards and upwards,thank you ENDA.

It gets announced at the various stages which is typical on a large project. It’s the same storey for the swimming pool. Funding approved, planning permission lodged, planning permission approved, out to builders to tender, builder appointed, builder starts on site and turning of the sod, building opens, building officially opens (often several weeks after it’s occupied they cut ribbon for photos). So ya, you can have lots of announcements and a few more to come.

Anyone know what is being constructed in Castlebar beside the tennis club?

yop

Deleted User wrote: »

Anyone know what is being constructed in Castlebar beside the tennis club?

Swimming pool

yop

yop wrote: »

Swimming pool

Thanks glad to hear Castlebar are getting a new swimming pool, the old one looked well overdue an update

Westernyelp

yop wrote:

Swimming pool

A swimming pool! No way! You would think there would have been some sort of announcement.

yop

Westernyelp wrote: »

A swimming pool! No way! You would think there would have been some sort of announcement.

None, not a word, not a dicky bird. Just dug a hole, fired a few tiles up the side and filled it with tap water. The feckers.

irishgeo

yop wrote: »

None, not a word, not a dicky bird. Just dug a hole, fired a few tiles up the side and filled it with tap water. The feckers.

tap water. they are just waiting for it to fill up with rain before putting on the roof.:D

Westernyelp

New Tapas restaurant ' The House of Plates' opening on Chapel street, Castlebar soon. 'The Town's restaurant scene is really on the up it seems; at last. hopefully this will do something to arrest the flow of diners to Westport in recent years. Good to see.

Arcade_Tryer

Pity they didn't go for the Olympic size given the year that's in it (though I believe they can expand it). Not to mention having an actual competing Olympian in the swimming events from the town.

Dudda

Arcade_Tryer wrote: »

Pity they didn't go for the Olympic size given the year that's in it (though I believe they can expand it). Not to mention having an actual competing Olympian in the swimming events from the town.

While huge it's not the additional construction cost that's the obstacle here it's the annual running cost. An olympic size swimming pool is just so much more to run and the council would make a loss every year due to the limited demand. I'm not saying there's no demand for one, just not enough to make it financially viable. No point building something that's going to lose money every year.

Niall Keane

Dudda wrote: »

While huge it's not the additional construction cost that's the obstacle here it's the annual running cost. An olympic size swimming pool is just so much more to run and the council would make a loss every year due to the limited demand. I'm not saying there's no demand for one, just not enough to make it financially viable. No point building something that's going to lose money every year.

that just translates as lack of vision and laziness to seek connections. Not you Dudda, those in charge, as I believe your reasoning is sound.... that is the reasoning behind the compromise.

I recall 20 years ago in Denmark ... the west of Jutland... a rural backwater with a Sports University and within it an Olympic pool... 1998, so not quite 20 years, I was wrestling for Ireland, paid for by myself.... yea we have always been cheap on every sport, save those who succeed despite the investment rather than because of it! I went on to represent Ireland 87 times in Sanda (Chinese MMA), ranked 4th in the world (professionally), and over 150 Chinese wrestling matches... have gone on to being the Irish National Coach and despite producing European Champs and Bi-Lateral Agreements between China and the EU promising promotion of mutual culture, (they have GAA football teams paid for) we have never seen a penny from the ISC etc.

When will people wake up to the fact that other countries do invest, they have sport universities, they pool knowledge, have experts from every sport and beyond - psychology, nutrition, etc all have their say on every individual athlete's performance and programme... when I was in Utrecht, I visited my pal, a sport psychologist in the university there, he was also Sanda team coach. Their athletes had metal ball bearings placed on them and their movement analyzed, strategists analyzed their opponents, and came up with game plans, other experts devised exactly what exercises were to be used in a periodisation build-up preparation to enhance the wrestling or striking ability of each athlete to meet the strategic demands.... and we... we... leave it up to bog-standard folk-knowledge mainly...

lack of vision leads to lack of success!

But let's face it... when people think of a new swimming pool in Castlebar.. they are thinking family bathing time, learning to swim and school PE excursions.... that's the limit of the creative horizon... yet when you examine how Mayo born and bread athletes who managed to escape the backwardness have done, including myself, but since Brennan was world boxing champ.... just after the famine... well... god help Mayo athletes who dare to consider staying at home... escape!

How much different this could be, if those who
"fumble in a greasy till
And add the halfpence to the pence
And prayer to shivering prayer"
only had the vision of the regional and even personal financial benefit of creating center's of excellence in sport? But they are generally small people, albeit maybe the cutest hoar ever... perhaps in the whole village!

BTW... as for swimming, having grown up in Claremorris, I know for a fact that a girl (I wont mention her name without her permission, I had just typed it and thought better) broke a world record in free-style competition in the early 80's ...BUT... it was a 25m pool so didn't count... It was in prep for the 1984 olympics.. the one the USSR boycotted... I believe an accident of fate - injury prevented her participation... sh1t happens... still... if she had done what she did in a 50m pool it would have counted....and put Mayo on the map.... just think about that! And imagine that Castlebar regional college gave credits like US universities for sports... see how the snowball becomes an avalanche?

My counterpart in the UK is actually knighted, and regularly advises due to his international experience, other international, national, regional and local bodies. Do you think anyone has even called me? I don't blame them, I'm back in Mayo 1 year, I've dealt with the EWUF, IWUF (International Wushu Federation) and IOC (International Olympic Committee) , but who knows? Its like a state secret! Go to Cork... same story... a world Muay Thai champ (again I wont mention names) but sure in his sport he is sought out, but other similar sports dont even know about him... this wouldn't happen in other countries... it just wouldn't! I used to blame the GAA, but they are simply looking after their own sports and doing so well, it is not their fault that our politicians use them as an excuse to verify a budget and neglect other sports. Boxing, due to the success "despite" funding of some amateurs and professionals is finally starting to see some reasonable funding... but Katie and the lads had to win first!!! This is not the way its done internationally. Their governments and people actually take "pride" and "value" the contributions (including economical benefits) associated with successful athletic endeavors. But it seems we are stuck in Yeat's September 1913... Kenny, probably thinks his trips around the Nephin range is what cycling is all about, personal satisfaction! He's never competed at any decent level, he knows nothing about it, but the mass gobsh1tes who know as little probably feel bicycle lanes are the way forward and 25m pools... and that they are simply an expense and can't be revenue... dim people indeed! As much as I love returning to Mayo and I love the soul of the people... some of this sh1t reminds me why as a youngster I left, its just feckin' sad!

Xenji

What was the attendance like for the Castlebar Live event in Hobans car park last Sunday?

Westernyelp

Xenji wrote: »

What was the attendance like for the Castlebar Live event in Hobans car park last Sunday?

About 200 at its peak. not great, but worth doing all the same

yop

Anyone talk to hungry planet to see what they are offering to people?