Galway HotelsA five-star hotel being built at the entrance to Galway's new Wellpark retail park will be targeted mainly at the corporate market. Property Editor Jack Fagan reports and below, Michael Finlan reports on the large number of hotels built during Galway's startling decade of growth

Competition for the top end of the hotel market in Galway city is about to be intensified with the decision by local property developer Gerry Barrett of Edward Holdings to open a five-star hotel at the front of Wellpark retail park in the city.

The 100-bedroom hotel will be specifically aimed at the corporate market but will also cater for leisure and incentive group business.

There is one other five-star hotel in Galway, Glenlo Abbey, but the main competition over the past few years has been between the Great Southern Hotel at Eyre Square and the relatively new Radisson SAS Hotel in the same area.

Mary McKeon, group operations manager with Great Southern Hotels, is to join Edward Holdings as chief operating officer of the hotel division with responsibility for the Galway hotel.

She will also be looking after a 100-plus bedroom hotel to be built in Drogheda by Edward Holdings as part of the Scotch Hall shopping, leisure and residential complex.

The Galway hotel will be based mainly on the upper levels of Wellpark and will have stunning views over Lough Atalia when it opens early in 2005.

The retail element of Wellpark is largely completed off the Moneenageesha roundabout on the Dublin road, less than one kilometre from Eyre Square.

Ms McKeon says the hotel will be contemporary in design but with a classical element.

It will have an exceptionally fine two-roomed suite, a number of mini suites and all rooms will have state of the art technology.

The facilities will also include a spa and meeting rooms.

The four-star hotel planned for Drogheda will also be targeted at the top end of the market where there is also an obvious void.

It will cater predominantly for the corporate, leisure and local business market.

One floor of the building will be specifically dedicated to conference facilities as well as functions and weddings.

The ground floor will have panoramic views over the River Boyne.

The decision to locate a five-star hotel at the front of Wellpark will strengthen the appeal of the retail complex, which will have over 14,000 sq m of lettable space.

Atlantic Homecare will be paying a rent of around €850,000 for two units with a combined area of 5,109 sq m (55,000 sq ft), the largest outlet to be opened by the company.

Other tenants about to move in include Toy City, with 1,672 sq m (18,000 sq ft) on two levels; Reid Furniture, with 1,579 sq m (17,000 sq ft) on two levels; Hickey Fabrics, with 929 sq m (10,000 sq ft); and Maplan Electronics, with 603 sq m (6,500 sq ft).

Edmund Douglas of Douglas Newman Good Commercial is in discussions with an electrical retailer for another shop of 929 sq m (10,000 sq ft).

He is also handling enquiries from companies specialising in house furnishings, computers and carpet.

These units are expected to be let at around €269 per sq m €25persqft).

The complex will also include a pizza restaurant, a pharmacy and a coffee shop and basement car-park with over 500 spaces.

Edward Holdings is also about to proceed with almost 6,000sqm (64,583sqft) of leisure facilities along the front of the site which are expected to copperfasten the success of Wellpark. Though Galway city planners refused permission on two occasions for the leisure centre,

An Bord Pleanála has allowed it to proceed citing the "high standard of architectural expression which would complement nearby schemes".

The innovative architecture in the first phase of the development has also won much approval for architect Gerry Hand of Douglas Wallace.

The leisure centre will accommodate a seven-screen multiplex cinema, a gym, sports retail facilities, restaurants, crèche and a play area for children aged between three and 14.

The leisure centre is due to open at the end of 2004.