Castlebar is now the second fastest growing town in the State thanks to unprecedented economic growth. Such is the level of expansion that assistant county manager in Mayo Mr Alex Fleming has said a population explosion predicted for the town has necessitated a new development plan.
The plan, which is due to go on public display later this month, is designed to cater for an urban population expected to double over the next few years, from over 10,000 to up to 25,000. The plan also reveals that significant industrial growth has been earmarked for the town, which has already attracted large international industries including Baxter, Johnson, Volex, APC, Cedar Data and a number of medium- and smaller-sized industries.
A boom in retailing has seen the arrival of several multiples in recent years, including a newly opened 13,000 square foot outlet of the German retail giant Aldi just before Christmas, transforming Castlebar from a market town into one of the busiest shopping destinations west of the Shannon.
A new 40,000 square foot Tesco store is also due to open next month. According to Mr Pat Jennings of the Castlebar Chamber of Commerce, shoppers in Castlebar broke all previous records over Christmas, when the town was "packed every day" and all 2,000 public car-parking spaces were full. Shoppers travelled from neighbouring counties such as Roscommon to do their bumper Christmas shopping in Castlebar, Mr Jennings said.
"Uniquely in Castlebar, we will have three of the giant multiples, Aldi, Tesco and Dunnes, all situated directly opposite each other in a town centre location. This proximity gives a much greater competitive edge to prices and only serves to add to the attractiveness of Castlebar as a shopping destination," he said.
Official Central Statistics Office figures have shown Castlebar to be the second-fastest growing town in Ireland, with the rate of development in the environs up by 25 per cent.
This compares with a 1 per cent growth rate recorded for the entire county of Mayo, over a recent five-year period, according to Castlebar town clerk Mr John Condon, who confirmed that a phenomenal amount of both commercial and residential planning applications was being received by the local authority.
There are also applications for four separate multi-storey car-parks for the town before the council.
Castlebar is already home to Mayo County Council, Mayo General Hospital, Mayo County Library, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology and a number of large public service employers. A pre-Christmas announcement by the Courts Service that it is to invest £7 million in the reconstruction of Castlebar Courthouse to convert it into one of the most modern in the country is also expected to transform the town into a municipal centre for Mayo.
The courthouse is expected to be completed by 2003, by which time it is anticipated sittings will occur almost on a year-round basis, such is the rising number of court cases, especially at Circuit Court level, in Mayo.