The proposed sale of the former Daly’s Hotel and Imperial Hotel in Castlebar to private developers has been cancelled without explanation by Mayo County Council, owners since 2011 after a sale agreement to purchase the 44-bedroom hotel fell through.
The council had expected the €700,000 sale to PJ Staide and Trish Egan, owners of the Cill Aodáin Hotel, Kiltimagh, and the Gateway Hotel, Swinford, to restore the hotel’s operation as a public accommodation. Phase 1 of a proposed redevelopment would have seen the refurbishment of the hotel building as a 22-bedroom commercial hotel. The second phase would have involved works on the Glenpark building, which currently houses the motor tax office, to create an extra 22-bedroom accommodation block.
The hotel closed in 2009 and the building is currently suffering from water dilapidation and a partially collapsed roof.
The historic hotel started trading in 1720. The current premises weres built in 1795 and reconstructed in 1895. Owner James Daly hosted the meeting at which Land League was founded on August 16 1879. Somewhat ironically, the hotel was renamed the Imperial Hotel by new owner, Edward Reid after Daly’s death in 1906. In more recent years it was run by Paddy and Mary Jennings before undergoing several changes of ownership. A feature of the building was the hotel’s a unique Victorian top-lit timber-paneled dining room:
Concerns arose among local pressure groups regarding the building’s dereliction and calls were made for its use as civic offices under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund.
John J Louden was elected to the chair at that historic first meeting of the Land League which was instigated by Daly and Michael Davitt, and attended by 33 local named individuals, all men: John Armstrong, Manulla; John Barrett, Balla; B Bourke, Ballintubber; Thomas Byrne, Dunamona; “T C,” Castlebar; Anthony Dempsey, Loona; Hugh Feeney, Castlebar; Pat Glynn Munulla; Malachi Henegan, Balla; Stephen Hestkin, The Neale; William Judge, Claremorris; P Kirby,Thomastown; Edward McElinn, Balla; E McElinn, Manulla; John McFlinn, Claremorris; Francis McGrath, Castlebar; John McGrath, Claremorris; PJ Monahan, Ballinrobe; John Nally, Balla; Pat Nally, Balla; John Naughton, Mount Partry; Michael Newell, Partry; Pat Noonane, Cong; PJ O’Malley, Ballinrobe; Thomas Reilly, Balla; P Ryan, Ballyhean; Francis Serens, Ballyglass; Pat Staunton, Partry; Mr Staunton, Ballyhean; J Sweeney, Louisburgh; P Walsh, Balla; JW Walsh, Castlebar; Francis Walsh, Breaffy and John Whelan, Castlebar.
