Historic Castlebar barracks to be transformed into college campus
Mayo County Council has approved the sale of part of the former Military Barracks in Castlebar to the Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board (MSLETB) for the development of a state-of-the-art education facility.
The college will be providing courses in agriculture, science, healthcare, humanities, mechanics and biopharma. There will also be dedicated spaces for engineering, hairdressing and beauty therapy programmes.
Facilities will include advanced laboratories, cleanrooms for MedTech and BioPharma training, an Employer Engagement Hub for industry collaboration and skills development, as well as public and community space for events, workshops and exhibitions.
The college will cater for over 1,000 students each year and will also offer extended evening and weekend classes.
The redevelopment is being supported through the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), with €2.44m already secured for the first phase, which includes master planning and essential works to ensure the buildings' safety.
The sale, approved under Section 183 of the Local Government Act, involves 1.911 hectares of the 2.41-hectare barracks site.
Mayo County Council will retain the remaining 0.5 hectares, which include Blocks A, B, C, and D of the barracks, Bridge House, currently leased to the Irish Defence Forces, and the entrance gates and Gate House on Lower Charles Street.
Blocks A and B are earmarked for redevelopment as an innovation hub.
During the meeting, Cllr Michael Kilcoyne proposed that two of the retained blocks be considered for use by the Order of National Ex-Service Men (ONE), a charity supporting Irish veterans. The proposal was seconded by Cllr Donna Sheridan.
He noted that many ex-service men face homelessness and deserve support.
"I am proposing that we see how we can accommodate the ONE, they deserve that," he said, "they have done more service for the country than Fianna Fáil have done."
Cllr Al McDonnell raised concerns about previous unfulfilled redevelopment promises in Castlebar and proposed a three-year development clause, later extended to four years, which would require significant on-site progress or ownership of the site would revert to the council.
Director of Services Catherine McConnell warned that such a condition would be "very onerous" for a semi-state body like MSLETB, given the multiple approvals required for a project of this scale.
Cllr Blackie Gavin urged colleagues to support the plan without conditions that could delay it.
"We can't afford to lose this project for Castlebar," he said, adding that it would provide local opportunities for training and employment.
"We can have a centre of excellence right here in Castlebar. This state is crying out for tradespeople, it will help keep young people in the county."
Cllr Harry Barrett welcomed the sale, describing the development as vital to revitalising a site that has been derelict for more than a decade.
Building on Cllr McDonnell's proposal, he suggested that MSLETB be required to submit clear timelines for key phases such as planning, contractor appointment and construction, to ensure momentum and regular progress reports to the council.
Cllr Sheridan is a member of the MSLETB board and has been working on this project. She said the scale and complexity of the project meant it would inevitably take time.
"It took me three and a half years to renovate a house, talking about timelines like that are unrealistic. I wish we could have it up in that time, but we are talking about buildings that are on the protected structure register," she said.
"It is a protected structure. There are huge planning and funding applications, we have to accept that," Cllr Sheridan added and assured the meeting that there is a dedicated team working consistently to ensure the project is seen through.
The approval of the Section 183 disposal was proposed and seconded, along with Cllr Barrett's call for project targets and progress reports.
"What we can do in the contract is to ask for a significant milestone to be identified as targets," Ms McConnell told the meeting.
She noted that once the building is sold, it will no longer be owned by the council, but confirmed that the authority would remain engaged with the project due to its retention of two of the blocks.
"This is the crown jewel of Castlebar," she said, "we won't let a foot go wrong on this proposal."
This article has been funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.