This article is from page 74 of the 2008-10-28 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 74 JPG
THE founder of one of the leading Lovie alee mmr TIC MOM BDO ab NsounIty companies in the western region has reiterated his commitment to build- ing a hotel in Kilrush and developing the marina.
Louis Keating of Kilmihil based L and M Keating Ltd, was speaking at the launch of the company’s biggest ever development in Kilrush — The Merchants Quay Business Quarter.
‘This is our first job in the town as developers. Generally we see our- selves as contractors, we generally tender for work, sign contract and carry out work on time,” he told the packed room at the development’s launch.
“These offices are part of a larger development which consisted of apartments, offices, hotel and a multi storey car park. The apartments at this stage are built. We acquired the
project in the past few months and we have now completed the offices and we do intend if possible at all, to proceed with the hotel and with the car park.
‘I suppose in the current economic climate, its unlikely in the next few months that we will be commencing work on the hotel but we are very aware that Kilrush really needs a hotel, and I know all of the bodies in the town are very supportive of a hotel,” he told the mix of business people and politicians.
“In fact everywhere I go I am al- ways asked, any move on the hotel?” he added.
‘As people may be aware we also have involvement with the marina in Kilrush. Our company together with another company are the preferred bidders to develop the marina.
“Now we have quite ambitious plans, again they are on the back burner to some degree at the mo-
ment but we are still actually talking to Shannon Development and I am quiet confident that we will carry out our development dreams in the ma- rina, and I think this would be a great boost for the town,” he said.
Merchants Quay has been hailed as Kilrush’s landmark building with office and commercial unit available for sale or lease.
Mr Keating also pointed out that the units are one of the few tax-des- ignated properties in the country.
Dentist Dr Niall McCarthy has al- ready decided to take up residence in the building.
Ten years ago Louis Keating went through the old mills – then boarded up and closed – that make up the new state of the art development.
“Today is part of a new life for these building and I hope they are just as noisy as ever they were with just as many people working here, and that they are as important a part of Kil-
rush as they always were,” he said.
“Vd like to acknowledge the vi- sion of Mark and Dermot Reidy who started off this project,’ he added be- fore thanking all those that worked on the development.
He added a special word of ap- preciation to the new development’s neighbours Charles and Edel Glynn for their patience during the two and a half years work.
Mayor of Clare Cllr Madeleine Taylor Quinn (FG) congratulated Mr Keating and thanked him for the amount of employment his company brought to west Clare.
‘He is a very humble man who does a very good job and we really are proud of him,” she said.