Major holiday resort to open in ballymahon hundreds of jobs to be created

CENTER Parcs, UK are to open a major holiday resort in Ballymahon, creating over 500 jobs in the process.

The major holiday resort is to open in Newcastle Woods in Ballymahon. The estimated €300 million investment is expected to create several hundred jobs both during construction and upon its completion.

The news that one of the UK’s biggest leisure and holiday firms is to invest €100m in Ballymahon couldn’t come at a better time, according to Cllr. Aengus O’Rourke.

The proposed development will be the biggest private tourist investment in Ireland and could create 600 jobs in the construction phase alone.

Longford County Council has reportedly seen off competition from a number of other locations around the country to secure the investment and it is understood negotiations on the plan between the council, Coillte and Center Parcs have been taking place for over a year.

It’s planned for the resort to include more than 200 lodges and villas including a swimming pool complex, spas with planning permission already lodged. It will also contain restaurants and bars and will be situated close to the River Inny.

Cllr Aengus O’Rourke welcomed the news, saying: “This is wonderful news for the people of the Midlands as a whole. The announcement is immense and just the shot in the arm that Ballymahon and County Longford needs. Longford, as a county, has been hit badly by the effects of the recession in recent years. Government should now do all in its power to facilitate and accommodate Center Parcs to ensure this investment is tied down, and delivered for Ballymahon and Longford,”

“Center Parcs is a world leader in the tourism and hospitality sector. They provide exceptional facilities for short breaks and holidays throughout the UK and Europe. They currently have 26 stunning villages each set in acres of beautiful forest, with first class facilities including stylish accommodation, restaurants and a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities Athlone and South Westmeath is also set to benefit from this investment. We have a great tourism product in South Westmeath; our natural beauty, road infrastructure, our accommodation base, visitor attractions - it is all finally coming together. We currently have great momentum as an emerging and serious tourism player nationally, our visitor numbers are growing year on year. So, to have another high-end tourism and hospitality product just 13 miles from Athlone is a great boost for the whole area,” added Cllr O’Rourke.

“All state organisations involved in this proposal should roll up their sleeves, roll out the red carpet for Center Parcs and secure this huge investment for Ballymahon,“ he concluded.