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THE HISTORIC WESTPORT house and estate has been sold to the owners of Hotel Westport.
As part of the sale, it was agreed that the future of the house and estate would be secure, with the new owners promising an investment of €50 million and the creation of 200 jobs.
The previous owners, the Browne family, said that it had been an emotional day for the family as they sold their family home.
“On the one hand,” said Sheelyn Browne, “We are handing over custody of our ancestral family home after hundreds of years but we are doing so in the knowledge that the new owners are committed to bringing to fruition the ambitions and dreams of our late and much loved father Jeremy Browne.”
The late Lord Altamont Jeremy Browne, the 11th Marquess of Sligo, wanted to developed the estate as a tourist attraction.
The estate’s new owner said they would liaise with the family as they develop our plans over the next few years.
“I want to assure all the existing staff, suppliers and customers that we will continue to operate as normal under the new ownership,” said Cathal Hughes, chairman of the Hotel Westport.
“As a local business family, we are delighted to be able to make this investment in our home town. We realise the importance of Westport house as a tourist amenity to the whole of Mayo.”
History
The estate is one of the oldest in Ireland and comprises a range of buildings and facilities. The façade of the present house dates to 1778 and has been in the ownership of the Browne family from before this time. The family traces its lineage back to the 16th Century Pirate Queen Grace O’Malley.
A report commissioned by Mayo Council by CHL Consulting in 2015 concluded that Westport House Estate directly creates 47 jobs and accounts for €50.7 million of indirect expenditure for the region. The Browne family has owned the house for almost 400 years. It has been open to the public since 1960. Westport House Estate has also shown significant growth in recent years with over 162,000 paying customers in 2014 – up 82% on the 89,000 visitors in 2009.
Expecting the minister for health to settle this dispute I wouldnt hold my breath.He had very little say in the allocation of funds in the budget .He has no power whatsoever as far as I can see.
Can not abide such tactics, going to strike indefinitely from tomorrow… leave them off and get new people in to cover….
@Dramafree 2023: scab
@Hayagriva: yes I am a terrible human not wanting the health services held to ransom by a union and further deteriorating beyond its already unacceptable rate. indefinite strike will without a doubt cost lives… think about that. And that is why they are doing it… cos they know the gov will have to cave quicker.
@Dramafree 2023: I think the care workers have a better idea of the trouble the services are in than you.
And if they’re striking things must be bad given the relationships they built with clients everyday.
It sounds more like government blackmailing care workers to prop up a broken system so they can continue to siphon money through the bloated bureaucracy.
@Dramafree 2023: Section 39 organisations are losing staff and can’t fill those posts or any new positions due to the pay difference between us and section 38 organisations. This is impacting on the quality services like you suggest but the strikes are happening because staff deserve to be paid the same as section 38 employees for doing the same job. Staff don’t want to strike but it seems to be the last option on the table at this point.
@Dramafree 2023: Wonder why you didn’t include the government stance ? . Which would include another round of applause. Suppose the workers 100% .Government health policy has already cost lives… Perhaps you would want to read the patient waiting list times published yesterday. Of course that would not suit your narrative.
@Donal Desmond: donal you have absolutely no idea who I am, what I have read, where I work or what I know. I dont even have a narrative but I will never ever, section 38, section 39 or otherwise condone or agree with indefinite strike action as a negotiation tool. You are talking about the most vulnerable members of our society being used as a pawn between the gov and the employees. Absolutely not the way to do business and shame on anyone who feels they can justify it.
@Dramafree 2023: The government certainly have no problem in using the most vulnerable as pawns ..Who you are and what you do or read is none of my business…I replied to your comment…you have your views and I replied with my view…Is it the fact that my point of view upset you….If you post a comment ,you must expect a response…
Vote for Fianna Fail, for a brighter future
@Mary FF should not be a whipping boy for Europe plus the lefties as this is why the UK voted in Brexit
@Mary Toilet: Do you mean the Baby Blueshirts..?
Not just B holidays but everyday .
Why are these talks always at the last minute?
have your say