Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
BREAKING: VAPES, TATTOO SHOPS AND MASSAGE PARLOURS MULTIPLY IN CASTLEBAR AS BURKES LEFT WAITING FOR TUITION PREMISES
Four weeks ago, RTÉ reported on the death of "Main Street" in towns all across Ireland. We have our own story to tell about our town of Castlebar.
We have operated a tuition centre for over twenty years with great success. We provide this service to students from Castlebar and the surrounding area. Hundreds of students have passed through our doors and on to their desired careers and courses in third-level. We are currently overbooked and at the point of turning people away.
For over three years we have been actively seeking a premises in Castlebar town. This would make it easier for parents and students to access our services. Instead of driving several miles out of town, and waiting there for several hours, parents would be able to drop their children at a central location. Our service would create substantial footfall, bringing people and business to the town centre.
There are many vacant commercial premises in Castlebar. Multiple buildings in the town are adorned with “To Let” signs. Some have carried these signs for many years. However, our offers on those properties have been continually rejected. Over the past three years, we have had numerous viewings and placed multiple expressions of interest/offers but all to no avail. In many cases, auctioneers have failed to revert to us following the initial viewing and the formal placing of an offer or expression of interest. Auctioneers have repeatedly informed us that they will be touch, only to never come back to us.
Our most recent experience was with a property in Castlebar Retail Park which perfectly met our requirements. The property had been on the market since January 2026. It was advertised as rent negotiable, suitable for a range of commercial uses, and available immediately. We viewed the property several weeks ago. Following subsequent negotiations, we made a formal proposal agreeing to the quoted rent of €31,000 (€25,000 + VAT) per annum for a lease term of five years and accepting the conditions set by the agent. Three days later, on Thursday last week, we were abruptly informed by the auctioneer that the property is no longer for rent.
The town of Castlebar has at least 17 nail and beauty parlours, 11 phone or computer shops, at least 4 vape shops (3 on Main Street), 4 tattoo shops, 3 casinos, and at least 2 or 3 massage parlours. A plethora of State-funded organisations occupy key retail premises all over the town. However, we are having great difficulty for years in attempting to open a tuition centre in Castlebar town. We hear a lot about diversity and inclusion but does this include everyone?
BREAKING: VAPES, TATTOO SHOPS AND MASSAGE PARLOURS MULTIPLY IN CASTLEBAR AS BURKES LEFT WAITING FOR TUITION PREMISES
Four weeks ago, RTÉ reported on the death of "Main Street" in towns all across Ireland. We have our own story to tell about our town of Castlebar.
We have operated a tuition centre for over twenty years with great success. We provide this service to students from Castlebar and the surrounding area. Hundreds of students have passed through our doors and on to their desired careers and courses in third-level. We are currently overbooked and at the point of turning people away.
For over three years we have been actively seeking a premises in Castlebar town. This would make it easier for parents and students to access our services. Instead of driving several miles out of town, and waiting there for several hours, parents would be able to drop their children at a central location. Our service would create substantial footfall, bringing people and business to the town centre.
There are many vacant commercial premises in Castlebar. Multiple buildings in the town are adorned with “To Let” signs. Some have carried these signs for many years. However, our offers on those properties have been continually rejected. Over the past three years, we have had numerous viewings and placed multiple expressions of interest/offers but all to no avail. In many cases, auctioneers have failed to revert to us following the initial viewing and the formal placing of an offer or expression of interest. Auctioneers have repeatedly informed us that they will be touch, only to never come back to us.
Our most recent experience was with a property in Castlebar Retail Park which perfectly met our requirements. The property had been on the market since January 2026. It was advertised as rent negotiable, suitable for a range of commercial uses, and available immediately. We viewed the property several weeks ago. Following subsequent negotiations, we made a formal proposal agreeing to the quoted rent of €31,000 (€25,000 + VAT) per annum for a lease term of five years and accepting the conditions set by the agent. Three days later, on Thursday last week, we were abruptly informed by the auctioneer that the property is no longer for rent.
The town of Castlebar has at least 17 nail and beauty parlours, 11 phone or computer shops, at least 4 vape shops (3 on Main Street), 4 tattoo shops, 3 casinos, and at least 2 or 3 massage parlours. A plethora of State-funded organisations occupy key retail premises all over the town. However, we are having great difficulty for years in attempting to open a tuition centre in Castlebar town. We hear a lot about diversity and inclusion but does this include everyone?
