Capital ambitions for Tralee as centre opens
April 1995
AS the sun shone on the official opening of Tralee’s £ 12m Abbey Gate town centre development this week, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Dick Spring said it was his ambition to see Tralee officially designated as the capital of the south.
“With the opening of this development today, we have taken another step towards the realisation of that ambition,” the Tánaiste said at the open- air ceremony which began shortly after 12 noon on Wednesday.
The development, which is the largest ever private investment undertaken in Tralee was described by the Tánaiste as one of the most exciting developments in Tralee in recent years.
“It is imaginative at a number of levels,” he said.
“It creates a whole new atmosphere in the centre of town. It provides a big boost in the facilities for visitors. It houses one of the most modern radio studios anywhere in the country. In addition, the mix of houses, apartments, car- parking and shops means that this will quickly become a focus for the life of the town.”
He said he was particularly pleased that it had been possible in budgetary negotiations last year to ensure that the scheme was able to avail of the benefits of the Urban Renewal Scheme.
“In fact, I understand that without access to that scheme, it would not have been possible to complete the investment and Tralee’s newest street, Maine Street, might never have appeared,” he said.
The attractive development in the old mart area of the town is a joint development between Bowen Construction Ltd of Cork and Lee Strand Co- op who formed the company, Futures Ltd.
Lee Strand general manager, Bill Kennedy, affirmed his company’s continuing involvement in the project. He said that as a committed farming co- operative, proud of its success to date, Lee Strand was very anxious to re- invest in the fabric of the community from which it drew its strength.
“People feel that farmers are basically farming people,” Mr Kennedy said. “Look around and you’ ll see tht they are basically business people as well.”
Mr Kennedy also wished Abbey Tours well with the 100- bedroom luxury Abbey Gate Hotel which is at the heart of the town centre project.