LONGFORD FOREST AT FRONTLINE OF NEW TOURISM PROJECT - Ocean Publishing
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LONGFORD COUNTY COUNCIL
LONGFORD FOREST AT
FRONTLINE OF NEW
TOURISM PROJECT
The creation of a €233 million holiday resort in Ballymahon, Co. Longford, will transform the
tourism potential of the region, according to the chief executive of Longford County Council,
Paddy Mahon, who gives Olivia Kelleher the latest lowdown on projects underway.
N
ow that the 395-acre Center Parcs Village has received restaurants and shops, an Aqua Sana spa and the Subtropical
the green light for planning permission, it represents Swimming Paradise.
a massive opportunity for the region. Scheduled to Center Parcs UK is to create 1,000 permanent jobs whilst 750
be fully in operation in 2019, it will have a knock-on people will be employed during the construction phase of the
effect for local businesses and suppliers. project.
Plans for Longford Forest near Ballymahon include 470 When fully operational within the next two years, the leisure
lodges – which will accommodate 2,500 guests – 30 apartments, parkland site will add around €32 million to Ireland’s GDP per
more than 100 indoor and outdoor family activities, a range of annum.
Longford’s chief executive Paddy Mahon says that Longford Forest in Derrycassan Wood will have a dramatic impact upon the area in both tourism and
economic terms.
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LONGFORD COUNTY COUNCIL
VOTE OF CONFIDENCE
Longford County Council’s chief
executive Paddy Mahon says
that Longford Forest will have a
dramatic impact upon the area
in both tourism and economic
terms. “It will transform the whole
environment of the county. We are
delighted that they have chosen
the name ‘Longford Forest’. We are
working on the delivery of various
projects, which we hope will
complement it.
“Longford County Council is
conscious of the huge potential
which this presents. We are
working with the various agencies
including state departments, Fáilte
Ireland and Waterway Ireland to
improve the quality of the visitor
experience to Longford.”
Mr Mahon says the decision by
the established UK firm to locate in
Longford represents a major vote of
confidence in the county. The resort
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LONGFORD COUNTY COUNCIL
will be the biggest tourism infrastructure
FACTFILE – PADDY MAHON
development in the history of the State.
Paddy Mahon, Chief Executive of Longford
Longford’s chief executive anticipates
County Council, holds a BE in Civil
that the resort will be a great success.
Engineering and an Honours MBA. He
“Occupancy rates in Center Parcs in
has worked in both the public and private
England regularly exceed 95%. Center
sectors.
Parcs are not here for the short term. They
Paddy started his local government
are 30 years at their sites in the UK. What
career as an engineer with Mayo County
was critically important for them was
Council and over the next 17 years
the community they chose to move in it.
progressed to senior engineer, before his
Longford is a good choice and I believe
appointment to the post of Director of
their faith in us will be vindicated.
Services with Mayo County Council, where
“This whole project is a fantastic boost
he managed an annual operation budget of
for us and it gives us a profile we couldn’t
€55 million.
have had on our own. We are also working
He has over 24 years’ experience in
on a variety of tourist projects such as the
leading and managing change, establishing
Royal Canal Greenway and are developing
and influencing key relationships within
the Mid-Shannon Wilderness Park. The
local democracy, across numerous State
Center Parcs development and these
agencies and with other partners. He has motivated multi-disciplinary teams to deliver
projects present an excellent opportunity
a professional service, and has a proven track record of sound judgement, effective
for County Longford.”
communication and a commitment to achievement. He managed the council’s
interests on the Corrib Gas project and the response to Pullathomas landslides.
COMMUNITY FORUM
Paddy has also worked in the role of Change Manager with the LGER Programme
Center Parcs has worked with Longford
Management Office. He currently represents the County and City Management
County Council and local community
Association (CCMA) on the Water Services Committee.
representatives to establish a community
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LONGFORD COUNTY COUNCIL
forum to ensure ongoing and open
communication throughout the
construction and development process.
“Over the last 29 years, Center Parcs
has exhibited a proven track record of
taking commercial woodlands and, through
careful forest management, transforming
them in to areas rich in biodiversity,” he
added.
“CenterParcs Longford Forest will have
a dedicate team of conservation rangers
who will protect and nurture this beautiful
woodland. The vast majority of Newcastle
Wood woodland will remain untouched.”
Longford Forest is CenterParc UK’s sixth
short break destination and is the first in
Ireland; with the five other resorts located
in Whinfell Forest, Cumbria; Sherwood
Forest, Nottinghamshire, Elveden Forest,
Suffolk; Woburn Forest, Bedfordshire and
Longleat Forest, Wiltshire.
REGENERATING LONGFORD
Meanwhile, Mr Mahon says his focus is on
attracting increased investment to Longford.
“Many people leave Longford every
morning to work. Our role at Longford
County Council is to reverse that trend
and to create a viable alternative. We are
working on a number of projects to make
Longford more attractive for investment.”
Mr Mahon says it is essential that the
motorway be extended in to the county. As
it stands the absence of a motorway is “a
huge barrier” to investment. He also hopes
that the natural gas supply the Center Parcs
development will be able to be extended to
the rest of the county.
“Longford County Council wants
certainty that the Centre Parcs gas
connection is properly formatted so the
entire county can benefit from it. We are
Center Parcs Holiday Village at Woburn Forest, Bedfordshire, and Whinfell Forest in the Lake District
working closely with the Department of are two of the company’s five short break destination resorts in the UK.
Communications, Climate Action and
Environment and Gas Network Ireland to
ensure this critical infrastructure is available of his new position as chief executive, Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness
to all existing and future businesses in the having arrived at an important time in the and we see regeneration of our towns and
county.” development of the county. His current villages as playing a significant role in
Mr Mahon is also concerned about focus is on the housing challenges facing achieving our targets as set out in the plan.”
the poor broadband in the county, which Longford. “We have a very dynamic and
he says is at times frustrating given that “The number one priority in 2017 is committed workforce and we have an
“broadband is very much a requirement of housing. We have a very positive working excellent relationship between our elected
the Modern Age.” relationship with the Department of members and the executive of Longford
Housing, Planning, Community and Local County Council. Together we look forward
EMBRACING THE CHALLENGES Government. We are committed to fulfilling to a promising future for our county with
Overall Mahon is embracing the challenges our role as outlined in the Government’s confidence.”
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