Ballycastle ‘checks in’
Thursday, 2 February 2012
Liam Ward Managing Director of Diamond Investment Ltd, Moyle District Council chairperson Padraig McShane and Pearse McHenry of McHenry Brothers Ballycastle look over the plans for the new 120 bedroom hotel at Drumawillan on the Whitepark Road.
The people behind Ballycastle's edge-of-town hotel development have revealed more details of their plans to The Chronicle. Diamond Investments have confirmed, that in a joint venture with McHenry Brothers, Ballycastle, plans are advancing for a four star, 120 bedroom hotel at Drumawillan on the Whitepark Road, with views out over the North Antrim coast to Rathlin island and onwards to the Mull of Kintyre in Scotland.
The luxury development represents a £12million private investment with the consortium currently seeking funding support from Invest N.I.
Moyle District Council chairperson, Padraig Mc Shane, who has been working with the developers over the past year in an attempt to secure the go-ahead for the hotel, is to lead a delegation of councillors to Stormont to seek support from the Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment Minister, Arlene Foster, for this prestigious development.
It is understood the development will operate under a well known brand name, which is coming to Northern Ireland for the first time. Described as the world's leading hotel operator and market leader in Europe, it already operates in 90 countries with nearly 145,000 employees - and now wants to add Ballycastle to its growing portfolio.
In the region of 100 jobs will be created when the hotel is completed.
Whilst planning was approved for a 100 bedroom hotel on the site in 2009, Diamond Investments is lodging a further application to increase the prestigious development to 120 rooms.
Liam Ward, Managing Director of the Castledawson based, Diamond Investments Ltd said: "There is no doubt that the Ballycastle area suffers from a deficit in hotel provision, not only for the local population but also to act as a base for visitors to explore one of the most scenic areas of Europe.
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