TAOISEACH OPENS SHOWGROUNDS SHOPPING CENTRE IN CLONMEL

Friday 16 October 2009

500 JOBS BOOST FOR CLONMEL

An Taoiseach Brian Cowen today performed the official opening of The Showgrounds Shopping Centre.  The Showgrounds is the only shopping centre to open in Ireland this year and is providing a very welcome 500 new jobs in Clonmel,  with 300 jobs already created and a further 200 when the centre is fully occupied within the coming months.

The Showgrounds is an 11,000 sq.m.centre with 32 retail units and 360 car park spaces.  The centre has a strong fashion focus with retailers including Marks & Spencer, Pamela Scott, Jack & Jones, Vila, ONLY, Name It and Pulse Accessories, food retailers Pralibel Belgian Chocolate, Crunch, BBs Coffee & Muffins, Eddie Rockets and Fine Wines and a host of other retailers including First Chapter Books, A&E Jewellers, Seruni Craft and Hype Hair. 

An Taoiseach Briian Cowen welcomed the opening of The Showgrounds “This  is a state - of - the - art development, with a great mix of fashion, food  and  leisure  retailers  -  with  more to follow. It is also the only shopping  centre  to  open in Ireland this year. Already it's providing 300 new jobs in Clonmel and when fully occupied, it is expected that 500 people will be employed. This major jobs boost is especially welcome and allied to this excellent facility, is a great addition to the town and its environs” he said.

Showgrounds Manager Julian Smith was “delighted to have An Taoiseach here today to perform the official opening of The Showgrounds.  In the current climate it is a great achievement to be opening the only shopping centre in this country this year. The Showgrounds is a major boost to the town providing much needed jobs and also a greater choice of retailers for the people of the South East.  We have a great line up of international brands and local retailers.  Marks & Spencer opened ahead of schedule and have been trading extremely well enjoying one of their most successful openings in Ireland ever.  We are confident that this will be the case for the rest of the retailers at The Showgrounds ”

According to Clonmel Mayor Dinny Dunne, “We thoroughly welcome this stunning retail development here at the Showgrounds.  The Showgrounds is of  immense importance to the economy of Clonmel and its contribution to employment in the area.  I congratulate Greenband Investments and all the Showgrounds retailers and I have no doubt that the Showgrounds will be a huge success with the people of Clonmel and the surrounding areas.”

Twenty five of the 32 units at The Showgrounds have been filled and retail agents Savills report strong interest from retailers in the remaining units.  “We have a great selection of Irish, UK and European retailers at The Showgrounds providing a good mix of fashion, food and leisure services for a town that has been underserved in retail terms.  More retailers are set to open before the busy Christmas period including a shoe shop and a toy retailer.  We have strong interest in the remaining units from top retailers who are very impressed with the scheme and its strong catchment of 240,000 people within a 40 minute drive” says Peter O’Meara, Director of Savills.

Developed by Limerick based Greenband Investments, a five retail unit extension to the Showgrounds is already being planned which could provide an additional 250 new jobs.  The previous planning application was refused by An Bord Pleanala on 18th September, despite very positive support from Clonmel Borough Council and An Bord Pleanala’s Inspector, who recommended a decision to grant planning.  Following this refusal, Greenband Investments worked very quickly to re-lodge a revised application on October 14th which takes into consideration An Bord Pleanala’s decision. 

For further information on the Showgrounds, please log onto www.showgrounds.ie

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For further information please contact:

Ger Hennessy

Resident PR

087 2872249

residentpr@gmail.com

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