Sam Curran is Getting Right Up My Nose. A Comment fromThe Editor
First off I have to admit that I wouldn't know Sam Curran if I fell across him, but be that as it may, he is managing to get right up my nose.
To answer your burning question, Sam is spokesman, and frontline 'head-buck-cat' for Finnabair Estates, the group of 'venture capital' guys, behind Dundalk Retail Park. For the past few years they would not have been happy-chappies, given the fact that the development was quickly taking-on all the hallmarks of the biggest 'white elephant' Dundalk has ever seen. In fact I would 'venture' to say that the jury is still out on that one.
To digress for a moment, a major part of Dundalk Retail Park's problems from the outset has been the fact that Dundalk Chamber of Commerce always dictated the balance, and content of the businesses in the development. It was widely rumoured, a few years ago, that their refusal to approve the tenancy of a well known sports apparel group led to legal proceedings. In nearby booming Newry the Chamber of Commerce joking said that their biggest asset was Dundalk Chamber.
Meanwhile back to Sam. He is going to save Dundalk! He has his soapbox out, pontificating to all who will listen, as to how the town has finally turned the corner, and is now back on the agenda of many of the large retailers that they,(Sam and the gang) have been trying to woo to the retail park in order “ to get the balance right”. Ugh, who writes this stuff!
Next minute he is ready to reveal plans for a 'district centre' on the Carrick Road, while also taking countless trips out to the Ballymac roundabout, talking to guys about building a travelodge hotel on the site of “the house that Jack built”. You know the one, in the trees above the roundabout.
At the same time he is bemoaning the fact that the town centre is shrinking because of the sheer size of the Marshes shopping centre, and for this very reason has already expressed to the Town Council 'a keen interest' in becoming involved in the re-development of the town centre.
Now don't yawn, please pay attention! He is currently looking at a very interesting project which will compliment what Frank McArdle, Gerry Matthews and Brian o'Neill are doing, in and around the Market Square.
Are you listening! He says that as a group of developers they have got together to discuss their collective plans to ensure that no two people are doing the same thing. Heaven forbid that we should end up with two of anything! I think I'm going to puke.
At the last count I figured we had four shopping centres and a retail park, but then you can't count that one, because it doesn't really work yet. Perhaps the forthcoming Ice Dome will give it the much needed kiss of life, and attract a few more cars to the empty carkpark. Indeed perhaps some of these big retailers who have 'Dundalk on their agenda' and may decide to opt in for a 'rent free period' just like Havee Nawman, Atlantic, and PCWorld.
I remember BS,(no not that BS), before Sam, there was Laurence Breen with the retail park, and his sidekick, or should that be 'kickstand', Hugh McEvoy, local Husjvarna motorcycle agent, and together they were going to change the face of the earth 'as we know it' in that area of town. What happened to those plans?
I'm really scared now! What will we do, how will we manage if we lose Sam Curran.
The Editor.
To answer your burning question, Sam is spokesman, and frontline 'head-buck-cat' for Finnabair Estates, the group of 'venture capital' guys, behind Dundalk Retail Park. For the past few years they would not have been happy-chappies, given the fact that the development was quickly taking-on all the hallmarks of the biggest 'white elephant' Dundalk has ever seen. In fact I would 'venture' to say that the jury is still out on that one.
To digress for a moment, a major part of Dundalk Retail Park's problems from the outset has been the fact that Dundalk Chamber of Commerce always dictated the balance, and content of the businesses in the development. It was widely rumoured, a few years ago, that their refusal to approve the tenancy of a well known sports apparel group led to legal proceedings. In nearby booming Newry the Chamber of Commerce joking said that their biggest asset was Dundalk Chamber.
Meanwhile back to Sam. He is going to save Dundalk! He has his soapbox out, pontificating to all who will listen, as to how the town has finally turned the corner, and is now back on the agenda of many of the large retailers that they,(Sam and the gang) have been trying to woo to the retail park in order “ to get the balance right”. Ugh, who writes this stuff!
Next minute he is ready to reveal plans for a 'district centre' on the Carrick Road, while also taking countless trips out to the Ballymac roundabout, talking to guys about building a travelodge hotel on the site of “the house that Jack built”. You know the one, in the trees above the roundabout.
At the same time he is bemoaning the fact that the town centre is shrinking because of the sheer size of the Marshes shopping centre, and for this very reason has already expressed to the Town Council 'a keen interest' in becoming involved in the re-development of the town centre.
Now don't yawn, please pay attention! He is currently looking at a very interesting project which will compliment what Frank McArdle, Gerry Matthews and Brian o'Neill are doing, in and around the Market Square.
Are you listening! He says that as a group of developers they have got together to discuss their collective plans to ensure that no two people are doing the same thing. Heaven forbid that we should end up with two of anything! I think I'm going to puke.
At the last count I figured we had four shopping centres and a retail park, but then you can't count that one, because it doesn't really work yet. Perhaps the forthcoming Ice Dome will give it the much needed kiss of life, and attract a few more cars to the empty carkpark. Indeed perhaps some of these big retailers who have 'Dundalk on their agenda' and may decide to opt in for a 'rent free period' just like Havee Nawman, Atlantic, and PCWorld.
I remember BS,(no not that BS), before Sam, there was Laurence Breen with the retail park, and his sidekick, or should that be 'kickstand', Hugh McEvoy, local Husjvarna motorcycle agent, and together they were going to change the face of the earth 'as we know it' in that area of town. What happened to those plans?
I'm really scared now! What will we do, how will we manage if we lose Sam Curran.
The Editor.
posted by Editor at 6:34 p.m.
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