Shopping centre creates 350 jobs

A SHOPPING centre was officially opened yesterday as part of the first phase of a €300 million project that will create 500 jobs in Dungarvan, Co Waterford.

Located on 15 acres of a former 43-acre Glanbia site at Shandon, the Dungarvan Shopping Centre, of which Dunnes Stores is the anchor tenant, created 350 new jobs on its very first day. And with several more retail units coming on stream next year, a further 50 jobs will be created by the end of 2005.

A project dogged by controversy and planning objections since it was first proposed almost five years ago by developers Clancy Construction Ltd, yesterday’s official opening saw thousands converge on the new centre which will completely change the face of shopping in Co Waterford.

Overall the centre embraces 21,000 square metres of retail space, with the 5,000 square metre Dunnes Stores the biggest in the company’s nationwide chain outside the cities of Dublin and Cork.

In total there will be 34 retail units together with significant office accommodation. Twenty of those units began business yesterday, with the remaining 14 set to commence trading early in the new year.

The shopping centre, together with car parks which have provision for 600 vehicles, represents stage one of a three-phase development. There are three vehicular access points together with two pedestrian entrances.

The second phase will incorporate apartments, housing, a four-screen cineplex and restaurants, while the final phase will include a five star hotel, technology and retail parks, and additional car parking.

The manager of the new centre, Timmy Foley, said he is confident the project will be an overwhelming success. “This is an historic day for Dungarvan and for West Waterford as a whole,” said Mr Foley. “The jobs that are being created is one thing, but the boost it will give to the economic life of the entire region is equally important.”

The Mayor of Dungarvan, Michael O’Riordan, said the already extensive shopping facilities in the town have now been very considerably enhanced by this new centre which will stem the shopping drain Dungarvan has been suffering to places like Cork, Waterford, Clonmel and Youghal for many years.

Paddy Clancy spoke on behalf of the developers, Clancy Construction Ltd. He was deputising for his brother Billy who is the company’s managing director and the main driving force behind the project but who missed out on the big day through illness. “Today,” he said, “is all about the future of the new centre, the future of Dungarvan, and the future of the entire region.”

The honour of formally cutting the tape fell to 11-year-old Shannon Quilty, a sixth-class pupil of Glenbeg national school. As winner of a special poster competition, Shannon also earned a €1,000 cheque from the shopping centre for her school.

Among the tenants are Eason’s, Sasha, Sam Mac-Auley Chemists and Satellite Sports.