So, 2024 has been shown the door while 2025 has come alive. Christmas fever is over and the countdowns have all run their courses. Now what? Marvel that the years fly by yet minutes can last forever? This year marks the arrival of Generation Beta – primarily the children of younger millennials and older members of Gen-Z. How will this new generation judge us? Did we push for progress in our communities?
The first De Facto article of the new year in 2005, 20 years ago, was entitled ‘Westport – Dancing at the Crossroads’. It centred mainly on the economic development of Westport, the role of the councils (we had town and county councils at the time) and other bodies in the town. There was talk back then of possible sites for multiple retail stores on the Newport Road and Altamont Street. As it happened, Tesco opened in 2007 and Lidl in 2011.
There was also concern in Westport 20 years ago that Castlebar was drawing all the shoppers because of the retail choice while Westport was suffering with many closed premises. Another reason cited was the high business rents in Westport.
On........

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