The derelict Imperial Hotel in Castlebar, at present in the ownership of Mayo County Council, looks set to be sold to a private developer, according to a local councillor.

Fine Gael councillor Cyril Burke says the council is now actively engaged with an interested party in selling the property and the potential buyer is keen to develop it as a boutique hotel.

Fifteen years ago the hotel closed, and two years later in 2011, the former Castlebar Town Council bought the property for a sum of 800,000 euro.

It has fallen into dereliction since, despite its strong connections with Michael Davitt and the Land League. The land League was founded in the premises in 1879.

Last year Mayo County Council invited expressions of interest in respect of the hotel property and four submissions were lodged in response.

One of the four is now described as “locked in negotiations” with senior council officials with a view to completing the sale “at the earliest possible date”.

However, the sale cannot be signed-off on without approval from elected councillors.

 The property is on the grounds of a 8.5 million euro allocation from the government’s Urban Regeneration and Development Fund that had been set aside to repurpose the building as an innovation hub.

 Councillors are keen not to lose some of that funding in the event of the hotel going into private ownership.

Cllr Burke spoke to Midwest News Editor Teresa O'Malley about the latest developments....