www.lmkeating.ie L&M Keating Ltd, Kilmihil, Building & Civil Engineering Contractors.

Hotel to anchor Kilrush's Merchat's Quay project

Louis Keating, Managing Director L&M Keating Ltd. with Pat Quinlivan, Commercial Director L&M Keating Ltd. and Lorchan Hoyne, Contracts Director L&M Keating Ltd. at the launch of Merchant's Quay Business Quarter, Kilrush

L&M Keating Ltd., the Kilmihil-based firm, is the company behind the spectacular 30,000 square foot office space and suite development, Merchant's Quay Business Quarter which was launched in Kilrush last week.

Speaking at the launch managing director Louis Keating expressed the hope that a hotel will form part of the completed business quarter in the coming years.

"These offices are part of a larger planned development which consists of apartments, offices, a hotel and a multi storey carpark," he explained.

"We do intend if possible to proceed with a hotel and with the car park. In the current economic climate it's unlikely that we'll be commencing work on the hotel in the next few months. But we are very aware that Kilrush really needs a hotel. Everywhere I go, I'm asked if there has been any move on the hotel" he added.

The Kilmihil civil engineering company has a long association with Kilrush since the company was established in 1987. "The very first building we worked on in Kilrush was when we created the council chamber in the town hail," Louis Keating recalled before stating that L&M Keating Ltd. had built the new Kilrush Garda Station, the revamped Kilrush Credit Union the new Super Valu supermarket at the end of France Street and the carried out the renovations to St. Senan's Church in Toler Street.

Louis Keating also pointed out that the construction of the Creek Lodge at Kilrush Marina was the first €1m contract awarded to the company. Glynn s Mills, where the new offices are built are 150 years old. However the offices have retained their 19th century structure and façade.

Substantial tax incentives are available or the purchase or rent of the offices. Economist Jim Power of Friends First was the guest speaker at the launch, while Mayor of Clare Madeleine Taylor-Quinn, financial adviser Richard Maguire of O'Donovan Caulfield Lavin and L&M Keating Ltd. commercial director Pat Quinlivan also spoke.

The selling agents are Munster Group Property in Kilrush and Limerick based Power and Associates.

Paying tribute to what he described as the vision of Mark and Dermot Reidy, Louis Keating told the large crowd that L&M Keating Ltd. were hopeful of further developing Kilrush Marina.

"Our company together with a Dublin company, is currently the preferred bidders to develop the marina. We have quiet ambitious plans there. Again, they are on the back burner to some degree at the moment. But we are still talking to Shannon Development and I'm quite confident, in the long run, that we will carry out our development dreams in the marina and it will be a great boost to this part of the town," he stated.

Clare Champion, October 31st 2008