Mayo County Council Officially Open New €8 Million IQ Ballina Located In Former Military Barracks
Date: 04-11-2024
Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital Transformation and Company Regulation, Dara Calleary TD this morning officially opened IQ Ballina.
The innovation quarter located in the former military barracks in the heart of the town which cost over €8 million to develop, is owned by Mayo County Council and was funded by Mayo County Council along with the Urban Regeneration Development Fund, from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
The project has seen the former military barracks transformed from derelict storage space into a modern entrepreneurial hub with 20,000 sq. ft of dedicated offices, co-working space, meeting rooms and civic space. The day to day running of IQ Ballina will be managed through a collaboration between Mayo County Council and Moy Valley Resources.
IQ Ballina has the capacity for up to 200 jobs on site once full tenant occupancy has been secured, with Mayo County Council working alongside Enterprise Ireland and the IDA to market the facility to potential tenants.
IQ Ballina will deliver a new focal point for the town; with an attractive and enticing public realm; a potential base for overseas investment and will provide a solution to the need for start-up and expansion for small businesses.
Speaking at the official opening this morning Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, Cllr John O’Hara said: “The reinvention and rejuvenation of the old Military Barracks in the heart of the town centre into IQ Ballina will be game changer for the future of Ballina.
“Ballina is a brilliant town with so much to offer and this latest addition to its armoury will put it on a secure footing to face the future and offer a home the types of modern and forward-thinking industries that will drive economic development for years to come.”
Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital & Company Regulation, Dara Calleary TD said: “I’m honoured to perform the official opening of IQ Ballina. It is a fantastic day for Ballina and the entire county. This brand-new state of the art facility will not only create much needed employment opportunities, but also lays the foundation for future business growth.
“It has breathed new life into a historic core of Ballina and will facilitate the writing of a new history . I am very excited to see the positive impact that IQ Ballina will have on the towns economy and people for years to come.”
Chief Executive of Mayo County Council, Kevin Kelly added: “With the development of IQ Ballina, it will breathe new life into the current town centre and be a catalyst to unlock the future true potential of Ballina to be a leader in innovation and excellence.
“The IQ Ballina project was born from a collective vision: to revitalise this historic site, improve the historic town centre, and to foster an environment that nurtures innovation and entrepreneurial spirit.”
Minister of State for Local Government and Planning, Alan Dillon TD said: “
“This project, which has received over €7 million in URDF funding, will play a transformational role in positioning Ballina town as an attractive location for investment whilst providing local start-ups with an ecosystem and a platform from which they can grow and sustain their entrepreneurial endeavours.
“And this is exactly what the URDF is intended for – to create positive momentum by using targeted Exchequer investment as a catalyst for regeneration and rejuvenation of urban areas that would not otherwise have the opportunity to realise their potential.
To this end my department has allocated over €1.7 billion to local authorities around the country, funding a total of 132 proposals comprising 433 projects”.
Mayo County Council, Architects Department were the architectural leads on the development. FLN Consulting Engineers were the Environmental Engineers, with Structural Design Solutions the Civil and Structural Engineers on the project. Colman Architects provided conservation services and Tom McNamara and Partners were the developments Quantity Surveyors.
The Main Contractors were LPB Building Services Ltd, Devaney Electrical the Electrical Contractors and PJ Gibbons Mechanical, the Mechanical Engineers for the project.