Interview with Musgraves CEO sparks spirited debate at Tullamore meeting

A podcast interview with Noel Keeley, CEO of Musgraves and a Tullamore native, ignited a spirited and wide-ranging debate at the June meeting of the Tullamore Municipal District, where councillors aired strong opinions on the future of retail in the town.

According to councillor Neil Feighery, during the course of the interview, Mr Keeley said the town had lost its vibrancy and was not the Tullamore he remembered growing up.

Councillor Neil Feighery raised the issue, describing Tullamore as a ''great town'' blessed with strong urban design, wide streets, the Grand Canal, excellent rail connectivity, and thriving indigenous businesses in a well-performing IDA business park.

However, he acknowledged the dramatic shift in the retail landscape over recent decades, stating:

''It’s not controversial to say the retail sector has changed markedly. Large retail parks on the town’s outskirts, many built during the heady days of the Celtic Tiger now draw consumers away from the town centre with their ease of access and free parking.''

Cllr Feighery criticised previous councils for how the town’s retail core was developed and vowed to take an active role in reshaping it through the next County Development Plan.

''I am on record as objecting strongly to the manner in which Tullamore retail core was engineered by councillors at the previous council and that this position was further endorsed by the office of the planning regulator. I intend to participate vigorously in the next county development plan to try and put a coherent shape on the next retail core, to be strictly from the town centre out,''

He called for measures to encourage use of central parking areas like O'Neill’s Place, and proposed dynamic parking incentives to draw more consumers during off-peak hours.

Councillor Shane Murray also responded to the podcast, but questioned the Musgraves CEO's stance: ''They applied for a SuperValu on the outskirts of town. It feels a bit like talking out of both sides of your mouth, getting the sound bites for headlines,'' he said.

Cllr Murray supported Cllr Feighery’s concerns about parking and suggested more enforcement and solutions: ''We need turnover in town parking. Maybe we could look at opening up the multi-storey car park on Main Street, or even create a larger free car park for workers at the top of the town,'' he said.

Councillor Frank Moran urged stronger local control over planning: ''We need to take more ownership of the County Development Plan. It’s a reserve function of this council, and Central Government is trying to take that away,'' he stressed.

Councillor Sean O'Brien said: ''We all agree our purpose is to try to develop Tullamore putting it back as the major town. We have to set the landscape and the conditions. As a council we can't tell a business to come into town, that's outside our scope. I was listening to that piece from the CEO of Musgraves. I replied that we would be happy to talk to him. I gave him my mobile number and asked him to give me a call. 'We will certainly work with you, there are plenty of sites in Tullamore.' But he didn't answer. He is moving outside the town, that's the reality of that.''

In response to the discussion, the newly appointed Director of Services Paul McLoughlin outlined plans for revitalisation. He announced a proposed rates waiver scheme to encourage businesses into vacant buildings in the town centre:

''This would support businesses for three years to help them get off the ground. We're also beginning a retail strategy to identify what’s currently available and what’s needed,'' he said.

He emphasised the importance of collaboration, pointing to local stakeholders like the Tullamore Town Team, the Chamber of Commerce, and Tidy Towns.''Improving the retail and service mix requires everyone working together,'' he stressed.

The debate underlined both the frustrations and the opportunities facing Tullamore’s town centre and highlighted the tension between past planning decisions, current business practices, and the urgent need for future solutions.

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