Comments on: Shane Filan and the power that dare not speak its name Part 1

By: Michael Higgins

Michael Higgins — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 21:13:05 +0000

Well An Bord Pleanla here we come!
Hopefully this time you’ll be more realistic and FAIR in your decision with regard to Shafin DevILopments!
A company chasing their multiple debts and Development Failures like a Poor Gambler MUST be prevented from destroying town-lands in Sligo & Leitrim.

By: Michael Higgins

Michael Higgins — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 22:31:47 +0000

Well…. Shafin GOT their Planning Permission for the Trio Foods site Development yesterday from those Wise People in Sligo Co. Co.
Little know fact:
Shafin promised the Primary School in Carraroe that they would build on (or pay for) 3/4 more Classrooms if THEY did NOT object to their application for their Carraroe Development.
Is it NOT illegal to “bribe” a state body like this?

By: Michael Higgins

Michael Higgins — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 13:34:25 +0000

The lovely Mr. Finbar Filan has been quoted very recently when asked about the Shop already in existence on the corner at Ballinode;
“The Higgins’s will be closed down within 12 months of us opening our doors”.
This is the attitude which Finbar is flaunting about the county before he has even got any planning permission for his proposed development on the former Trio-Foods site.
One would assume that this must also be his intention for the Gilmore’s and Gilmartins in Dromahair.
Who does this guy think he is??
Does he think family’s who have been in business for generations (Dromahair) and 40+ years (Ballinode) will just roll over and give-way to HIM?
To give such a commitment (Publicly) to close-down a local family-fun business is not very nice to say the least.
What I would like to know now is, how much of this sentiment does SHANE share???
Is our wonderful Sligo Ambassador going to walk the walk with his Brother?
I am all for Healthy Competition and for New Jobs in the area etc. However, when someone is going around telling others that he is going to have me “closed within 12 months” of his arrival, those are fighting words dear Finbar!

By: Declan McPartland.

Declan McPartland. — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 17:57:57 +0000

I agree with all the above comments. Marching in to places and destroying local environment and business with no care for anyone in the locality is appalling. What is needed in Dromahair, in my opinion, would be someone like Shafin Developments to buy the beautiful old Abbey Hotel and bring it back to it’s former glory. Not another supermarket. Not enough money in this though I guess. Regarding the Regional Stores, I’m a local in the area and the Higgins family have been employing there for 40/50 years – me being one of them in the early 80s! It’s a disgrace that they had to read about this proposed development in the Champion.

By: admin

admin — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 20:18:49 +0000

Hi there all,
Just to let you know that Shane Filan got his planning permission for this granted at the appeal to An Bord Planala. That looks like the end of it now. We will lose the three existing shops and hardware store. Instead we get a concrete three storey carbuncle opposite a listed building.
However..we’re not finished yet. I’m setting out the make a short film as soon as we can get the time on the subject and I’ll try to include some 3D models of what it’s going to look like transplanted on the existing streetscape. When that’s done we’ll circulate it to all the TV and print media wherever Westlife sell records and have fans so they can see our village being trashed and three local businesses being knocked out.
If Shane Filan really had any interest in the community he’d donate the site to the community for a badly needed playground rather than steal the livelihoods of local people.
Watch this space..

By: Dominic and Eileen Boyce

Dominic and Eileen Boyce — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 01:14:04 +0000

Yes Michael…we too are affected,and support you and the people of the ‘most beautiful’ village, Dromahair to try and raise aware-ness to the efforts of Shafin Developers who seem ‘hell-bent’on riding roughshod over people’s feelings and destroy their ways of life or Incomes.
Whatever is needed in our case to HALT the proposed development in Ballinode, for as long as possible, or at least modify it, we will muster with all our might
and hope for ’some’ protection from our Planning Services in our efforts

By: Michael Higgins

Michael Higgins — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 13:27:51 +0000

Shane and his Brother are at it again! They seem to have purchased the “Former Trio Foods” Land in Ballinode, Co. Sligo. On this site they are seeking planning permission to construct Apartments, a Super-Market and other units.
They NEVER had the manners or decency to contact us here at Regional Stores to see if we could be added into their development of the site and make the whole corner one nice large Neighborhood Center. Instead it looks like they plan to “Push Us Out” like they will be doing to the local business family’s in Dromahair Co. Leitrim. My (late) Father, Shane Higgins started his business here on this corner over 50yrs ago and I don’t plan on being “pushed out” by either of the Filan Brothers. I’m all for Development, Employment in the Area etc But inclusion rather than EXCLUSION ought to be the way forward ! The way Trio Foods Director Mr. Liam Coyle treated his staff in this deal is also appalling in my opinion. To hear of their fate from page3 of the Sligo Champion is not very nice!

By: admin

admin — Mon, 17 May 2010 19:57:06 +0000

Hi William, well if you’re an O’Rourke it’s still well worth visiting for the history. They haven’t ruined everything…yet. Just mail me if you’re coming and I’ll try to hook up.
Cheers
Patrick

By: William Roark

William Roark — Sun, 16 May 2010 17:18:27 +0000

I wanted to visit Dromahair, but maybe not now?

By: Kelvin

Kelvin — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 21:36:28 +0000

Hallelujah brother…I couldn’t agree more, the decision to grant planning has not only dumbfounded me but has left me feeling utterly disappointed in the powers that be. The planning authorities should be nurturing and protecting our wonderful heritage instead of granting a free for all sabotage of our wonderful village.