The Ballina Town Council is to rename Pearse Street in the town to iStreet for a day as part of the town’s effort to win €50,000 worth of advertising in a competition a radio station is running. Fine Gael Councillor Mark Winters proposed the idea at the meeting of the town council on Wednesday night as the elected members discussed the renovations of the street which will be completed early next month. Cllr Winters told the meeting that “ iRadio are running a competition where they are giving away €50,000 worth of advertising for a town, where the best dressed shop with an iRadio theme would win €10,000 for themselves and another €40,000 for the promotion of the town. Winning a prize like this would be a huge boost for the town in promoting itself and the station is aimed at the 16 to 35-year-old market who are the big consumers of goods and services, and this kind of advertising could only be a boost to the town.” His proposal was seconded by Cllr Barry McLoughlin.
The members were all happy with the progress of the street, Fianna Fáil Councillor Johnny O’Malley told the meeting: “Well done to everyone involved, Pearse Street has been a problem for the last 14-15 years and the main street in our town is now becoming something better.” He also told the meeting that the shop front rejuvenation scheme which the town council runs should be advertised, and all businesses on the street be given every assistance in applying for the scheme. Independent Councillor Gerry Ginty also complimented the staff on the work that was been carried out and told the meeting, “I know that some businesses felt they were being put out by the works and the closing off of the street for a month, but in the long run they will be very lucky when the works are finished, we are now going to have the business people from the other streets wondering what we will do for them after Pearse Street is finished.” Town manager Paddy Mahon told the meeting: “A lot of work has gone into this by everyone involved and we hope to have it finished very soon, the official completion date is June 8, but things seem to be moving along very quickly now and every effort will be made to get it finished as soon as possible.”
