Some progress has been made in relation to the future of Westport House, but it could be a number of months before the historic house and estate's future is known. Independent councillor Christy Hyland raised the issue of the house at the April meeting of Mayo County Council this week. Chief executive of Mayo County Council, Peter Hynes, responded to Cllr Hyland saying: "In relation to Westport House, a bit of progress is being made, I can't say any more."
The Westport based councillor engaged with the chief executive saying: "With respect this is going on a good few months," to which Mr Hynes responded: "It could go on for several months more. As soon as I'm at liberty to disclose anything you will be the first to know."
Cllr Hyland added that he did not want to go into a meeting and be told that it had been bought by a vulture fund, to which Mr Hynes replied: "With respect councillor nor do I. There are limits to what we can do and we can't do, and I can tell you that everything that we can do as a local authority is being done. We are not in a position to write a very big cheque, we don't have the resources, we are trying to influence the outcome for the best interests of all of the stakeholders including the family, the town, and the county as best we can. We're not in total control of the situation."
