Tuam Chamber prioritises town centre clean-up

The clean-up of some of the empty business premises in the town centre in Tuam is a priority for the new Chamber of Commerce which was established this week.

It features an all-female top table at the moment as they embark to organise a series of events and projects for 2015.

But one of their main aims is to try and enhance some of the empty business premises around the town centre as well as try and bring more shoppers to Tuam.

Around 15 attended a meeting in Tuam this week at which it was decided to revamp the Chamber of Commerce in the interests of the commercial activity of the town.

In recent years some members of the business community have come and gone as being part of the Chamber. Many thought that it was the end of the association.

But there has now been a renewed interest in reforming Tuam Chamber of Commerce and the new President has been confirmed as local business owner Ann Marie Gallagher.

The Secretary is Ann Coen who has been the brains behind three annual trad festivals which have been held in the town. It has become a major success story.

But she said that the re-establishment of the Tuam Chamber of Commerce was a new challenge and it was all about creating new businesses for the town.

“It is true that we are not pleased about the amount of empty business premises around the town centre and in the last few months two other retail outlets have closed.

“It is a big worry and one that we will have to address. We are looking at several public houses that are closed in and around the town and these were part of the success of the trad festival which I am involved in.

“It is a new challenge for me but one I am looking forward to. One of our main aims is to enhance the town centre. It could do with a splash of Dulux in a bad way,” Ann Coen added.

The new Chamber of Commerce in Tuam also involves Caroline Downey, who is involved in Business Professional Women, along with hotel owner Berni Naughton, publican Ka Farragher, former President Ronan Glynn and businessman Ollie Burke.

The new Tuam Chamber of Commerce will be having an official launch at the end of February at which they will announce their intentions for the coming year.