Brouhaha wrote: » If your question about bus services is for between Loughrea and Galway city then this is the service people use for work/college commute: http://www.healytours.ie/ss_loughrea.html As Loughrea is on the Dublin to Galway road there are also Bus Eireann/City Link/Nestors buses roughly every half hour. Loughrea is traditionally a market town so there are plenty of shops with the notable exception of the big multinationals as EAFC_rdfl said (it might not be a popular opinion but I tend to agree with Earlc that a Tesco would do a lot of harm to Loughrea - the family owned business in the town centre couldn't compete)
A.F.M. wrote: » Maybe if the family run businesses in loughrea stopped ripping people off Customers wouldn't be going outside of Loughrea shopping. Also I can do a weeks worth of shopping in Aldi and it costs me 50 euro's less than in SuperValue. As for the Hardware. It's a complete rip-off. I can buy the items for a third of the price in B&Q. If Loughrea businesses want to survive, they need to offer value for money, end of story
hoody wrote: » I think some people just prefer shopping local, even if they have to pay a bit more, than driving to Gort or Galway to get their food or tools or whatever. And some people just like what they know as well - they'll go back to x shop because they know the shop will have what they want, and there'll be a familiar face there to give it to them. Also, there's an Aldi coming to Loughrea, so you won't even have to leave the town to save yourself the 50 euro. I will say that I'd rather Loughrea had thriving local shops than an out of town hypermarket undercutting everyone else. That wouldn't be progress, I think it'd be bad news for the place. My town > Tescos.
Scoobydo wrote: » You are right about Tesco being bad news for Loughrea. I think will be just fine with what we have..but Beatty's and Keanes could lower their prices a bit..they are extremely expensive for everything! And plus supporting local businesses supports local people..why would we want to support big multi national companies who would put nothing into the town?thats my view anyway
A.F.M. wrote: » Hi Scooby, I have no problems supporting local business in Loughrea, if their prices were fair. Beatty's must be pulling numbers out of the air. As for their hardware staff they could really wake up a little. I was in there for about 20 minutes before trying to get served, while they either slowly looked for something or they had a great chat.
Scoobydo wrote: » very true about Beatty's..the worst thing is when they start sending you from one shop to the other!but the staff are the worst i've ever come across! And i did say Beatty's prices are extremely high..thats not exactly supporting local businesses. Ganleys hardware in Athlone is much better. Exact same spot lights were 15.50 in Beattys and 5.00 in Ganleys..huge difference. Beatty's haven't a clue on pricing!
MNAJPA wrote: » I know that I don't live there. I live in America, but I was just in town visiting for 2 weeks. I LOVED it!!! While the rest of my family went all around the west touring, I stayed my whole 2 weeks right in Loughrea. I walked everywhere (lost about 7 pounds doing that!). From a complete outsider's viewpoint, I would offer a few things: 1. If Beatty's keeps the way they're going, then the locals will choose to drive to Galway/other towns to purchase their items. If they reduce their pricing, to be inline with more realistic competition, they could last for YEARS. It truly is the manager's/owner's choice to keep the prices high, and the employees untrained on 'customer service'. But they might be choosing their own path of 'short-term' existence. Maybe they just don't care. 2. I was very disapointed to see the new hotel, up on that hill, sticking out like a sore thumb with a white bandage wrapped around it. We used the hotel for our family reunion, and it's VERY nice, but it's too tall for the area. They should have designed it at two stories tall, at the most. Then I saw a large shopping area being built just a block or so away, and was a little depressed. Those 2 things are what's going to kill the charm of the town, because it won't stop there with just them! It's going to keep growing: taller/more/newer/etc. (the bad thing about progress, I guess). 3. The pubs were pretty fun, and the town had such a wide variety, that it was nice to 'cruise' (as we call it here) from pub to pub. 4. The constant flow of busses into Galway made it very convenient to hop over for the day, and then come back 'home', so we didn't have to spend the night out there during the Volvo races was a BIG plus! 5. I didn't do any "tourist" shopping for clothes, but I did get very cold, and popped in 3 times to Mrs. Quinn's to purchase about 5 long-sleeved tops (at about 8 Euro each...I have no problem using the bargain places...why spend 48 when I can get it for 8?) My mom was window shopping, and saw a jacket that was really nice, but sold for over 50 Euro...we kept walking! 6. All of the eateries had great prices, as well as, great food! I kept popping into 4 or 5 of them, because I really liked the atmosphere. (and I still lost the weight!) 7. Everyone we met was very nice, and made us all feel welcomed (great for that small-town atmosphere, also.) 8. You could do what we do here, in Albuquerque during the summer: Close off West Bridge and Bride Street entrances with barriers (including all of the little side-streets) and force all of the auto-traffic onto Barrack St, from the Athenry Road/Gort Road section and then back onto the end of Bride St, down past the School/office supply store. This would allow all foot traffic for the whole stretch. Use some of the empty office spaces for live bands (no alcohol needed, since there's so many pubs, so no need for liquor licenses) or things like that. Do this from Friday night at 6 p.m. until Sunday night at 6 p.m. Have the local shops stay open later (say until 8 p.m.) during these weekends. Now, here's the key: you really have to have the shops stay open, because the 2 things that will bring the walkers out will be music and shopping. The stores might even pull a fast one on us all, by offering special pricing during these hours only. We found out quickly that FOOT-TRAFFIC brings in the customers in waves, and the special pricing will motivate them to come! 9. The Walks is a VERY big asset that I don't think is advertised to tourists much. I stumbled on it. If the kids wouldn't toss the trash/beer bottles so much, it would be awsome! I even heard that it was pretty dangerous. Now...that's a real shame. The town could benefit with doing something with it, even if it was a monthly fair for selling things like pottery or hand-made items. 10. Last, but not least: The town is truly amazing! I wish I could live there. I loved the feel of the place. I'm just scared that the high prices of some of the shops could force the locals to WANT the taller/more/newer/etc. types of businesses that will force the 'mom-and-pop' shops to close. If the shops just reduced their prices even 5 or 10 percent, it would reduce the risk of people going to Galway. I only wish I could go back. Mary
MNAJPA wrote: » I'm sorry, I'm so opinionated, as well as, long winded, and I know this is none of my business since I don't live there...but your town has GREAT potential!!! mary
DJ Dodgy wrote: » The bypass really improved the town hugely but it feels like it didn't do far enough by not excluding cars (at least at key times, say Thursday Friday evening or Sundays) from the main street.
Brouhaha wrote: » By the way the suggestions in this thread about the need for a summer festival are spot on. Closing main street and putting a small stage on the wide part between John Patrick's and Martin Fahy's sounds great, there is loads of trad. music talent around that could play, e.g. Joe Burke. Keeping the shops open whilst music playing sounds good also.
pmason wrote: » What is the gay scene like in Loughrea? Heard it was ok!
Brouhaha wrote: » The bypass was meant to extend on to the Gort road but that section was not implemented. Cars or trucks going from Dublin to Gort, Ennis and all surrounding parts are driving down the main street as a result.
DJ Dodgy wrote: » Are Supervalue moving out to the new building that the Lidl/Aldi is going into out by the Hotel. I was passing the building site and thought I saw the Supervalue logo on the sign?
Michael Angelo. wrote: » Im currently living in Ballinasloe but considering moving to loughrea because I work in Galway. At least twice a week the local guards seem to be out on the bypass :eek:.. those lads and ladies seem to be active so im wondering does this reflect on the town being safe? Iv also seen a few cycling out on the main street after midnight!!!
DJ Dodgy wrote: » So what do people make of the new Supervalue/Cafe out by the hotel? The space in the shop plus extra parking is welcome. As the moment feels like there isn't much of an extra choice on the shelves just more on the shelves but it will probably take a while to diversify into the extra space. but the Deli, Butchery etc areas are well laid out and the overall vibe is a less stressful/cramped shop. Think the turn in from the main road might need some more work, some permanent island or something to make it clearer than currently. Anyway welcome addition to the town would be my vote.
