Westmeath County Council has granted planning permission for the redevelopment of the Horizon Ballroom in Mullingar. The ballroom, known to generations of courting couples in the midlands as one of the original "ballrooms of romance", was operated as a dance hall by former Taoiseach Mr Albert Reynolds and his brother Jim for many years before its closure. While the ballroom is to be redeveloped as a pub and restaurant, the Reynolds family connection is to be retained as Mr Jim Reynolds and his wife Anne are directors of the development company, which has an address at Main Street Longford.
The building has not been used for a number of years and is in poor condition. Mr Reynolds was not available yesterday to say when the new development was likely to reopen or whether he would be applying for a dance licence.
One of a number of similar type ballrooms dating from the 1950s, it was once a very popular halt on the showband track with regular appearances by Joe Dolan. Even Thin Lizzy played there as a concert venue. It also managed to attract Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash and Acker Bilk, among others.
Over the years a number of redevelopment plans were put forward including housing, but the recent planning approval means the Horizon seems set to return to the leisure industry.
While plans lodged with the county council indicate that the owners may use some of the proposed building as a conference centre, it is possible that, with an appropriate licence, dances could once again be held there.