Council receives application for iconic Donegal shop signage upgrade
Ballybofey’s McElhinney’s Department Store applies to go digital with signage
Iconic Ballybofey department store, McElhinneys, has sought planning permission from Donegal County Council to replace its current signage with a digital signage display.
The listed applicant, store founder John McElhinney, has applied for the erection of a digital signage display to replace an existing static sign on the east-facing facade.
In support documents written by Carr Architects, on behalf of McElhinneys, it was stated: “They already have a large sign/billboard erected on this facade for years, and they have to change the displayed content with the changing seasons, which is cumbersome, labour-intensive, and not very environmentally friendly in the modern world.
“The screen would essentially be like a shop window displaying new season offerings available inside and online, along with the notification of promotions, sales, customer events, etc.
“It will not feature any neon lighting or any other feature which will make it stand out any more than the existing signage.
“I am therefore of the opinion that it would be easily absorbed into the overall facade, offering some relief from the lack of fenestration facing East, and would therefore NOT be unsightly, distasteful, or contrary to the proper planning and development of the area.”
Carr Architect’s Tony Carr also added a “personal note” to the support documents. He said: “I feel we are so, so, so lucky to have the McElhinney’s Department Store located here in the Twin Towns, and their long and continuing entrepreneurial endeavour which has given so much employment and brought so much footfall to the town and that accordingly should be encouraged as far as the interpretation of planning policy is possible.”
McElhinney’s Department Store has been a shop that people have travelled to visit from all over Ireland and further beyond, since it opened over 50 years ago.
The shop continues to be Ireland’s largest department store located outside of Dublin, and employs over 200 people.
Donegal County Council has announced a decision due date for the submitted planning application for November 17.