Gallery: Bundoran's new attraction opens at the Olympic family fun Arcade

It is not very often that you get a brand new business opening in the very centre of Bundoran - but that was the good news which greeted visitors last weekend with the new family fun Olympic Amusement arcade which specifically caters for children and their families.

Appropriately it was left to the one of the town’s most distinguished citizens, Patricia Brennan, to officially open the new venue, with Canon Ramon Munster P.P. also in attendance for the blessing.

Indeed, the opening on Good Friday in Bundoran has signalled the traditional start of the summer season in the resort, for many decades.

Liam Clancy, who along with Norman Page has been operating the very successful business for many years, which is placed at the very heart of what was called Bundoran’s Golden Mile.

Liam spoke to the Democrat about the indoor entertainment venue's history and how it has developed into the fine establishment it is today.

He said that the Olympic Amusements has been located on Main Street since the early 1960s.

Below: Eva and Kay Drummond with Sharon O'Doherty in the new Olympic Arcade - Family Fun Amusements, Bundoran which was officially opened on Friday last (Picture Thomas Gallagher)

Before that it was owned by the Battisti family, who operated the Cafe Olympia and now doubt there was a connection with its current name in making a link with that of its predecessors.

Kenneth Page was the man and father of Norman who was the successful business entrepreneur who first established the business, with Liam coming on board in 1970/71.

“I used to work there when I was younger, so I have many happy memories working there. And later Ken’s son, Norman got involved. Back then we had the slot machines and the kiddies rides with the video games coming in after, with the likes of indoor bingo, also proving a big success.”

He said that video games, in particular, became very popular the years that followed, and became more sophisticated as the general electronic industry advanced.

It was one of the first indoor entertainment venues in the seaside and that had followed on from when the late Ken Page had operated his business from the old Hamilton Hall in the fifties at the Promenade before moving to the Main Street at the ‘Olympic’.

“The first extension to the premises was across from Rennison’s Lane and Rennison's old shop itself which by then had become the home of Bundoran China and the late Cyril Arnold.

“He had originally been a designer in Belleek Pottery, later starting on his own, making Bundoran pottery. The amusements also extended then to the premises of the late Irvine Hamilton, so what we now call the Olympic Towers was a combination of both.”

“We then bought the Barbecue a few years ago from the late Reggie Gallogley and Mary Gallogley.”

Plans had been advanced to get the new premises up and running sooner, but bigger things in the world were afoot.

Liam explained: “There were issues with getting the supply of steel and timber and then of course, there was Covid. That was a tough time, but we got there and we got it finished. With that I would like to thank our contractor John Fox from Donegal Town.”

From start to finish he said that the build time was nearly two years and along with other challenges, he said that it was at a time when building materials of all kinds just “rocketed”.

Liam said that both himself and Norman Page, had been blessed with a group of loyal and dedicated staff down the decades and they particularly wanted to mention the contribution of Bernie Fox, who had been involved with the business for over fifty years.

So if you are with the kids in Bundoran, local or visitor, certainly drop into the new family fun Olympic arcade that will keep the kids happy, on any visit.