'Give branch back to community' says Minister

The newly appointed Minister for Culture Heather Humphreys has written to Ulster Bank calling on the firm's hierarchy to consider handing the Cootehill branch over to the community for use as an arts hub.

The Cavan-Monaghan TD made the call in the context of Ulster Bank's recent announcement that it will be closing its branch in the east Cavan town, where it has been in business since 1837.

“As a former employee of Ulster Bank and indeed a customer of the Cootehill branch, I was very disappointed when the company took the decision to close its branch in Cootehill, which of course will have a negative impact on local customers and business people,” Minister Humphreys has said.

Ulster Bank first opened its office on Market Street in Cootehill in 1837, and had maintained a presence there for the following 180 years. However, in March this year the company announced it was to shut the doors on branches in Arva and Cootehill, as well as its branches in Carrickmacross in Co Monaghan and in Edgeworthstown, Co Longford.

Minister Humphreys views the potential handover of the site for use as a local arts centre in the town as an opportunity for the bank to “give something back to the people of Cootehill” after all this time. She further believes it could also assist in reversing the “negative response” received to the bank's decision to close the Cootehill branch.