The Wolftrap bought by Tullamore town centre developers

Popular Tullamore restaurant and pub ?The Wolftrap? has been sold to the developers behind plans for a €100 million commercial development on the former Texas site in Tullamore town centre.

Co-owner of ?The Wolftrap? Gina Murphy confirmed the news to the Offaly Independent yesterday, saying she and her partners - husband Padraig McLoughlin and brother Shane Murphy - signed the deal last Tuesday and are “extremely happy”.

The building ?The Wolftrap? currently trades from will be demolished to make way for the new shopping centre, but Ms Murphy, who heads up the Restaurant Association of Ireland, said it will resume trading from the new development, with just a short “hiccup” in service between leaving the current building and starting out in another.

“We have sold our property, not the business. We?re not upping sticks and leaving,” she said yesterday, adding that no jobs will be lost because of the move. ?The Wolftrap? currently employs almost 60 people between full and part time staff. Ms Murphy said that while they haven?t finalised what type of business they will run from the new development, it?s a good move for everybody concerned.

“It?s a win win situation,” she said. “We believe the new development can only have a strong and beneficial outcome for the town and will be a boost to the local economy and a much needed injection into the town.”

Staff at ?The Wolftrap? were informed of the move at a staff meeting on Wednesday.

Eamonn Duignan, one of the two businessmen behind retail development company Inverine Ltd, told the Offaly Independent on Wednesday that if everything goes to plan the 23,250 square metre shopping centre will be open in time for Christmas 2010.

The anchor tenant in the development will be Penneys, who will trade on two levels, but Mr Duignan said he wasn?t prepared to announce the names of any other shops coming on board until they?ve signed up to the project.

The shopping centre will comprise approximately 50 units, and is almost certain to be built by John Paul Construction.

Duignan McCarthy also have shopping centres in Mullingar, Navan, Swords and Chatham in Kent, with plans for another in Carlow.

CEO of Tullamore and District Chamber of Commerce Gail Flinter this week welcomed news of the three storey with basement carpark development, saying it will allow Tullamore residents to keep shopping locally.

Developers met with architects yesterday, and plan to submit a planning application to Tullamore Town Council within a fortnight.