Former University of Limerick president Dr Ed Walsh said the meeting was attended by a "remarkable gathering of the movers and shakers in Limerick". While only 40 people were invited to the meeting, after the Limerick Leader exclusively revealed the details of the private discussion, attendance swelled to over 60 people, many of whom had not been invited but were nonetheless allowed to enter the discussion.
A number of the city's leading architects, including Hugh Murray were present, as well as city planner Dick Tobin; city manager Tom Mackey; Pat Daly of Shannon Development; the president of Limerick Institute of Technology Maria Hinfelaar; the president of the Irish Polish Cultural and Business Association, Pat O'Sullivan; the chief executive of Limerick Chamber of Commerce Maria Kelly, and property developer Michael Daly. But the decision to maintain a "top-down" guestlist has hit a nerve with one local body.
"If they're trying to get people to be on side for the whole thing, you'd imagine they'd be open about it," said Dan Sullivan, a local An Taisce representative. Andrew Mawhinney of the Limerick Co-Ordination office, acknowledged "that's always going to be the criticism but I suppose organisers wanted to have some structure.
At the moment it's a bit top-down but I imagine later on the process will be from the bottom-up". Another meeting is planned in early February after the findings of this Tuesday's meeting in the Quality Hotel have been compiled by Atlantic Way, who spearheaded the project. The location for the building is expected to feature in the next meeting, and, according to Dr Walsh, the cost of the development is not a factor in the discussions.
"I believe once you have an idea, money will flow. Once the administrative structures here are logically coherent, international and national money will be attracted into Limerick," said Dr Walsh. It was widely agreed at the meeting that Limerick was being left behind by Galway and Cork in commercial terms and that the lack of a city architect was impeding the city's progress. "Limerick's boundary issue must be resolved or it will be very difficult to make these grand plans happen," said Dr Walsh.