Former tavern beside Limerick's King John's Castle may get new lease of life

A FORMER tavern beside King John’s Castle could be set for a new lease of life as part of a masterplan for the area.

Discover Limerick, the council-owned company responsible for marketing and promoting Limerick, is looking at alternative uses for Castle Lane Tavern.

The tavern was operated by King John’s Castle’s former management as a food and beverage business up to 2013.

After that time, commercial reasons saw the building subsumed into the castle’s exhibition.

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However, council director Sean Lenihan said Discover Limerick is in the process of completing a masterplan for the castle area on behalf of the local authority.

This, he added: “will explore the development potential of the overall castle complex, including the former Castle Lane Tavern.”

However, he stressed it is unlikely to be used as a tavern in the future.

The information was given in response to a written question at this month’s metropolitan district meeting from Independent councillor Ursula Gavan.

She said: “I cannot understand why we are not maximising the potential of this.”

“I remember when it was open, you could sit outside on the grass bank and watch the world go by. Is there a nicer place in Limerick when the sun comes out to have a coffee, or a pint, and watch the Curragower Falls,” she asked.

Cllr Gavan also pointed to a new arts centre being constructed at the Fireplace site in nearby Nicholas Street.

“Works in Castle Lane Tavern as a restaurant or community space would benefit the wider community and help local businesses. Limerick City and County Council own a few buildings on the street and it's incumbent on them to maximise their potential for the benefit of the city.

“We could have an amazing historic quarter facing the river which any other city would appreciate,” she told Limerick Live.

The City East councillor admitted she is frustrated with the pace of change in the medieval quarter of the city.

“Since Covid-19, nothing appears to be happening down there. We are trying to revitalise the city, it is on the Three Bridges Walk.

“It’s there lying idle, but it could be so much more. It could be like a mini-Bunratty down there. We have something so beautiful to work with,” added Cllr Gavan.