Council seeks legal advice over Christmas street closure in Limerick
A total of 548 submissions were received by the public on the closure of the Crescent area to traffic, 438 of which opposed it
LIMERICK City and County Council has sought legal advice on whether it would be possible to modify or move the upcoming Christmas Fayre, avoiding the controversial closure of the Crescent at the top of O’Connell Street in Limerick city.
This was revealed by Mayor John Moran, who has issued a statement defending the proposed closure of the Crescent for a Georgian Christmas Fayre from November 21 to December 23.
According to the Mayor’s statement, the Council executive were informed by Leahy Reidy Solicitors that it would not be possible for members to amend the location of the Fayre.
The Mayor’s statement reads that “the most pertinent passage” in the legal advice reads: “Under section 486 of the Planning Act 2024 the reference to vary or modify in my opinion relates to a minor alteration to the event published. For example removing part of it or changing the times would come within this category. I do not believe that changing the venue to one that has not been published can be done. To do so would mean that someone who did not agree to the new venue would not have had an opportunity to make a submission or challenge."
A total of 548 submissions were received by the public on the Crescent area closure to traffic. Mayor John Moran revealed that 438 of these submissions opposed the closure, 100 of them supported the closure, and 10 had no clear view on the topic.
Of the opposing submissions, more than half felt positively about the Fayre.
A separate consultation on the event licence is open until Thursday, November 5.
The proposal will come before a special meeting of the Metropolitan District of Limerick on November 10. According to Mayor Moran’s statement councillors will have the opportunity to make slight amendments to the event, or decide not to proceed with it entirely.
Mayor Moran has requested that councillors approve the license in full, as he feels “the Crescent should be given a chance”.
“The Fayre cannot be relocated under the current application, and members need to bear that in mind when they decide.”
In his statement, the mayor also outlined why other proposed locations for the Fayre would be unsuitable. He noted the following:
- “Milk Market: too disruptive to its regular trading.
- Potato Market: in use as a car park.
- Arthur's Quay Park: unavailable, as an offering is already planned there.
- Cruises Street: too narrow.
- Merchant's Quay and Nicholas Street: too concentrated with the Castle offering.
- People's Park: disconnected from the route, with the risk of damage to the park and the cost of late-night security.”
The Council “do not think any alternative fits the design as well.”
Concerns had been raised, too, about the cost of renting a stall at the Georgian Fayre. Traders were asked for a €4000 rental fee, not including electricity fees.
Mayor John Moran has said that the Council are looking into reducing this fee through subsidisation.
“The Council is working on a scheme to subsidise it, with small traders as the priority.
“I plan to give extra funding to groups working with children with special needs, particularly in areas of known deprivation, so that those children can take part fully in Christmas. The Council will select a day and work to make it as inclusive as possible, including ways to make the Fayre more accessible to neurodiverse children and adults.”
Mayor John Moran finished his statement by repeating his hopes that councillors will “give the Crescent a chance”.
“Limerick embraces new ideas, particularly when they are a bit of craic.
“If the Crescent proves too disruptive, the Fayre moves in 2027, and that decision will be made by councillors and me with a full year to plan. Without the licence there is no market this year, which means thousands of children and their families miss out and we learn nothing about whether the idea works.”