'Hands off our park', says Limerick community in response to Mayor John Moran's modular home plans

RESIDENTS have given a massive thumbs down to plans by Mayor John Moran to build modular homes on a park in their community.

The first citizen has identified 10 sites across the city which he would like to see temporary housing on, including the Boro Park in Janesboro.

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This green space was only opened as a public amenity in 2021, and locals say they aren’t ready to let it go - and will fight any plans to put housing there.

Holding a banner aloft, reading, ‘Beach, please, leave our park alone’, in reference to the installation of sand in the Crescent last summer at the mayor’s behest, Charlotte Keane said: “This is the only safe space in Janesboro for children to play, for our elderly neighbours to come, for safe walks. We have memorial trees planted here - there’s one for my parents, one for my grandparents and I come here regularly.”

Cecilia Darcy questioned why green spaces in areas like North Circular Road and South Circular Road are not among the 10 sites identified.

“The people of Janesboro won’t go quietly on this one. We are an old established community here with old established links,” she added.

Lesley Cunningham, the chairperson of Janesboro Tidy Towns said she was “shocked” when she heard the park had been identified for homes.

“This place is like a diamond to us. We need this here,” she said.

She acknowledged the housing crisis, but said: “There are homes which are blocked up for years. Money could be spent on them. I can’t understand why you’d take away a place which is being used.”

Eoin Daly added: “I don’t think people realise the size of this project and the infrastructure which needs to go in. We don’t have the infrastructure at present to take this.”

Below: Laura and Jamie Shannon, Janesboro

Tadhg Enright, who was at the park with his sister Cara and mum Noreen said when he heard about the housing plan, he started to look at legal aspects of it.

“This is classified as a public recreational park, not somewhere they can be turned residential,” he said.

Teresa O’Grady said: “People need to realise that for your own mental health, it’s important to get out. I meet kids, people my own age, older people, every single day and chat with them. If you take this away, people will suffer.”

Helen Burke pointed to the wildlife attracted to this park.

And local councillor Sarah Kiely invited Mayor Moran to Janesboro to see the usage of the park for himself.

Council did not return a request for comment.