Silage bale barricade outside Limerick convent suspended

PROTESTORS have suspended a vigil outside the former convent in Cappamore in a dispute over the future use of the building.

A committee called Cappamore Community Group say that the convent, located beside Scoil Chaitriona - the village's national school, should be used as an autism suite for pupils. 

However, Cappamore Housing Association, who acquired the convent from the Sisters of Mercy in 2020, had signed a “short-term lease” to Coolmine Therapeutic Centre “for residential purposes only for women and children”.

“No to Coolmine” was written on silage bales placed outside the convent. Coolmine is a drug and alcohol treatment centre “that brings clients on a journey of recovery by providing quality community, day and residential services”.

Cappamore Housing Association released a statement to Limerick Live on Tuesday evening saying they are pleased to announce that "the short-term lease of its property at the former convent residence is now ceased". 

READ MORE: Breakthrough in silage bales barricade over future use of former Limerick convent

Cappamore Community Group, in a post on Facebook, say they welcome the update from Limerick City and County Council "pertaining to Coolmine having relinquished the lease of the convent building".

"This has come as a direct result of the supportive community work. We thank everyone for their support and efforts to this point. Whilst we acknowledge that the work is not yet over, this is a massive step. With no active lease in place, meaningful discussions can now happen between the board of management (BOM) and Cappamore Housing Association (CHA).

"After careful deliberations, we believe that at this moment in time, it is in the best interest of Scoil Chaitriona and the community to postpone our protest to allow talks to progress.

"We have been made aware that the BOM and the CHA do have a plan in place to meet imminently. If we continue to protest, then it is likely that these plans will not go ahead. For these reasons, we have suspended the vigil outside the school," concludes the post on Facebook.