'Crushing blow' as popular Limerick supermarket closes suddenly

A LIMERICK supermarket closed its doors without advance notice this Thursday.

It is understood the Iceland store in Moyross, on the city's northside, stopped trading at approximately 2.30pm.

While there has been no official comment, signage erected outside the locked doors state the premises has been closed on a temporary basis.

It's not clear if, or when the store will open again, with local TD Maurice Quinlivan describing the development as "a crushing blow for the workers, their families and their communities."

Limerick Live understands around 10 staff have been impacted by the closure which some locals in Moyross believe is for good.

Iceland opened its store at Watch House Cross in Moyross in 2017. It came two years after Eurospar closed the store which it was operating from the same premises.

Earlier this year, Metron Stores, the firm which runs the Iceland supermarket franchise in the Republic of Ireland, was placed into examinership.

This provides a company with a legal protection from groups or individuals it owes money to with the aim of restructuring the firm and securing new investment.

In a statement issued to Limerick Live, Mr Quinlivan has accused the treatment of workers by Iceland's operator in Moyross as "nothing short of a disgrace".

Death in Limerick - Thursday, September 7, 2023

"The sudden and unannounced closure is a crushing blow for the workers, their families, and their communities. It is essential that these workers are supported by government, and that they receive all monies owed to them by Iceland, as well as their redundancy. The prolonged examinership process has only reinforced serious questions regarding the takeover of Iceland," he added.

A number of other Iceland stores across the country closed in a similar fashion over the summer.

The Carry Out off-licence located adjacent to the Iceland store continues to trade as normal.

Deputy Quinlivan has pledged his party's full support to those workers who are impacted by the closure of the Limerick store.

The examiner, who was appointed by the High Court over the summer, has been contacted for comment.