Former Limerick council employee signposts issues with plans

THE FORMER curator of the Limerick Museum says it’s “sad” the medieval part of the city is not included in plans to overhaul local tourism signs.

Brian Hodkinson said: “We should be proud of our history and shout about it.”

It comes with councillors set to decide on plans to replace 45 signposts and install 70 new ones in their place.

The local authority has previously said: “The removal of the existing varied and outdated pedestrian orientation and wayfinding signage throughout the city centre and the installation of a new unified signage family will facilitate clearer and easier pedestrian navigation throughout the city centre.”

But Mr Hodkinson, who has published a volume of essays on medieval Limerick, says some local history “lies ignored”.

“Much of the medieval Irish town is not within the zone. Limerick is called the Treaty City because of the Williamite Sieges. A proud part of that is the 1690 siege when defenders threw back the soldiers who had breached the wall, forcing King William to withdraw and send his army back the following year,” he wrote in a formal submission to the council plans.

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Mr Hodkinson, also a former member of the Irish Walled Towns Network, wants to see the breach in the City Wall created by this, near St John’s Hospital, commemorated.

“A route around the City Wall in this area would also be very worthwhile,” he added.

Elsewhere, Sean McIlfatrick, who lives in Thomondgate has accused council of “pole pollution” in his objection.

He believes signs “serve no purpose in the age of smartphones” and is furious that there will be a net increase of signs in the city centre.

“Why are we adding more signs than we are removing,” he asked. “The whole point I thought of this programme was to reduce the pole pollution in the city centre, not increase it.

“I really do not think we need the proposed new signs, the majority of tourists are on bus tours and do not need these signs.

Other tourists use Google Street Maps on their phone,” he added.

Mr McIlfatrick believes electronic parking signs - many of which no longer operate - should be removed.

Councillors are expected to make a decision on the plans later this month.