‘For God’s sake’: Anger as ‘big, ugly bus shelter’ is erected in front of Limerick church

“MOTHER of God” was the reaction of one person who saw a new bus shelter erected in front of one of the finest churches in county Limerick, if not the country.

There has been a public outcry since the bus shelter was installed outside SS Peter & Paul Church in Kilmallock late last week.

Building of the church commenced in 1879. It was not opened to the public until 1889 such was the attention to detail during construction.

Cllr PJ Carey said people thought that the recent works were footpath repairs but were horrified when they realised this “big, ugly bus shelter was erected in front of the church”.

“I was inundated with complaints. Not one person in the town was happy with the location. One man told me that it was a total lack of respect for our church. There are all kinds of logistical issues around funerals, school drop-offs etc When you consider the controversy that surrounded the hanging of a giant Limerick flag on King's Castle because it was a protected structure, it is difficult to fathom how this was decided upon,” said Cllr Carey.

The Sinn Fein councillor said the council was allocated €630,000 for bus shelter enabling works by the NTA after a successful application from the council's Active Travel team. Cllr Carey said councillors had no involvement in the locations of the shelters.

The Limerick Leader contacted the council over the controversy.

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A council spokesperson said they are currently reviewing the location of a bus shelter on the R512 at Sheares Street, Kilmallock.

“A decision on the final location of the shelter is to be made in due course,” said the spokesperson this Tuesday.

The news has been welcomed by Cllr Carey and Cllr Mike Donegan.

“They agreed to review the location and have come back with a very positive result. I will be working with the council to identify a suitable location,” said Cllr Donegan.