Lanzarote publican Shane Sheehy named Limerick Person of the Month

SHANE Sheehy has been named Limerick Person of the Month for shining a spotlight on Limerick abroad.

Based in Lanzarote, the publican was unable to receive the award in person, and instead gave his thanks over a very joyful phone call.

“Still in shock”, the Garryowen native described his rollercoaster of a journey of setting up his Limerick-honouring Lanzarote bar, The Limerick Phoenix Tavern.

Having spotted the “beautiful little bar” whilst on holiday in Lanzarote almost five years ago, Shane and his wife, Bernadette, made the brave decision to buy the pub and move to the popular holiday destination.

Unfortunately, they opened their bar 21 days before the Covid-19 pandemic forced them to close the business for 18 months.

Their home county helped them get back on their feet, Shane explained: “We fought hard and we found that the support, the love and the togetherness of the Limerick people was absolutely incredible”.

This support from his ‘locals’ inspired Shane to truly give them a “taste of home” in his bar, turning it into a shrine to Limerick. 

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When the seven TVs in the bar are not playing Irish matches, from local fixtures to international competitions, Shane will often play videos and slideshows that he creates himself about Limerick’s history and heritage.

On having the opportunity to share the Limerick spirit with his customers, he says that “it’s a sense of pride. I could stand there and go, well you know what? This is our city. This is our town. It’s our county.”

He is proud to be shining a spotlight on Limerick abroad, his passion having been passed down and “nurtured” by his father.

“Very, very happy” to have won such a prestigious award, he is equally as overjoyed to be from “a county of people that will embrace everyone”.

The Limerick Person of the Month award is sponsored by the Limerick Leader, media agency Southern, and the Clayton Hotel.