PICTURES: Exciting new chapter for Limerick town as new team launched

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A large gathering of community representatives came together in The Longcourt House Hotel last Thursday to mark the official foundation of the Newcastle West Town Team.

The Town Team is a Limerick City & County Council initiative that brings together organisations, groups and clubs across the town under one umbrella, with a shared objective: to make Newcastle West a great place to live, do business in and visit. The group is entirely voluntary and was called upon by Limerick City & County Council in 2024 to establish a Town Team framework for Newcastle West.

It was a particular honour to have Mayor John Moran formally launch the Town Team on the night. Other elected representatives in attendance included Richard O’Donoghue TD and Councillor Jerome Scanlan.

This marks the first time that such a wide range of organisations have been united through one representative group in Newcastle West. The strong attendance and high level of engagement on the night reflected the enthusiasm and positivity surrounding the initiative, which was widely welcomed as a progressive step forward for the town.

The meeting was led by James O’Sullivan, Chairperson of the Town Team Executive, with contributions from Executive members Clare Sammon, Aoife Hayes, Colin Byrne and Vicki Nash, alongside Karen Burke, Limerick City & County Council’s Town Regeneration Officer, and Garda Superintendent Michael Fleming.

On the night, the Town Team unveiled a new Newcastle West Town Team logo and outlined future plans for a town-wide marketing campaign, similar to those successfully implemented in towns such as Killarney and Clonakilty.

The Town Team is structured around subgroups representing key sectors in the town:

• Aoife Hayes – Traders

• Clare Sammon – Sports

• Ciaran Fox – Education

• Vicki Nash – Tidy Towns, Arts & Culture

• Colin Byrne – Enterprise

• Trish Feury – Heritage, Tourism & Sustainability

• Greg Reddin – Community Council

Local county councillors are an integral part of the Town Team, ensuring that issues, projects and solutions discussed at subgroup level are fed directly into the relevant departments within Limerick City & County Council. The aim is to ensure that everyone has a voice in shaping the future of Newcastle West.

Addressing the gathering, James O’Sullivan stated that those involved in the Town Team “want to ensure Newcastle West receives a fair share of County Council funding and that it is directed to the right projects.” He also highlighted the need for improvements to town lighting.

Representing local businesses, Aoife Hayes said that “parking is at a critical point” and noted that a number of potential locations could be developed to address the issue.

Ten local sports clubs were represented at the meeting. Clare Sammon outlined the urgent need for additional pitches to support the progression of the GAA and camogie amalgamation and called for support in identifying suitable land. She also spoke about the potential for a multi-purpose, multi-use sports facility, describing it as “the way forward to ensure sustainable facilities in the town.”

Speaking on education, Ciaran Fox outlined the exciting plans for a new technical college in the town, expressing hope that the project would progress as planned. He highlighted the significant benefits such a development would bring, including employment opportunities and increased student presence in Newcastle West, strengthening the town’s long-term social and economic sustainability.

Jim Galvin, the main driver of the West Limerick Athletics Hub, highlighted parking challenges at the Newcastle West Athletics Track and identified town-wide parking as a priority. Lorraine Higgins of the West Limerick Resource Centre spoke about the growing waiting list of schools and organisations seeking access to their facilities. Jai, representing the Cricket Club, outlined the national cup competition hosted annually in Newcastle West and invited the wider community to attend. Greg Reddin spoke about the work of the Community Council, including its role in festivals and the upcoming St Patrick’s Day celebrations.

Concluding the meeting, James O’Sullivan outlined “A Vision for Newcastle West”, emphasising the importance of joined-up thinking and focusing on the town’s strengths. He referenced significant government investment in Fuller’s Folly, noting that to maximise its potential, the town must address the need for bus parking facilities.

“This is the joined-up thinking that is needed,” he said. “We are making a commitment to the people of Newcastle West to work transparently and collaboratively on solutions for the town.”

The Town Team Executive also highlighted the need for a dedicated project manager to coordinate engagement with Limerick City & County Council and oversee the delivery of projects across the various sectors.