New €5m development for Limerick town unveiled by businessman

A BUSINESSMAN has revealed an updated plan for a new multi-million euro town centre / car park development in the heart of Bruff. 

This €5 million proposed development incorporates the former Bank of Ireland building, which has lain idle on the main street since the branch closed over four years ago. 

The man behind the initiative - local businessman James Beechinor - first revealed a  plan for the town over 12 months ago. It included a new convenience store with five overhead apartments, a new car park with 35 to 40 spaces and giving the former bank back to the local community rent-free. The investment was in the region of €3m to €3.5m. 

Since then Mr Beechinor says that he has looked at all avenues in which to improve and enhance the benefits of the plan for all existing businesses, residents and the  wider community of Bruff. 

READ MORE: Conservation bosses in talks on prime site in heart of Limerick

He said the new updated plan now includes land at the rear of Derry O’Meara's bar.

“Thanks to Mr O'Meara’s help and support we will now have a minimum of 60 car parking spaces for the town. The town is crying out for more parking and, particularly, off-street parking. 

“These spaces are for the use of the whole of Bruff which will attract more people into the town and definitely benefit the existing businesses in the town and hopefully encourage new businesses to open too.

“There will now also be an entrance to the rear of Derry's pub and an entrance into Niall Butler's funeral home. The residents of Sycamore Drive can also have an option of pedestrian access if they want it. It will open the whole area up,” said Mr Beechinor, who adds that the whole project will now cost in the region of €5m. 

He said that he has met and spoken with the majority of businesses in the town. 

“They are very positive about it and are publicly supporting it with some displaying the drawings to the public on their premises. They are actually asking me when it will start as it will alleviate the long-standing lack of parking in Bruff," said Mr Beechinor. 

The businessman, who, with his wife Leila, owns and operates several Spar convenience shops across County Limerick, said he would purchase the former bank (pictured below) from the council. 

“I would then give it back to the community rent-free. However, I would be insisting on that its sole use has to be for the use and benefit of the local community of Bruff," said Mr Beechinor, who gives as examples - meeting places for the Men's Shed, ICA, AA, Boy Scouts / Girl Guides, Community Council, or a creche, playschool, tourist information office etc. 

Mr Beechinor already owns the buildings on either side of the listed bank building - the former post office and a residential property. He said he is passionate about giving something back to Bruff which has lost its bank, its secondary school and its courthouse. 

“I went to school in Bruff and started out my working life at Meany's petrol pumps on Bruff's Main Street just down from Glynn's take away. Bruff has been very good to me all down through the years since I started out in business and it would be  such a beautiful and beneficial development for the town and wider community. 

“It would be there for current and future generations to use and enjoy and one that we could all as a community be very proud of,” said Mr Beechinor, who added  he intends to progress the development as expeditiously as possible and “looks forward to positive, meaningful and fruitful discussions with the community and relevant authorities”.

 He emphasised that he would like to see an all inclusive community approach to help to deliver this much-needed car park for the town of Bruff.

Mr and Mrs Beechinor wished  to thank most sincerely “all the people of Bruff who gave us their time, support and encouragement in putting this plan together”.