Cells to the catwalk: Former garda station in Limerick to become fashion hub and museum

WHERE officers once walked the beat, models look set to soon be strutting their stuff with plans to build a fashion museum and incubator at an old garda station in the city.

It is a case of going from the cells to the catwalk, as Mayor John Moran confirms plans to open a Limerick Museum of Fashion at the former garda station in Mary Street.

The first two collections announced for the facility - which will come before councillors for decision later this year - will be Limerick Lace, currently on display at the Jim Kemmy Museum, and the Sybil Connolly collection at the Hunt Museum which will be moved to the new attraction.

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The news came as Fine Gael councillor Sarah Kiely tabled a question on the facility to this month’s metropolitan meeting into the costs around the redevelopment of the garda station.

As well as a museum of fashion, the structure will also house a fashion incubator giving Limerick and the region’s brightest fashion design talent a space for collaboration to develop their businesses and showcase their creations.

Mayor Moran had earmarked the abandoned garda barracks on King’s Island for the facility, and reversed its proposed sale to a private firm last year.

Since then, work has begun to make the site safe after years of vacancy.

Much of the existing structure – the upper floors - will have to be removed as part of the plan to transform the site.

But the core will remain, with elements rebuilt recognising the building's status as a protected structure.

Limerick fashion queen Celia Holman Lee is part of a steering committee to drive the project forward.

She will be joined by Nina Means, who is the director of a similar fashion incubator in the American city of Austin.

Nina has designed for a number of notable brands, including Rebecca Taylor and American Eagle Outfitters.

She has sold millions in designed products for publicly traded global fashion brands, and has launched her namesake womenswear label in speciality stores and online.

Also on the committee are Dr Matthew Potter, the curator of the Jim Kemmy Museum in the city, Mike Fitzpatrick who has been Dean of the Limerick School of Art and Design, and art historian Teresa Crowley.

Mayor Moran said he expects the hub will “celebrate our fashion culture, champion our fashion talent and create real opportunity”.

“I’m thrilled to be able to announce a significant step towards actioning that ambition for Limerick into a reality. Giving permanent homes to Limerick Lace and the Sybil Connolly Collection will honour our creative legacy, as well as setting the stage for a vibrant future. This is also another key project that feeds into our broader desire to provide better amenities and public realm, serving all the community across King's Island,” he said.

“This is a real opportunity for us to stitch another thread into the fabric of a modern, confident and thriving Limerick city centre,” added Mayor Moran.