'People are very angry': Lidl lodges appeal as council rejects plan for new Limerick store

RESIDENTS in Abbeyfeale are ‘very angry’ that Lidl was denied planning permission to build a new store on the outskirts of the town, a local councillor has claimed.  

The proposed development was earmarked for the Killarney Road, and would have created a number of permanent jobs in the locality. 

The German-owned retailer sought permission from the local authority to demolish the former Sheehy's Hardware Store and proposed to build the shop on the grounds of the site. 

Planning permission was refused on the grounds that the proposed development was contrary to the current zoning for the area, and because the site’s location did not align with the Abbeyfeale Local Area Plan.

The decision of the local authority has now been appealed to An Comisiún Pleanála and a decision is expected to be made early in 2026.

READ MORE: Permission to be sought for huge new riverside development in Limerick

The Abbeyfeale Local Area Plan prioritises that development should be kept in the town’s centre, where possible. Abbeyfeale town centre is located approximately 1 km to the north-east of the proposed Lidl development. 

Abbeyfeale Cllr Galvin told the Limerick Leader / Limerick Live that he was “very disappointed” that Lidl were not granted planning permission for the new store. 

“I’m speaking on behalf of the people I’m elected to represent. People have come to me very angry,” he said. 

“We need development in our town. At the moment the cost of living is very high, we need competition.”

Cllr Galvin further added: “The executive have to be held accountable. I have a big issue why the planners didn’t reach out to the council," he stated, describing the decision as a “lazy refusal”.

Cllr Francis Foley - also from Abbeyfeale - said: “There is a local area plan for Abbeyfeale. It [the planned Lidl development] was outside of it.”

However, Cllr Foley added: “Most people would like to see it (the Lidl store) coming.”

At present, Abbeyfeale has a Supervalu and Tesco for grocery shoppers in the locality. However, there is no discount supermarket in the town - which has a population of 2,206, according to the 2022 census.