Limerick mayor: ‘I will not pretend that it has not been a tough two weeks’
Controversy over street closures in Limerick city centre rumbles on
LIMERICK mayor John Moran has said it has been a “tough two weeks” following a negative reaction in some quarters to his idea to close some of the city's streets to vehicular traffic to accommodate summer activities during August.
Among the areas affected are sections of O'Connell Avenue and The Crescent; Lower Cecil Street; Mallow Street; Hartstonge Street; Barrington Street; Nicholas Street and Pery Square and surrounding streets.
The road closures are to facilitate Summer in the City, funded by the 2026 Mayoral Fund. The programme features a diverse mix of culture, sport, community events, family activities, wellness experiences and outdoor dining, with many events free of charge and open to all ages.
Close to 200 local traders signed a petition asking Mayor Moran to change course on his road closures plan.
Fianna Fail councillors Joe Pond, Catherine Slattery and Kieran O’Hanlon put forward a resolution under section 140 of the Local Government Act which, if it got support, would have seen the abandonment of the street closures.
However, the local authority advised them that the measure cannot be used in this instance.
Mayor Moran posted on X on Saturday, “I will not pretend that it has not been a tough two weeks”.
“Damien [the mayor's partner] and I tried to finally take a holiday together and it was totally hijacked when three councillors in an incorrect use of the legislation tried to call a council meeting to vote to kill Summer in the City.”
The first democratically elected mayor in the country said: “Maybe it was karma but this weekend the sun has shone and the people of Limerick responded to the negativity in the best way. The city I love revealed itself!
“An inclusive safe fun city with people just being positive and enjoying themselves! This is what Summer in the City means."
The mayor shared a number of videos and photos of people out and about enjoying the festivities.
“Retail does not work in Limerick when you close a street. Where can the customers park if there is a deck chair (or three?) outside?” posed Mayor Moran.
The mayor also retweeted a number of posts from others.
“It was heaving today in Limerick. Shops, cafes, pubs, all busy. Humble pie for the naysayers!” reads one.
Another said: “Amazing to see all the activity. Activity = spending. Great for business.”
After the mayor’s series of tweets, Cllr Slattery, FF, shared a video on Facebook of The Crescent with no cars and no people.
“The Crescent Limerick bustling with activity this evening - not (in reference to the video). Closing the road is a crazy idea when The Crescent is empty,” said Cllr Slattery. The squawking of seagulls can be clearly heard in the video.
Furious traders staged a city centre protest at the end of July in an 11th-hour bid to stop Mayor Moran’s plans to close a number of streets to traffic.
Shane Gleeson, who runs four Spar shops locally, added: “Limerick city is on its knees, you don’t need to crush us.”