INDEPENDENT councillor Maria Donoghue wants to see Fáilte Ireland immediately establish a central tourist office or information kiosk in the heart of Limerick City.
Cllr Donoghue tabled the motion at the April Metropolitan District meeting as part of a broader vision to revitalise the city centre, drive economic growth, and reassert Limerick as a leading cultural and tourism destination.
“It is frankly unacceptable that a city of Limerick’s scale, history, and vibrancy lacks a visible and accessible tourist hub,” Cllr Donoghue hit out.
“We are underselling ourselves. There is no shortage of events, gigs, and attractions across the city and county — but without a central point to highlight these offerings, we are missing a vital opportunity to attract and retain visitors,” she told Council members.
The City West representative emphasised the role a tourist office could play in strengthening the local economy and supporting businesses.
“Beyond just providing information, this hub could offer curated ‘special offers’ — discounts for restaurants, cultural institutions, and live events. This is about connecting visitors directly to the heart of Limerick and driving footfall back into our streets, venues and shops,” she insisted.
Currently, the only official tourist office is housed within King John’s Castle — a location Cllr Donoghue argues is “counterproductive”.
“Tourist offices should be welcoming and prominent, not hidden inside a single attraction. The fact that a local resident recently asked me where our tourist office is without knowing we even had one says everything about the current setup.”
Pointing to best practice elsewhere, she drew attention to Crosshaven in County Cork, “a town with a population of just over 4,000 has a well-positioned, fully staffed tourist office open six days a week. In contrast, Limerick— a major urban centre strategically located between tourism powerhouses like Kerry and Clare — has allowed itself to fall behind.”
“We cannot continue to tolerate being an afterthought on Ireland’s tourism map.”
Cllr Donoghue’s motion received strong cross-party support, which she described as a sign that “there is political will to do better”.
She welcomed recent indications that Limerick Civic Trust and the Markets Trustees are exploring the potential of providing a new tourist office at the historic Potato Market, which she says is a “positive step in the right direction, but it must be backed by real commitment from Fáilte Ireland in terms of funding and a deadline”.
“It’s time to stop talking around tourism and start building the infrastructure that will put Limerick back where it belongs — at the centre of Ireland’s cultural conversation.”
