THE call has gone out from councillors in the Metropolitan District for a tourist office in the heart of Limerick City.
But shouldn’t they, perhaps, first focus on drawing tourists in?
Sure, a tourist office will help on that front. But our beloved city could use more than a tourist office, despite all the positives it has going for it – especially with the celebratory Riverfest scenes this past weekend.
Limerick, like other cities, it must be said, is feeling the hurt created, in some part, by the convenience of online shopping. I’m a holy terror for it myself.
The big name shops have long disappeared from our high streets leaving us with a liquorice all sorts of charity, discount, and vape shops. But we can’t blame everything on the internet.
The cost of living is hammering people down to their knees and we now have less disposable income than before. That being the case, it is no surprise that people are more picky about where they spend their hard-earned dosh.
Local businesses — our ratepayers — and the average working Joe or Joan could do with the financial jackboot lifted up off their necks.
Give us a breather, Paschal!
A tourist kiosk in the heart of the city is a lovely idea, but how about we get the basics right first.
The government, both local and central, need to invest in people and give them the opportunity to bring Limerick back to life. Many of us of a certain vintage will have nostalgic memories of coming into the city of a Saturday and making a day of it around the shops. Sadly, you’d find little to keep you there for half that time these days.
Independent councillor Maria Donoghue believes a central tourist kiosk in the city could play an important role 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 said at last week’s local authority meeting.
In fairness, Cllr Donoghue’s thinking outside the box and that’s what Limerick needs. Let’s hear what Limerick’s businesses, creatives, and all those with a stake in the city have to say.
Neither the Opera Centre or M&S is going to save us, so some local resourcefulness is required. There’s enough people out there very passionate about the Treaty City to breathe new life back into its once bustling streets. Donoghue, a former senior architect at Limerick City and County Council, is one of those people.
Speaking at the April meeting of the Metropolitan District, the City West representative pointed to best practice elsewhere, drawing 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,” she insisted.
Mayor John Moran has proved himself a visionary, he’s a man not frightened of taking bold steps and trying new things. But he’ll have to first get the Council chamber on side if we’re to have any chance of turning the city’s frown upside down.
Remember councillors, ‘he who dares wins’, as Del ‘Boy’ Trotter used to say. We have a brave and bold new opportunity, maybe start playing ball. To paraphrase Dell again, don’t be plonkers about it.
