SOCIAL Democrats councillor Elisa O’Donovan asked Mayor John Moran about the possibility of Limerick Council purchasing the Sailors’ Home on O’Curry Street to be used as a civic space.
Cllr O’Donovan told Council members that the property is due to go for sale and it would be a real loss if the local authority didn’t have ownership.
“I want to see if we can secure this historic building from the Shannon Foynes Port Company (SFPC) for use as a civic space. I understand there are protocols around them selling this historic building but, because of the timing, they are going to be putting it on the open market quite soon, and with planning permission granted for the Gasworks Site, now is the time,” the City West representative said.
In a written response to Cllr O’Donovan, Mayor Moran said the Sailors’ Home has the potential to serve as an important civic and cultural space, and expressed his desire to work with SFPC to ensure the restoration of the Sailors’ Home.
“I think the Council would be aware that there was an alternative proposal around the use of this building, which is why I started to have conversations with the current owner to express an interest. It would require us to start getting people within the organisation that can do a business plan. We have the advantage that, were it to make sense, there is the possibility of part or otherwise funding it with the mayoral fund,” Mayor Moran said.