A NEW service providing mental health supports for adults out of hours is already making an impact, Minister of State Mary Butler was told during a visit to Limerick to officially open the city’s Solace Café.
The Solace Café has provided a service to 121 individuals between November 20, 2025, and February 15, 2026.
To date, 13 per cent of attendees said they would have gone to the regularly overcrowded emergency department at University Hospital Limerick if Solace Café had not been available.
Located at Sarsfield Bridge, in the heart of the Treaty City, the Limerick Solace Café opened in November 2025 and offers a free, out‑of‑hours, non‑clinical mental health support service for adults aged 18 and over.
The café is delivered in partnership with Limerick Mental Health Association through a service level agreement with HSE Mid West.
By providing an accessible, non‑stigmatising alternative to emergency department attendance, the service supports early intervention and crisis prevention.
Speaking in Limerick as she officially opened the service, Minister Mary Butler TD, Minister of State at the Department of Health with responsibility for Mental Health, said the cafe is “not a clinical setting, it’s a safe, welcoming space right in the heart of Limerick City”
“It’s become an important alternative for those who might otherwise feel they have no option but to go to the emergency department.”
She announced that the initiative has inspired her to provide funding in Budget 2026 for three more solace cafés around the country.
Maria Bridgeman, HSE Mid West integrated healthcare area manager for Limerick City and North Tipperary said: “The focus here is on active listening, practical support, and signposting to the appropriate longer-term services where needed. Importantly, the café works closely with voluntary organisations such as the suicide prevention patrols and with Limerick’s unique CAST team.”
Mr Ian Hackett, chief executive officer of Limerick Mental Association and operations manager of the Solace Café, said: “The launch of Solace Café marks a significant step forward in how we support mental health in our community.”
To book a one-hour support session, phone 061 44 6786,
email [email protected], or text or WhatsApp 085 261 2025.