MAYOR John Moran’s alleged silence on the back of plans for a new museum dedicated to the stories of Irish women at the former International Rugby Experience (IRE) was noted by councillors this week.
Speaking at Monday’s Metropolitan District meeting, Cathaoirleach for the district, Cllr Daniel Butler (FG), praised Culture Minister and his Fine Gael party colleague, Patrick O’Donovan, for seeing the potential in the National Museum of Ireland project.
Thanking also the McManus family for their donation of the building, he welcomed the proposed women’s museum for the landmark O’Connell Street site.
“We should all be welcoming with open arms and with enthusiasm, because of potential footfall, but also the subject matter is of huge importance as well,” Cllr Butler said.
“Often, women have been written out of our history, and hopefully this will be a meaningful attempt to address that as part of it.”
The City West representative went on to note the absence of a press release from the Council executive and the alleged silence of Mayor Moran around the announcement of the new museum.
“This was disappointing given the significance of it, because I think it’s important that when we secure investment that will shape our cultural landscape, that we collectively recognise it. As we move forward, I think it is important, in terms of leadership, that when something like this happens, that we all speak with one collective voice in welcoming something like this,” Cllr Butler opined.
“The absence of the executive and the Mayor commenting on this, I think, is disappointing, given its significance. It’s of huge importance to have a landmark cultural institution, not just for the city, but for this country. To have it on O’Connell Street is of huge significance.”
He said he wanted to “reiterate my gratitude to the McManus family, and to Minister O’Donovan and his Department and everybody that was involved in that process”.
Fianna Fáil councillor Kieran O’Hanlon took the view that the IRE had become a “white elephant in the middle of the city” and too welcomed news of the its new proposed repurposing.
“I’d like to commend Minister O’Donovan, who has been very proactive in this, and obviously has used his good office to make sure that the gift that JP McManus was giving to the people of Limerick will be of benefit to all,” Cllr O’Hanlon said.
“I do regret very much what happened, and I regret that the staff who were working there in the Rugby Experience had to be let go. I think a lot more could have been done here by the Mayor, and I was very disappointed that the councillors weren’t involved in the discussion at a time when that was up and running,” Cllr O’Hanlon commented.
Cllr O’Hanlon also praised Mr McManus, saying:Â “He is most giving to the people of Limerick and Ireland, and we were so lucky to have JP. I was very saddened to see that he and his family were so offended and brought literally to tears because of the lack of support and will to make that work.”