An Expert Group set up by Mayor of Limerick John Moran to enhance heritage and green spaces in Limerick is continuing to progress its work in assessing current amenities and identifying gaps in existing facilities.
The purpose of the Expert Group is to identify future transformative projects to with a focus on liveability, to create more liveable settlements and attract people to live and remain in Limerick.
The Expert Group has now developed a list of ideas at a high level for projects for each of the four districts – the Metropolitan area, Adare/Rathkeale, Cappamore/Kilmallock and Newcastle West. The ideas for these projects will be progressed further in 2026.
The group met again this week – the fifth occasion since its inception in early 2025, with this meeting focusing on the Metropolitan area.
The focus for the discussions this week was a review of the Green Blue strategy for Limerick city, followed by a separate analysis of each of six transformational spaces and how to connect them up to each other, in order to create a chain of amenity spaces for residents of and visitors to Limerick city. The six projects examined were:
- a new Northside riverside park
- public realm on King’s Island after flood protections are complete
- Limerick’s riverside from the Hunt Museum to the Clayton Hotel
- a greened Georgian Limerick including the so called ‘New Town Park’
- Colbert Park
- Garryowen Green
Further meetings later in 2026 will focus on the work in each of the other districts.
The group, which is co-chaired by the Mayor and Cllr Sean Hartigan, has been formed to comprise of officials from Limerick City and County Council, Teagasc, Coillte, the Office of Public Works (OPW), Limerick City Partnership, National Parks and Wildlife Services and other experts in the field.
The group’s primary tasks, agreed by the members, include the following:
- To develop a programme of work to preserve and enhance Heritage and Green Spaces including Parks in both the Natural and Built Environment and any other relevant spaces
- Map existing green spaces and heritage facilities
- Identify gaps in facilities and ecological corridors or amenities and come up with practical steps to be taken to improve coverage and availability for all residents of Limerick, especially those living in urban and town locations without private gardens
- Identify gaps in our existing network of public parks
- Improve range of facilities (eco-friendly, outdoor dining, pet friendly etc)
- Improve walking or active travel linkages between facilities
Mayor of Limerick, John Moran, commented:
“We are continuing to reimagine Limerick’s future and, naturally, enhancing our public spaces and heritages assets will be a huge part of that. We are focused on projects that will deliver long-term benefits for communities across the city and county, whether that be the vision of a Northside Park or developing the community garden at King’s Island. I’ve asked the group to think boldly and strategically not just about what we need now, but what Limerick will need for generations to come. We are continuing to build a more liveable Limerick for all.”
Co-chair of the group, Cllr Seán Hartigan, added:
“I’m proud to see this group already bringing forward ambitious, nature-led solutions that will enhance people’s quality of life across Limerick. We want to protect our heritage, our waterways and our green spaces. We’re focusing strongly on sustainability, biodiversity and improving our parks offering to support both physical and mental wellbeing. Our task as a group is simple – to create a plan that improves our open spaces to serve both our people and our planet for generations to come.”
The group intends to agree on a programme of work for enhancing heritage assets and green spaces in Limerick which will be updated on an annual basis.