Mayor of Limerick, John Moran, has today announced an ambitious programme of summer initiatives that is intended to transform the city centre through a combination of transport planning trials, cultural activation and enhanced public spaces.
The initiative will bring together Sunday-only transport planning (Superblock) trials throughout July and August, alongside a new “Summer in the City” programme, which is planned to roll out across the city centre in August, featuring events, street animation and public realm enhancements.
The Superblock trials will take place on Sundays in July, introducing low-impact traffic calming measures designed to prioritise local access, pedestrians, cyclists and public transport. The approach aims to reduce through-traffic and test how more people-focused streets can support a more vibrant and accessible city centre.
Building on these transport trials, August will see an expanded programme of animation and activity, with temporary pedestrianisation, greening initiatives and a wide range of family-friendly events. This will be a cross departmental project led by Limerick City and County Council’s Economic and Tourism Development team in partnership with local businesses and community stakeholders.
While activations planned by the Economic and Tourism Development will be taking place at the weekends, a community grant call to enable community events during the week is to be issued shortly. Activations curated by the Economic and Tourism Development Team will take place at the weekends, and a community grant call will be made available to enable community led events.
Key locations including O’Connell Crescent, John’s Square, Baker Place and Lower Glentworth Street will be reimagined as welcoming public spaces, hosting everything from international sporting showcases and street theatre to evening entertainment and community-led programming.
As part of this city-centre animation, local businesses will play a central role. For example, Mother Mac’s pub on High Street will activate the back lane adjoining their premises, creating an additional cultural and social space that showcases how underused areas can be brought to life during the summer period.
The programme will also feature an urban beach experience at Steamboat Quay, alongside interactive cultural programming and a strong emphasis on accessibility, sustainability and participation.
Together, these initiatives provide a live demonstration of how Limerick’s streets and spaces can evolve—testing ideas aligned with the emerging City Centre Transport Plan, including a stronger focus on active travel, reduced through-traffic, enhanced public transport corridors and improved public realm. While the Transport Plan is still in development, these trials will help inform its final direction and demonstrate potential benefits in real-time.
Across Europe, cities such as Ilford, Milan and Amsterdam have shown how temporary changes to streets and public spaces can support stronger local identity, increased footfall, cultural activity and more welcoming, safer places; Limerick’s Summer in the City programme is about testing how those benefits can be delivered in a local context.
Mayor of Limerick, John Moran said:
This is about showing what Limerick can become. By trialling new ways of using our streets—prioritising people, supporting local businesses, and creating space for culture and community—we are taking an important step toward a more vibrant and liveable city centre.
The Sunday Superblock trials in July and the Summer in the City programme in August give people the opportunity to experience a different Limerick—one that is more welcoming, more dynamic and full of life and to help shape its future.”
Limerick City and County Council is working closely with local businesses, residents, transport providers and community groups to support the rollout of the initiatives, with clear communication and phased implementation planned throughout the summer period.
Further details on specific events, traffic arrangements and opportunities to get involved will be announced in the coming weeks.