well what about the developments popping up in the shannonside ?

As for the Edward St. apartments – got a few questions about that image – where did it come from? It appears somebody was fairly creative on the auld photoshop or else it’s an entirely different project to the one that has just been completed there. The apartments that have just been built, face directly onto Carey’s Rd (overlooking the Junction with Lord Edward St.) and so the houses in the background should not be visible in the image or else would be to the right of the apartments as viewed from the park!

As far as I know the properties on Liddy St all belong to Roches, so it’s entirely up to them what happens there. IS there any plans for the Dunnes stores site? All that’s been mentioned in the local press is that the remaining traders in the area are having a pretty diifficult time keeping the doors open. I tihnk there may have been some talk, a few years ago about relocating the Belltable down there, which sounds like a great idea -think a few Bolton St. architecture thesis explored the issue too, might see if there’s any possibilty of getting them on line.

Ta – although i’m still perplexed, it just doesn’t make any sense on a number of levels, still dont know if it’s the same project – surely Murray O’laoire couldn’t be responsible, what with having designed so many other great projects, tourist office, shannon airport, and the box in King john’s caslte etc. Shocking altogether – and it seems they did the new one at the top of William St. too. What’s going on?

I think its really sad when you look back at all the fantastic buildings that this city has lost over the years,superb buildings such as cannocks, the old roches stores(mcbirneys i think was the name of the department store before roches moved in), the old todds building was another huge loss, i think i have some pictures of it somewhere! Unfortunately the photo i posted of cannocks a couple of weeks back seems to be only one i can find,i read somewhere that cannocks was demolished in the late 60s, i really cant find any reason why it should have been demolished, obviously just an horrendous decision by the planning authorities and one that the city centre is much the worse for now, the old roches building was destroyed by fire in 1948, one of a number of devastating fires to hit the city centre in that era, i think in a way the most tragic story of all is that of todds, a building of such character was destroyed and replaced with arguably the worst building ever to “grace” the city centre!

Shane you mentioned something about brown thomas “getting their act together” have you some inside info on hopefully a revamp of the building or are ya just talking about their new menswear dept!, i actually feel like getting sick whenever i pass bt, nobody should look directly at that building, it wouldnt do you any good!

Im found this in the limerick leader archives, ill also try and upload them pics soon, just as soon as i learn how to upload them directly instead of as attachments!

Disastrous Limerick Fire

BUILDINGS gutted: many workers now unemployed.

ONE of the biggest fire disasters in recent times occurred in Limerick today (Tuesday, August 25, 1959), when the monster drapery house of Messrs William Todd and Co went up in flames.

It was the biggest fire in the history of Limerick.

The outbreak was first detected in the men’s wholesale department on the William Street side of the premises and within a matter of minutes this section was a blazing inferno.

Thousands watched as the Limerick Fire Brigade vainly fought to control the flames, but within half-an-hour this huge section of the building was completely enveloped with flames belching through the windows and threatening the adjoining shops until eventually Messrs Lipton and Messrs Burton were also destroyed.

The staff of Messrs Todds busied themselves with salvaging stock and books from the untouched portion of the building, but eventually had to desist because the task became too dangerous with portions of the upper floors threatening to fall in at any moment.

Men and women ran to and fro, salvaging whatever they could lay hands on, and despite a roaring wall of flames at their backs. Books were thrown on to the streets from the office windows.

Thirty minutes after the outbreak was first noticed, it spread to the upper storey of Messrs Burton’s Tailors and eventually so great was the heat that the fire engine in William Street had to be removed. One of the hoses caught fire, as volunteer workers were trying to haul it away.

When it was seen that the fire had gained such a grip that it was completely out of control, calls were sent to the brigades at Shannon Airport, Ennis, Rathkeale, and the garrison at Sarsfield Barracks was also quickly on the scene.

In all, 11 brigades were employed, including Cork, Kilmallock, Charleville, Fermoy, Ranks and Tipperary.

For over two hours hoses were played on the blazing four-storied building and on the adjoining shops to little effect. There were up to 30 hoses playing on the fire at 1.30pm. In Bedford Row, at 3.30pm, one hose became disconnected when crossed by a car, and onlookers were drenched.

The entire block of O’Connell Street, Thomas Street and William Street was cordoned off, and hundreds of volunteer workers assisted the brigades in manning the hoses, while all traffic was diverted.

At one stage there was a danger that the fire would spread across William Street to the garda barracks, but the gardai tackled the sparks that came in through the windows. The tyres of a bicycle lying outside the barracks went on fire.

About 15 minutes after the outbreak was first noticed, there was a huge explosion caused by the bursting of a fuel tank in the basement.

It was learned that the probable cause of the outbreak was the bursting of a fuel tank in the basement.

Just one hour after the alarm was raised there was a huge crash, and practically the entire facade of the premises crumbled to the ground. Fifteen minutes later the remaining portion caved in.

The property was wiped out in three hours, causing £1 million worth of damage, but some premises in the block were saved, including Nicholas’, Cromer’s, Gaywear, O’Sullivan’s licensed premises, the Grimsby Fish Stores, and the main offices of Messrs Todd and Co Ltd.

While Limerick Fire Brigade were battling with the outbreak, they were summoned to minor outbreaks at Cornmarket Row and Robert Street, and had to split forces.

Windows on shops opposite Todds on O’Connell Street cracked, and shopkeepers kept a bucket chain going to prevent further damage. The brigade also hosed down the premises.

Roches Stores removed all goods from its front windows, and other shopkeepers followed suit.

About 200 employees of Todds are now out of work, and another 20 from Lipton’s, plus others in the adjoining premises destroyed.

Todds fire was a watershed in the history of the city centre. Its stately interior, long and wide mahogany counters, and an all-round balcony with cast-iron ornamental railings, was a showpiece of another era.

Lipton’s, the noted general grocers, was noted for its meats and cheeses, carrying on a very old tradition there.

The end of Todds was the end of an era, heralding major changes in the city centre.

This is the old todds department store, the one with the double decker parked outside it(if double deckers were used in limerick in the 50s, why arent they in use now with busses so overcrowded!), anyway it was indeed a fine,imposing building and would be a fantastic addition to the city centre had it survived,this whole block was destroyed in the fire,

What a disaster that was when you consider they replaced it with this heap of s***,

A sight for sore eyes 😮 , hard to believe this is supposedly the most upmarket and fashionable shop in the city, why the hell dont they do something about it, surely some imitation of a georgian facade could be put on it!

Where did the image of the new Royal George come from? Think someone said it was actually a new office on Henry st., some time back. It couldn’t be of O’Connell St., because the present elevetion is much narrower and is taller than it is wide. Is that the Shannon St. elevation? Also there is/was a for sale sign on the Henry St. side of the GPO, does anyone know anything about it? I believe the building was known as Roches Hanging Gardens which sounds like it must have had a fairly interesting history (again – sorry for the lack of pictures) It’s a redbrick single storey building just around the corner from the main part of the post office.

Irish Independent, Saturday, 13 August, 2005

Three contenders line up to build indoor arena

SUPERMACS owner Pat McDonagh faces competition over his dream to build a major indoor arena outside the capital.

Two Munster-based businessmen – one in Cork and the other in the Limerick area – are understood to be putting together plans for the development of a major indoor arena for a variety of entertainment events.

Both are understood to have completed feasibility studies on the project but have chosen separate locations, in Limerick and Cork, for their proposed arena.

Galway-based Pat McDonagh proposed to locate a €100m development, including an 8,000-seat indoor arena, a hotel and restaurants in Athlone, Co Westmeath, but this ran into planning difficulties and he is now considering a number of other locations.

He confirmed last night that he has looked at Galway, Limerick and “another midlands location” as alternatives.

Limerick appears to be a likely location, given the proximity of Shannon Airport, with its huge volume of European low-fares traffic, and the city’s improving infrastructure.

Limerick Mayor Diarmuid Scully believes the city should do all in its power to ensure it does not miss the opportunity to secure the development.

“We must put our best foot forward, roll out the red carpet to these people to make sure that we do not lose out.

“All you have to do is look at what the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham did for what was up to then a pretty much run-down city centre.

“It revitalised the whole city centre, turning it into one of the most vibrant in Europe,” Mr Scully said.

The mayor predicted that a site on the outskirts of Limerick would be the likely location, although he did not rule out the possibility of it being located on the docklands.

“One way or the other, it will probably take both the city council and county council working together on this, but that would not be a problem,” Mr Scully said.

Eugene Hogan

Ya its great to see progress being made on the savoy site, this is a really important development for the city centre and its completion cant come soon enough, my only hope now is that it lives up to all the hype and dosent become another flop, i suppose the fact that it’s a mixed use scheme will work in its favour, the hotel element of it is definately needed and a 5 star hotel slap bang in the middle of the city will obviously be very attractive for tourists and buisness people alike, a top class hotel was needed in the city centre but you’d have to wonder about the viability of the new hotel at the george site,its going to be a lot smaller than its counterpart at the savoy and with a new luxury hotel planned for the old jurys, you’d wonder would a larger retail development at the george have been more appropriate, as it is the first 2 floors are planned as retail space, these larger retail outlets are a sign of things to come and they are really going to put it up to cruises street where oasis have moved out and next are due to follow shortly citing a lack of space as the reason, this probably highlights the inadequacy of cruises street for larger retailers!

BTW great news on that events centre, something the city is really lacking!