well what about the developments popping up in the shannonside ?
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@CologneMike wrote:
By the way do you think that the cut stone bridge needs improvement? I mean with these flowerpots / baskets swinging from it’s side or these “Christmas†lights hanging from lamp post to lamp post like Brighton pier? In my opinion they visibly just clutter up the bridge? It’s a beautiful bridge, needs only maintenance i.e. weed cleaning etc. As for lighting, just only emphasise the underneath arches with floodlights.
Its always annoyed me, how little maintenance Sarsfield Bridge appears to get, the stone work is badly stained from traffic fumes and general weathering and theres fairly extensive vegetation growing on parts of it! I remember reading somewhere that the last proper spruce up the bridge received was for the European bridge heritage year (or something like that) in the mid 1970s!:(
I can just about live with the hanging baskets during the summer, in fairness I can see the city councils reasoning in having them but I definitely agree about the fairy lights! Initially they were put up for Christmas about 2 years ago, it seems they couldnt be bothered taking them down! Its shameful the way they’ve been hung along the old gas lanterns!
Sarsfield Bridge is a very under-rated structure to the extent that most locals wouldnt even think twice about it! It has a very interesting history and until the late 1980s was the main road bridge in the city!
This piece comes from The building of the Sarsfield Bridge by Padraig O MaidÃn]
The westward expansion of Limerick and the growth of its commerce made the construction of a new bridge across the Shannon and the improvement of the harbour facilities a vital necessity. A movement to further this objective soon developed and, accordingly, the people of the city petitioned Parliament for a new bridge and floating dock.The decision to build the bridge was taken in 1823 when the Wellesley Bridge Act was passed at Westminster and forty- seven people were appointed to carry out the terms of the Act. These men were known as the Limerick Bridge Commissioners, they supervised the building of the bridge and later improved the quays on both sides of the river, levying tolls and dues to help finance this work. Since 1847 this body has been known as the Limerick Harbour Commissioners.
The preamble to the Act set out the wealth and importance of the city, the increase of its commerce and the want of direct communication with the counties Clare and Galway except by the very old and narrow Thomond Bridge, “inconveniently remote from the new and trading parts of the city”. Thomond Bridge, which was to be rebuilt a few years later, was so narrow that no pathways had been provided only small recesses over the pillars where pedestrians could take refuge from vehicles passing each other.
“No one applied himself more zealously to the successful realization of this project than Mr. Thomas Spring Rice, M.P. concluded Maurice Lenihan. Commissioners were soon appointed for building the new bridge, which was called after the Lord Lieutenant of the time, the Marquis of Wellesley. A grant of 60,000 was approved for the work and for the construction of the proposed docks. It was decided to build the bridge from Brunswick (now Sarsfield) Street, across the Shannon to the North Strand. A Scottish engineer, Alexander Nimmo, who had built the imposing Spring Rice pillar in the People’s Park, was chosen to design the bridge. He selected as his model the beautiful Pont Neiully over the Seine which, incidentally, had been the model in 1789 for the first St. Patrick’s Bridge in Cork, which was demolished in 1839. The original Pont Neuilly was destroyed during the Siege of Paris in 1870.
The foundation stone of the new bridge was laid on October 25, 1824 by John Fitzgibbon, Earl of Clare, son of the notorious “Black Jack”, and “was attended with all possible ceremony and eclat”. The Fitzgibbon family had another link with the bridge. A monument to a grandson of “Black Jack”, Lord Viscount Fitzgibbon, was placed on the bridge in 1855 to commemorate his death, in the Crimean War. This statue has been replaced by the 1916 memorial. The bridge had five arches of equal span, a swivel bridge, and also two land arches for the convenience of quay traffic. It took eleven years to complete and cost £89,061, that is 50% more than estimated, and was opened by the then Lord Lieutenant Mulgrave, on August 5, 1835. The work gave much needed employment but there were many who saw the bridge as an advantage only to the landed gentry on the Clare side of the city, and indeed as being a disadvantage to the real interests of the citizens.
Maurice Lenihan records that during the years spent on building the bridge, the new docks that had been promised below the bridge and which had been provided for in the Wellesley Act of 1823, lay in abeyance
and the merchants of the city were forced to pay exorbitant dues for an unfinished bridge which inconveniently interfered with the traffic of the port.The parapet of the bridge at the west (or Clare) side was originally much handsomer than at present, being an exact replica of the east side. What brought about the change was the damage caused to the western parapet and a number of ballustrades during the terrifying storm of January 6, 1839, when some ships were battered against the bridge. The Commissioners decided to be pennywise and forever foolish in replacing the broken parapet with solid ‘sparrow-picked’ stone. The tolls on the bridge proved irksome and injurious to trade and eventually in 1883 it was made free of toll. Immediately, the Corporation held a meeting and changed the name of the bridge from Wellesley to Sarsfield and erected a plaque in the centre of the east parapet giving the new name. It was remarked at the time that the Town Council ‘had many who are of the National League and Home Rule type, who desire a severance of the Union’. A remark which had at least the merit of being obvious.
A report published on July 16, 1831, gives us an insight into the state of society in Limerick during the building of the bridge. We learn of citizens stratified into “commen men”, “gentlemen”, and “landed gentry”, we hear of “young bucks” who spent their leisure (i.e. their lives) boating on the Shannon, parading on the Crescent with the ladies, enjoying at least one glass of punch with their dinner, after which they retired to cock-fighting, billiards playing, and a late sojourn at Martin Power’s Oyster Cellar in Shannon Street. Such living was bound to end in a brawl occasionally, particularly when all the amusements took place on the one day, as they did on May 2 1831 when John and Edgar Clements, sons of the contractor for the new bridge, became involved with Roger Scully, jnr., and two of his followers, Michael Stack and Patrick Wallace, in the Oyster Cellar,which was also known as Tattersalls. Into the brawl on the side of the Clements brothers came “common men”, so described by Martin Power’s wife, who got herself a “lick” on the occasion.:D
One of the witnesses, Thomas Morony, an intimate of Roger Scully, denied that he had taken twenty-six tumblers of punch at his dinner that evening. He was unable to say how many he had taken because he had not counted them, but stated that he would be “obnubliated” after ten tumblers. He distinguished various stages of inebriation, as he had experienced them: Being impudent, extremely impudent, excited, wildly excited, and basely drunk.
[/QUOTE]Photo from Liam M. http://www.flickr.com/photos/tir_na_nog/
Photo courtesy thekatespanos http://www.flickr.com/photos/thekatespanos/
Attached:
1. Sarsfield Bridge C.1940
2.Wellesley Bridge C.1850In the second image of Sarsfield Bridge, can you tell me what those ugly looking pvc things are about on the outside of the bridge?
@PoxyShamrock wrote:
In the second image of Sarsfield Bridge, can you tell me what those ugly looking pvc things are about on the outside of the bridge?
I’ve no idea, but surely a less prominent location could be found for them, whatever they are! Theres some service cables running along the exterior aswell,I presume they might have something to do with the lighting on the bridge, You can also see the amount of weeds etc growing along the stonework, is it asking too much to keep these under control?
I think they are part of the lighting system installed around the millennium. There was a string of white led type lighting at that level, fluorescent lighting under the arches, and red lighting on the stone piers. Various elements started failing almost immediately and it looked totally ridiculous with a short time and was switched off. The work was sponsored by Limerick City Council and the Millennium Committee who donated £300,000 at the time…….. total waste.
Howard Holdings PLC
New Maternity Hospital for Limerick?
So it seems a decision has finally been made to re-locate to the Mid western regional hospital in Dooradoyle! This was first mooted some years back but with little commitment to funding coming from the government, it looked like a modest redevelopment of the current hospital was on the cards. St Munchins hospital occupies a prime site on the Ennis Road, just across Sarsfield Bridge, no doubt it will be much sought after by developers when it becomes available!
HARNEY DELIVERS NEW MATERNITY PLEDGE
By CLODAGH O’LEARYTHE Mid-West is set to get a new maternity hospital, it was confirmed this week, after the project was named by Minister for Health Mary Harney as the number one priority in the HSE Capital Plan 2007-2011 in a meeting in the city.
Minister for Defence, Willie O’Dea and Limerick West Fianna Fail Deputy, Niall Collins met with Minister Harney this Monday during her day-long visit to Limerick, along with senior medical and administrative staff of St Munchin’s Maternity Hospital to highlight the case for a new state-of-the-art maternity hospital for the region.
The Dail deputies were told that €50m has been allocated in the four-year plan to deliver the project, and the estimated completion date has been set at September 2011.
In a joint statement following the meeting, Deputy Niall Collins and Minister O’Dea stated: “It is critical that a new maternity hospital be provided on the site of the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Dooradoyle.”
“The existing capacity in the Ennis Road facility puts huge pressure on all medical and nursing staff in what is already an area with huge responsibility. It is not good enough in this day and age to have to transfer critical cases across Limerick City, approximately a 6km journey should the need arise.”
St Munchin’s Maternity Hospital in Limerick was built in 1961 to cater for an annual birth rate of 3,500. The estimated birth rate for 2007 will be in the region of 5,200, and when one analyses the recent census the projected birth rate will grow to 6,500 per annum over the coming years. It is critical that a new maternity hospital be provided on the site of the Mid Western regional hospital in Dooradoyle†said Cllr Collins.
Limerick Chronicle 09 October 2007
Incidentally the future of the Council owned sports grounds at the rear of St Munchins hospital has also been in the news recently! Im sure Limerick City Council are keeping a close eye on developments here, mouths salivating at the thoughts of a major windfall no doubt!:rolleyes:
Sale fears at sports venue
THE blatant “hands off†warning issued to Limerick City Council by Limerick Athletic Club, the anchor tenant of the LPYMA grounds, will do little to quell the growing unease that a lucrative sale of the prime Ennis Road site is on the cards.
Councillors for the northside have repeatedly called on City Council to declare its hand regarding the future of the venue, zoned recreational.
Their requests have been side-stepped. City Hall officials promised to deliver “a report†on future plans. The most recent of a report, “before Christmasâ€, was given by director of services, Pat Dowling, who has refused to clarify the focus of the report.
While speculation has been rife for some time that with a suitable site required to accommodate the construction of proposed new and larger Regional Maternity Hospital, the adjacent LPYMA Grounds would fit into plans. Meanwhile, should the hospital be relocated elsewhere, the two sites combined would provide a valuable inner city 4.6 acre land bank for the City Council.
Northiside councillor, Michael Hourigan, has been asking questions about the grounds since he was elected to the council in 1999.
“I’m totally against a property developer going in and I, and the other councillors, will oppose any such development. Despite our questions down through the years, we’ve been given no concrete information – the silence is suspicious and we’re being fobbed off with unsatisfactory assurances that reports will soon be presented to us, but no information on what the reports are commenting on.
“As a local councillor, I want the LPYMA retained as open space for the people to house a multipurpose facility for athletics and sports for all age groups – it should not become the property of any one sports organisationâ€.
Pointing out that it would take a unanimous vote from all the
councillors to change the zoning status, he commented that while City Hall executives “are transient, it is the people who live on the city’s northside who should benefit and the communal use the land can be put to, in an area which is so devoid of sports, leisure and recreational facilitiesâ€.
A spokesperson for the Limerick Athletic Club, tenant’s since 1935, said they are worried by the “constant speculation by other clubs and property developers who eye up the property which we possess – we don’t want to be eliminated by stealth from our home. As it is, we have title and the least we’d expect is to be consulted if any alterations are to be carried out to our homeâ€.
Pat Dowling was unavailable for comment before going to press
Sarsfield Bar, 1 Rutland Street Limerick
07257
Permission for the alteration to the protected structure Limerick City Council Ref. RPS324. The alterations proposed are for a temporary planning permission for a period of five years, for the construction of a self contained retail unit on the ground floor of the building, including connection to existing council services, connection to ESB and all ancillary site works.
Sarsfield Bar, No. 1 Rutland Street, Limerick
After lying empty for many years, it seems the Sarsfield Bar will finally be brought back into use. As the name suggests, a bar has been trading from this location for over one hundred years! The Sarsfield Bar is a protected Georgian structure occupying a prominent site at the corner of Rutland Street and Bank Place, it is however in dire need of refurbishment, removing those shocking plastic windows would be a good place to start! The brickwork also needs to be cleaned and re-pointed, unfortunately there is no mention of any conservation works being carried out in the planning application!:(
On another note, the last retailer on the site of the proposed opera centre moved out in the past week! Glynns butchers had been trading on Rutland Street since 1949, this section of Rutland St/Patrick Street is now completely empty and has the appearance of a ghost town in advance of the builders moving in! Theres still no confirmation of when construction will get underway despite it being exactly a year since ABP gave the project the green light!
Picture from chocfrog75
A very interesting and welcome proposal to bring the Milk Market into more regular use!
Dynamic makeover for market
WHAT promises to be one of the most colourful projects to be undertaken in Limerick city in years, is a dynamic multi-million redevelopment of the Milk Market which is over 150 years old.
The Market Trustees will shortly seek planning permission for a radical plan to enhance and extend the market into a six-day operation with daytime and evening attractions that will see a distinctive tensile roof structure being erected over the market that will preserve the open-air atmosphere and will be illuminated at night to make the historic market square a unique city landmark.
Viewing the development as a catalyst for rejuvenating the area, the Limerick Market Trustee chairman, David O’Mahony is enthusiastic in his forecast that the area will become a “must visit” city attraction.
“The Milk Market currently opens for six to eight hours just one day a week – on Saturday, but this unique public space has huge potential for a variety of activities, like evening attractions, children’s entertainment, a mini Hyde Park Corner, in other words a space that will be attractive to a multiple of micro-businesses with other changeable attractions around them”
Mr O’Mahony stressed that local small business start-ups will have an opportunity to use the area as a showcase for their talent.
A major feature of the old market square will be a good quality restaurant extending from the first floor of Market House to overlook a number of stalls and enjoy daytime and evening entertainment. And the traditional Farmer’s Market, which will continue on Saturdays, will be developed to include arts and crafts operating on different days.
Market Trustee member, Cllr John Gilligan has given an enthusiastic welcome to the development, which is due to get underway once planning permission has been given.
“For a long time we’ve wanted to expand the market’s potential and to this end we sought the professional expertise of an English group that very successfully runs markets, who conducted a study and were very adamant that we had to change or the market would die.
“We will have to be mindful of a number of listed buildings surrounding the market – only two are owned by us, the others are private property but we will work in conjunction with them and while construction work is going on we will probably transfer the farmer’s market to the Potato Market on Merchant’s Quay.”
Encouraged by the popularity of the Riverside Market which got underway on Bedford Row and Thomas Street during the summer, the Market Trustees recognised the demand for a greater variety of markets.
The six-day opening of the Milk Market will evolve gradually, starting with the provision of six permanent units near Market House that will be anchors for other stallholders and traders.
Mr O’Mahony said it had been decided to weatherproof the market roof to make it sustainable and attractive to farmers, traders and the people of Limerick city and county. He confirmed there will be full consultation with all stakeholders and traders n the development and that their views will be taken on board.
Limerick Post 18th October 2007
@Tuborg wrote:
A very interesting and welcome proposal to bring the Milk Market into more regular use!
The Market Trustees will shortly seek planning permission for a radical plan to enhance and extend the market into a six-day operation with daytime and evening attractions that will see a distinctive tensile roof structure being erected over the market that will preserve the open-air atmosphere and will be illuminated at night to make the historic market square a unique city landmark.
Milk Market – Tensile Roof
Saturday in the Milk Market is a lively experience. Inside are stalls with organic produce, plants, textiles etc, etc. Outside the surrounding streets have a wild selection of kitsch, antiques, power-tools to god knows what on offer. The Milk Market then becomes a car park for the rest of the week. So definitely plans to extend it into a six-day operation are welcome.
The proposal for the Milk Market to be covered by a distinctive tensile roof structure makes me uneasy. Does the milk market really need to be protected from the weather elements? I mean what’s wrong with an open air market area anyway? In my opinion the enclosed cut stone building structure of the market is perfect, would such a tensile roof structure only detract from it?
Having googled for images of a tensile roof, the only structure I could warm to, was this image of a glass tile roof from the Munich Olympic park. Alas a roof of this quality has it’s price.
Image courtesy of doctorcasino
This has to be good news, even though it comes so late. It didn’t take a firm of specialist consultants to see that it was crazy to use the Market as a car park. It’s just that the Trustees didn’t have the imagination to hear what everyone in Limerick was telling them.
Anyway, we hope that’s all in the past and the Market can be developed into the exciting place it always had the potential to be.
I’m a bit unsire about the roof. In good weather it would take away from the open-air feel of the market, but on the other hand I know from practical experience how much bad weather reduces trade.
Let’s see the proposal.
€2M plans to juice up Milk Market (Limerick Leader)
By ANNE SHERIDAN
AMBITIOUS €2m plans to transform the Milk Market into a “movable feast of uses” by next September are expected to be submitted to Limerick City Council’s planning office within the next 10 days.
Under the new plans, the market will operate for six days a week and could also be used as a performance space, according to Market Trustees chairman David O’Mahony.A 120-seat restaurant, stretching from the first floor of the nearby Market House, will also overlook the market.
The multi-million contract to rejuvenate the Milk Market was contracted to the award winning architects Michael Healy & Partners this May, who competed with a number of local architectural bodies, including Quin Savage Smith and Murray O’Laoire, for the contract.
Architect Michael Healy has described the plans as “dynamic” and said it will create a much greater atmosphere in that area.
Six permanent units near Market House will provide anchors for other stallholders and traders and the market itself will be weatherproofed to make it sustainable and attractive to farmers, traders and visitors alike.
“This is a public space, we have no set script – it will take time to evolve but we will encourage all sorts of activities,” said Mr O’Mahony.
“The whole idea is to present a space that will be attractive to a multiple of micro-businesses with other changeable attractions around them. Local small business start-ups will have an opportunity to use this area as a showcase for their talent.”
He said the market trustee board, which includes a number of city councillors, will fund the majority of the project. However, he declined to comment if outside investment will be sought.
Rather, the new restaurant will provide the “financial foundation” for the revitalised Milk Market and expects it will open each morning and evening.
Market trustee, Cllr Kevin Kiely said this is a very welcome development and described the plans, which have been in the pipeline for four years, as “long overdue”.
The redevelopment of the Milk Market was revealed in the first free magazine produced by Limerick Co-Ordination Office, titled City Matters, which focuses on major developments within the city. The magazine is expected to be published four times per year.
Commenting on the first publication, city co-ordinator Andrew Mawhinney said, “It is important for the morale of the city and future investment that this information is shared.”
18 October 2007Redemptorist Plans Given Go-Ahead
After stating last month that the current application was unlikely to be approved, Limerick City Council have now granted permission for the development at the Redemptorist lands on the South Circular Road albeit with a condition that the number of apartments be reduced. Opposition to the plan has been fierce with the prospect of further traffic chaos in the area. I think this one looks odds on to go to An Bord Pleanala!
SCR development falls foul of city councillors
Wednesday, 17 October 2007
Councillor Jim Long and South Circular Road residents have condemned a City Council decision to grant planning permission for over 200 apartments on lands owned by the Redemptorist Order.
Cllr Long claims the development, even reduced from the original 293 units, will have “lasting consequences†for residents, schools and local businesses.“The concerns and issues of the residents were not taken fully into account. Consideration of traffic, sewage, the environment, infrastructure, safety and daily living standards were overlooked. Not to mention the possibility of 40 social units as part of Section Five, which states that the council can take 20% of any private development for this use.â€
Cllr Joe Leddin was also unhappy at the permission and urged the Redemptorists to consider building a smaller number of houses instead of apartment blocks.
“My concern was that there is no access to the site from either the Dock Road or Alphonsus Street and the South Circular Road is already congested. Permission was granted for 56 houses on the same site less than four years ago and it’s never too late to go that way again,†he said.
“Even with a reduced amount, there are too many units proposed. Also apartments are not conducive to raising families whereas even 100 detached houses would create a sustainable community as well as attracting good selling prices.â€
He emphasised that no-one was anti-development as long as the proposal was not “overkillâ€.
Cllr Long resigned from the Economic and Planning Special Policy Committee after accusing the council of “collusion†with reference to this specific development on September 17. He claimed that he was not allowed to attend a meeting with local residents and planners querying the application.
City Manager Tom Mackey refuted the claims. He said the council was following protocol by ensuring that all councillors would be available to attend such meetings and in the case that some could not, finding an alternative time.
This week, Cllr Long again questioned if the planning system favours developers over residents.
“Planning applications in over 90% of cases tend to go developers’ way. Residents’ objections and concerns are not taken as paramount with the applicant and this has led to people’s suspicions of lack of transparency,†he added.
He claimed that some residents “are now considering a possible move from their long standing homes†because of the development.
Limerick independent
File No 06480
Received Date 12/22/2006
Applicant Name Redemptorist Community & P. Elliott & Co. Ltd
Decision Date 11/10/2007Description; The development will consist of refurbishment of the monastery building, construction of residential development and crèche and amendments to the previously permitted (Reg. Ref. P.02/353) new St. Clement’s School. The refurbishment of the existing monastery building will provide enhanced accommodation and facilities for the Redemptorist Community. It will also include the provision of 5 private apartments. It is proposed to construct a residential development of 286 units and a crèche on the lands associated with the monastery building. The total floor area of the development is 34,809 sq.m. The new build private residential development is 30,632 sq.m., the crèche is 375 sq.m., the area of monastery to be refurbished is 3,258 sq. m. and the private apartments within the monastery building is 544 sq.m. An EIS is submitted with the planning application. SEE ATTACHED SCHEDULE
Address South Circular Road, Limerick
See Previous Post
Thought this would be worth bringing to everyone’s attention, hopefully we’ll get to see the plans soon.
Arthurs Quay to Debenhams to be demolished
By ANNE SHERIDANDRAMATIC plans to demolish the Arthurs Quay complex and a number of buildings Sarsfield Street and O’Connell Street are expected to be discussed at Limerick City Council’s planning meeting later today.
Developer Michael Tiernan is also planning to knock Dunnes Stores, Penney’s, Burger King, Tim Martin’s pub, Permanent TSB, Sarsfield House and Debenhams, for the development of a major mixed retail development on the same site.Speaking to the Limerick Leader, Mr Tiernan, said he made the submission in response to a City Council issues paper and is currently awaiting feedback from the planners.
“Until they publish the draft city-centre strategy I can’t comment on the finer details of the plans,” said Mr Tiernan. However, city councillors say the development will transform the city centre.
Existing businesses are expected to be accommodated in the new enterprise, a 2,000 unit underground car park will be provided, and Arthurs Quay park will be remodelled and incorporated into the development.
Cllr Joe Leddin said he became aware of Mr Tiernan’s plans during his term as Mayor of Limerick last year and intends to support his plans.
“There is a general consensus among all owners of the need to demolish those buildings, which are probably outdated and don’t serve any purpose, and have larger retail units. It will also work in harmony with the Opera Centre when it is built,” said Cllr Leddin.
He said he believes the development will receive a positive reaction from councillors later today, when it will be raised under the city centre’s strategic report.
Cllr Jim Long is also supportive of the development, as he believes will lead to a complete regeneration of the city centre. “I’ve seen the sketches and like what I see. I understand that the plans will include a riverside walkway and three social amenity areas,” said Cllr Long.
Cllr Kevin Kiely said he would welcome any development in that area, but as the development is at the early stage of planning, he did not wish to comment further.
It is understood that the planning application will be lodged with the City Council in early January.
Mr Tiernan, who was recently appointed by the Government to the Northside Regeneration Board, has been named Limerick’s Social Entrepreneur of the Year for 2007 and is a founder member of Limerick Enterprise Network.
22 October 2007
Woohoo…hope this gets the go ahead…assuming the plan to replace them is good..but in fairness (and i hate using this term) it cant be much worse than whats there already!
i dont know. With the exception of maybe the TSB there is nothing worth saving in any of those buildings. But as I said it depends on what they replace it with..
Limerick rail link to airport ruled out in study
Consultants say cost of project would be €700m (Gordon Deegan)
The prospect of a rail link to Shannon airport from Limerick appeared doomed yesterday following confirmation by the Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey, that Iarnród Éireann has no plans to undertake any further work on the proposal at this stage.
In reply to a parliamentary question Mr Dempsey stated that a feasibility study carried out on behalf of Iarnród Éireann, with input from a steering group representative of local interests, concluded that the economic case for the rail link is poor.
Stating that the rail link is not included in the Government’s Transport 21 programme, Mr Dempsey told Limerick East Fine Gael TD Kieran O’Donnell that Iarnród Éireann “has no plans to undertake any further work on the proposal at this stage”.
The feasibility study by MVA Consultants has put a cost of €700 million on constructing the rail link. However, this has been disputed by the locally-based Shannon Rail Partnership which claims that the rail link will cost €240 million.
Business development manager with Iarnród Éireann Jim Gallivan confirmed that the feasibility study found that “the costs of the construction of the rail link are out of proportion to the benefits to be gained”.
Mr Gallivan said: “Milan has three airports and no rail link with a population of eight to 10 million and the greater Limerick-Shannon area has a population of 150,000 and the current population densities do not justify the project at the moment.“The figures don’t stack up and maybe in 15 to 20 years’ time, the population density might be there,” he added.
The draft feasibility study states that “in the early years there would be significant deficit on the operating account, but with a buoyant air travel market for the whole 30-year period, revenues could potentially cover operating costs, taking a longer-term view”.The Shannon Rail Partnership wrote to former minister for transport Martin Cullen on the need for the rail link and urged him to reserve a line for the development of the rail link in order to avoid houses being built on the line ahead of the population densities being in place in the future.
The draft feasibility study anticipates that there will be adverse environmental and severance impacts, particularly where the line runs through Shannon town.
Shannon Town Council member Cllr Seán Hillery (Fianna Fáil) confirmed yesterday that he did not receive a response from the then minister.
He said: “The Shannon Rail Partnership will be meeting soon and we will be seeking to reactivate our request to freeze the route for rail line development as it would avoid larger costs down the line.”
He added: “This is not going to happen this year or next year and will depend on population increases.”© 2007 The Irish Times
Thats stupid. Every airport HAS TO HAVE A RAILWAY LINK.
Damn it the West are always complaining about Shannon, if the airport was well railway linked and the Limerick – Cork mess sorted out, you could concievably get a rail service from Cork and Galway (and possibly Dublin) through to Shannon. That would be fantastic rather than the current buses.
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