[Closed] Limerick Businesses Closed V 2.0 [Mod note post 1]

Glenomra

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122761364#Comment_122761364

The university idea is a great one. Also the limerick city museum has incredibly rich holdings a legacy of when Larry Walsh was curator, a man who assiduously purchased artefacts relating to limerick. The museum can only display a tiny selection of same in its present location. Could it relocate to this site. The staff of limerick museum are paid for, from the council budget so no need to employ 30 extra staff etc.

Louche Lad

Interesting suggestion on Reddit - turn it into a museum about Limerick notables, plus a section on various sports (not just rugby):

Will they just turn it into a Museum about the people of Limerick.

The Cranberries

Richard Harris

Frank McCourt

Kate O Brien

Aphex Twin

Terry Wogan

Rubberbandits

Have a section devoted to Limerick Sport

Limerick Hurling

Munster Rugby

Limerick FC

Boxing

https://www.reddit.com/r/limerickcity/s/apKItd0LkI

TheWonderLlama

Shamelessly stolen from elsewhere.

breezy1985

Its a pity the city museum didn't get to take over the whole church.

The operating cost on a free museum the size of the rugby would be significant I would imagine and interest in a Limerick museum would be no more significant than a rugby museum was.

rjoe90

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122761564#Comment_122761564

Sounds good in theory but would this really generate more interest than the rugby museum did? The rugby museum was destined to fail from the outset.

At least it has given us a state of the art building which hopefully can be used to host something that would benefit the people of Limerick.

rjoe90

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122761364#Comment_122761364

In any other country gifting a 30 million state of the art building in the city centre to the local council would be celebrated. How on earth could they not find a use for it?

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122761885#Comment_122761885

It was gifted under the condition that the council continue to run the white elephant experience until 2028.

What makes this building "state of the art" ?

Also this "only in Ireland" thing is the biggest load of horsesht ever comes out of the mouths of Irish people. What magic things would other local councils do with it ?

It's amazing how much sht the council are getting for this. They didn't build it they just got shafted with a "gift".

Glenomra

Would it not be worth the council's while subsidising it until 2028, albeit with some cost cutting and meanwhile exploring other options for then. The local tourist office, other museum displays etc could conceivably be given space and the overall attraction enhanced. Is it not a mistake to forfeit a special building a special building whether one likes the architecture or not.

rjoe90

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122761923#Comment_122761923

They have a state of the art building to do whatever they like with. Any semi competent council could come up with something that would benefit the public.

Cookiemunster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122761853#Comment_122761853

It's not (and never was) a museum.

rjoe90

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122762073#Comment_122762073

”Experience” whatever it was supposed to be. It was always destined to fail as there was never going to be a long term demand for it. How poor was their business plan that it is closing down after just over a year and a half in business?

It does though present an opportunity for the council to make something out of the new state of the art building.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122762043#Comment_122762043

Well they brought in expert advisors who said no it wouldn't be. For once it sounds like they done the right thing.

Outside of tall I don't see what is so special about it anyway. Yes I know it won an award but those types of awards are usually a million miles away from what actual people think is special.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122762062#Comment_122762062

Name something they could do that would be relevant and that the people would stomach paying for because they won't be long turning on some art gallery they never go to when they see the bill.

Irish people get very quiet when "only in Ireland" extends to not paying council tax.

I ask again what is "state of the art" about this building ?

rjoe90

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122762084#Comment_122762084

The problem with most Irish cities is that the council will never think outside the box. They were gifted a 3 story state of the art building in the city centre and couldn’t come up with anything to put it to use?

You do realise what a state of the art building is right? It has literally won awards for the architectural and cultural significance of the building.

Hibernicis

Subsidise it with what ? LCC is already at the max (+15%) on LPT, they cannot increase that further, and can you imagine the furore if they could and did. Likewise increasing commercial rates would cause a justifiable outcry. Or they could cut services - close a few parks and libraries maybe, stop maintaining roads, cut back on water services ? Or has someone got a better idea ?

Even if you cut the staff back and reduce other offerings it's difficult to imagine that the running cost of this for four years would be at less than €10m, possibly a lot more. They have been offered €1.2m, leaving a shortfall of almost €9m. I can think of much better ways for this to be spent for the benefit of Limerick's population.

LCC have reviewed the offer and conducted their due diligence and are to be commended for walking away and not being bullied into this if that is the right thing for them to do.

Absolutely nuts that this was built without a plan for its operation for at least five years. Nuts.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122762117#Comment_122762117

How does winning an architectural award make it a better building for the council than any other ?

And how can some crowd not from Limerick or even Ireland just tell us a brand new building is "culturally significant" ?

State of the art would generally be a technical term with actual real world benefits and doesn't just mean some architectural group thought it looked nice.

If there are so many great uses for this "state of the art" building them why is JP throwing it away. Why is nobody calling out JP for building it or calling on him to repurpose it ?

Hibernicis

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122762117#Comment_122762117

Precisely what do you mean by state of the art building and more importantly of what relevance is it to a discussion about the council taking control of the building, in particular with a four year handcuff on it's use ?

I would take state of the art to imply something about the design and architectural features, materials used, construction methods employed, energy efficiency, safety, operating cost etc. It does not mean useful, adaptable, multi-functional or beneficial or relevant.

It looks as though it's an expensive white elephant, and it being in "state of the art" or "award winning" is irrelevant to any discussion about the Council taking it over. LCC have conducted their due diligence and walked away, and on the basis of the information in the public domain it sounds like that is the correct decision.

rjoe90

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122762146#Comment_122762146

It is a massive building, it could serve many different purposes at once. A cinema/ leisure plex, concert hall, event centre. There is literally hundreds of different things that this could be turned into that would draw a crowd and generate footfall for the city. Every major city in Europe has these facilities, there is no reason why Limerick can’t. If our council can’t be creative and come up with some use for this building it really is all idle.

jackboy

Could it be turned into something like the English market in Cork I wonder.

Not made with hands

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122762117#Comment_122762117

It's like when somebody dies and gifts a sh1t* property to the state / church / a charity.

More hassle than it's worth.

***** in this instance is funding it for 4 years, knowing that at the end of 4 years there will be another moanfest about what to do with it.

In other instances *sh1t could be messy deads, leases etc.

Maybe now with it closed McManus will just sell it to the highest bidder.

rjoe90

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122762174#Comment_122762174

There are a number of different factors which make a building state of the art. I know the infrastructure was designed to create high speed internet connectivity. The building also has flexible spaces that can adapt to various needs. This includes open floor plans, collaborative workspaces, and areas that promote well-being, such as green roofs or natural light.

rjoe90

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122762232#Comment_122762232

Yeah this is what will happen, however it just seems like a massive opportunity wasted for the council to do something with it in the interest of the public.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122762187#Comment_122762187

It could be a cinema, concert hall or leisureplex I agree (assuming the rooms are a good fit).

None of those things are facilities I expect the council to spend their money on though. Those are private enterprise ventures.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122762221#Comment_122762221

No.

They tend to trade of their history and Limerick isn't going to sustain 3 or 4 floors of artisan food. Most of what English Market has is available by having a quick walk around Catherine/Thomas St.

rjoe90

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122762268#Comment_122762268

Even an event centre that could host world class events like boxing, concerts, shows etc. It is hard to pass judgement without knowing the dimensions but this would be a big plus for the city.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122762307#Comment_122762307

Would an arena in that building be bigger than what Limerick already has ?

We already get world class concerts and I'm not sure what shows you think are coming to Limerick. "If you build it they will come" does not work for regional cities. You see English councils fuking themselves all the time with these white elephant event centres.

Maybe JP can build an event centre seeing as it's his building.

jackboy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122762305#Comment_122762305

How about some sort of food court. I'm just thinking whatever goes in there it must be aimed at repeat business to survive.

Beechwoodspark

Forgive me now if I am wrong but I thought the plan for this was that away supporters heading to Thomond would take in the Rugby Experience before heading off?

Was that not a ready made visitor base there?

rjoe90

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122762344#Comment_122762344

JP has done enough for the city, maybe the councillors and city council can do something positive for once.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122762353#Comment_122762353

Again we have 2 that are not even open all week and a 3 story food court just sounds very unsustainable. It would need to have as many food options that exists in the whole of Limerick combined.

The leveled nature doesn't really work for a pop in and out lunch experience either.

A top floor bar and restaurant underneath could fill 2 floors assuming you can knock some windows into all those walls.

Cookiemunster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122762384#Comment_122762384

Munster have 8 guaranteed home games each season in Thomond. That's is not going to keep anything open.