An Economic and Spatial Plan for Limerick Appendices

Limerick 2030 An Economic and Spatial Plan for Limerick
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2. The New Limerick Story
Why does Limerick need a Story?
Limerick has an attractive and impressive waterside setting on the River Shannon, a rich and
proud heritage as part of Ireland’s history, an envied higher education offer, a vibrant cultural
and sporting offer and sits in the heart of the lush countryside of County Limerick. However, over
the years, the City and wider area has lost its distinctive identity and sense of place. Following the
loss of several major employers, a concentration of well reported social and crime issues, a
number of stalled developments and a lack of investment in the City Centre core, the City has
seen both its image and physical appearance decline.
However, Limerick’s future is now much brighter; a new, single authority is being formed from the
existing local government structures, providing focus, clarity and new purpose; a new strategy to
improve the economic prosperity and physical development of the City Centre is adopted; local
stakeholders across all sectors are unified in their ambitions to help Limerick re-establish its
reputation; and the significant business, sporting, cultural and academic assets of the City
recognise the value of collaboration behind the Limerick offer.
Therefore Limerick now has the opportunity and potential to shape its future to deliver improved
facilities and economic prosperity for all of its residents. However to achieve this Limerick must
have a clear proposition and offer that defines why it is special, what it has to offer and why it
should be considered and chosen as a place to live, work, visit, invest or study.
It is everyone’s responsibility to be an ambassador for Limerick; no single organisation has the right
or the resource to be accountable for developing Limerick’s reputation – it is all of our
responsibilities. So this new proposition must be understood and owned by the people who
matter most to Limerick – its residents, businesses and organisations so that it can then be
communicated to the new people and businesses Limerick hopes to attract.
The story of ‘new Limerick’ is a narrative focused on what makes the place distinctive and is a
shared reference of how Limerick wants to be known and seen in the future.
This story will complement the planned physical changes and developments envisaged in the
Economic and Spatial Plan and will provide the basis to deliver a consistent and positive
positioning of Limerick which over time will improve and reflect Limerick’s true image and
reputation.
Making Limerick the hero
We all want Limerick to be successful; to attract people to live in the area, encourage those here
already to stay, persuade investors and developers to see us as a place worth investing in, create
and attract new jobs whilst keeping the ones we have, and increase the number of people
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