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Limerick Mews buildings - Concerns have been raised over the possible demolition of these 19th Century mews buildings on Cecil Street. Limerick Mews buildings - Concerns have been raised over the possible demolition of these 19th Century mews buildings on Cecil Street.

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Concern over possible demolition of 19th Century Limerick mews buildings

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Limerick Mews buildings – Concerns have been raised over the possible demolition of these 19th Century mews buildings on Cecil Street. 

Concern over possible demolition of 19th Century Limerick mews buildings

By I Love Limerick correspondent Rachel Petticrew

Limerick Mews buildings Mews buildings which have been converted into houses in London

Mews buildings which have been converted into houses in London.


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Concerns have been raised over a planning notice erected at the site of two 19th Century Limerick mews buildings on Cecil Street.

The planning application highlights an intention to demolish ‘the existing derelict building’ in order to construct two one-bedroom apartments.

Identifying the buildings as ‘derelict’ caused great commotion online when fourth-generation church decorator and President of the Thomond Archaeological and Historical Society, Randel Hodkinson, tweeted pictures of the site and planning notice.

“I was out for a walk in the city, and I just happened to see the notice. I was shocked to see that there were plans submitted to demolish the two Limerick mews buildings, as they are the only remaining buildings of their kind in the area,” Hodkinson tells I Love Limerick.

“I decided to highlight it online, especially due to the wording of the planning application, to demolish a ‘derelict building’. There was no description of the buildings themselves or their history.”

The two mews buildings date from the first half of the 1800s when Cecil Street was first developed. Mews buildings were erected in a laneway to the rear of grander Georgian homes to accommodate coaches and horses, with small living quarters above.

The buildings in question have several unique features dating from the Georgian era, including a sizeable chamfered stone corner designed to curve the edge of a building, making it easier for carriages to turn into a laneway.

“There are so many mews buildings that have been restored around Limerick City, so it would be a shame to demolish these. There are parts of the buildings that have been blocked up, but structurally they look pretty sound. A lot of these buildings have now been converted into houses, which is a great use for them,” acknowledges Hodkinson.

The location of the mews buildings could potentially prevent their demolition, as they lie within a Limerick City and County Council architectural conservation area. Under the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage, buildings in the Cecil Street area are deemed important, in terms of ‘architectural and special interest.’

A decision is due to be made on the planning application by December 16. The window to submit comments, objections or observations has now passed, closing on November 25.

The demolition of Limerick’s Georgian architecture has been noticeable in recent times, as developers work to modernise the city centre.

Earlier this week, images surfaced online showing the partial demolition of Rutland Street and Ellen Street, making way for the €200 million Opera urban development. Elsewhere, two Georgian townhouses were removed during the construction of the new International Rugby Experience building on O’Connell Street.

While some locals welcome these changes, others fear for the character of our historic city.

“Tourists come to Limerick to look at the architecture. They don’t come to look at new buildings,” believes Randel Hodkinson.

“We should be cherishing our old buildings because we have already lost so many in the past.”

For information on live planning applications in Limerick, go HERE 

For more history stories, go HERE 

Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.