Andrew Carey
AS we all settle in to the festive cheer, the staff and management at the Limerick Post would like to wish our readers, near and far, the very best for Christmas and the New Year.
It has been another year where the country and economy has faced adversity but as an community, as a people and as a nation, we have endured to see another year out.
We salute those who have gone before us.
We praise those who have strived to make our lives better in community or spirit and we look to 2014 for new dawns and opportunities as country is reborn.
A ray of hope
WITH the announcement of 900 new jobs, the lowest ever commercial rate being adopted by City Council and Limerick National City of Culture 2014 on the horizon, a bright ray of hope seems to be shining down on Limerick at long last.
2013 was another tough year for people in the Mid West but with Christmas upon us there is a real sense of new beginnings and change in the region as we look to a very exciting new year ahead. The clouds look light and they just might be starting to lift.
Fingers-crossed that Limerick is now about to enter a new era, where as the songs says, ‘things can only get better!’
There has certainly been news in recent weeks that hints at this being the case.
The announcement from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals that they plan to build a facility in Raheen that will provide up to 600 jobs in construction and another 300 high-skilled jobs in the next three years is the best gift the people of Limerick could ask for at this time.
Jobs are key to the future of the city and county so this comes as a great boost and very positive news indeed.
Meanwhile over in City Hall, councillors adopted the biggest reduction in local authority rates in the history of the State. This landmark move sends out a clear signal that Limerick is open for business and will hopefully go some way to creating even more jobs in the region.
Of course, its with Limerick’s National City of Culture about to kick off in style on New Year’s Eve, that gives us the strongest hope that we might have turned a corner, or are just about to. The year-long event, indicates better days ahead, which will put Limerick well and truly on the map. It is predicted City of Culture 2014 will create a much-needed revenue of €100 million to the region.
A happy Christmas indeed!
