LIMERICK City and County Council is providing additional free car parking spaces in the city centre in the run-up to Christmas.
As part of a series of initiatives to entice more people to shop and visit the city centre over the festive period, free car parking spaces become operational this weekend, starting December 6.
Hundreds of additional free car parking spaces will be provided with Park & Strides and Park & Rides available around the city.
Locations include the Council’s Car Park at Merchant’s Quay, Cleeve’s, the Irish Rail Depot, Great National South Court Hotel in Raheen and University of Limerick.
Free Park & Stride (9am to 9pm)
- Cleeve’s Site, O’Callaghan Strand from 06 to 31 Dec inclusive
- Limerick City and County Council Car Park, via Nicholas Street on 07 & 08, 14 & 15 and 22 & 12 and 24 Dec inclusive
- Irish Rail Depot, Roxboro Road on 07 & 08 and 14 – 24 Dec inclusive
Park & Ride (9am to 9pm)
- The Great National South Court Hotel, Raheen 07 & 08, 14 & 15, 21 & 22 Dec inclusive
- University of Limerick 07 & 08, 14 & 15, 21 & 22 Dec inclusive
Limerick City and County Council will provide approximately 160 free car parking spaces to the public at the Council-owned Cleeve’s site from Friday 06 December. The free parking will be made available to the public throughout the Christmas period up until and including New Year’s Eve. The car park will open at 9am and close at 9pm. The Cleeve’s site, located adjacent to Shannon Bridge and accessed from the Condell Road, will be available to the public free of charge and security will be provided.
Free car parking spaces are also available in the Council’s staff car park behind City Hall for free weekend parking for three weekends in December. The car park will be open on 07/08 December, 14/15 December and 21/22 December from 9am to 9pm and also on Christmas Eve. Access to this car park is via Nicholas Street.
A third site for Park and Stride is at the Irish Rail depot on the Roxboro Road from 9am to 9pm on 07/08 December and from 14 – 24 December (9am-9pm) including Christmas Eve. The public can park their cars free of charge while security will be present during these periods.
The Park & Stride initiative is in keeping with objectives of Healthy Limerick in promoting active travel for the public. The Council are encouraging the public to be active this Christmas and walk the last 5-10 minutes of their journey to shop in the city centre.
Limerick City and County Council has also secured Park and Ride sites for the three weekends in the run up to Christmas Day.
The Great National South Court Hotel in Raheen is making their lower car park (in front of the conference centre) available to the public free of charge on 07/08 December, 14/15 December and 21/22 December from 9am to 9pm.
The public will be able to park their cars at the hotel and take public transport from Raheen (Stryker) Roundabout (opposite St Nessan’s Church) to the city centre.
The University of Limerick is also making their car park adjacent to the Stables Complex available to the public on 07/08 December, 14/15 December and 21/22 December from 9am to 9pm. The public can park their cars and take public transport to the city centre from The Stables.
Motorists using the Park & Rides will then board regular Bus Éireann scheduled services 304 and 304A (from the Stables Complex at UL and opposite St Nessan’s Church in Raheen) and Dublin Coach services 307 and 308 from the Stables Complex at UL and travel into the city centre. You can use the Leap Card for savings on all bus services.
Parking in the city centre is available on-street and in multi-storey car parks. Download the Limerick e-parking app, or pay by phone or disc. On-street car parking is free after 5.30pm daily and is always free on Sundays.
In Abbeyfeale, Kilmallock and Newcastle West, shoppers will get an extra two hours free parking in each of the towns from 2.30pm daily from 07 until 31 Dec inclusive. This is in addition to the first hour free.
In partnership with An Garda Síochána, Operation Open City will facilitate the movement of public transport and minimise traffic disruption to the general public, through high visibility and enforcement activity in Limerick. An additional 32 newly attested gardaí have been deployed in Limerick for ‘Open City’.
Limerick City and County Council has completed the rehabilitation of bus stops in the form of relining and retexturing the bus stop surface making them more easily identifiable to motorists.
Limerick City and County Council is working with An Garda Síochána in relation to illegal parking out of hours where Traffic Wardens are not on duty.
These initiatives will help to prioritise public transport in the metropolitan area allowing for safer access to buses by passengers and providing a more efficient and effective service.
So far this year 620 tickets have been issued for illegal parking in omnibus bus stops or coach parking areas.
In the medium term, Limerick City and County Council in conjunction with the National Transport Authority is undertaking a transport strategy for the metropolitan area that will prioritise and enable a shift to more sustainable and active travel modes, while the council is also in the process of appointing an Active Travel Co-Ordinator.
The Christmas in Limerick programme is being co-ordinated by Limerick City and County Council’s Culture & Arts and Marketing & Communications Departments.
Christmas in Limerick is supported by Limerick Post, Limerick Chamber, Limerick Leader, Live 95 and Spin South West.
All details about what’s on over the Christmas period in Limerick will be available in the Christmas in Limerick 2019 event guide online and will be distributed throughout Limerick.
