May 12, 2026, 13:13 IST — Limerick.
Thanos Securities has secured the go-ahead from Limerick City and County Council for a 76-apartment development at 34-41 Catherine Street, unlocking a city centre site that’s sat idle since its days as the Desmond Arms and Cheers nightclub. Councillors signed off on the plans with 15 conditions attached.
The move comes with Limerick councillors turning up the heat on Dublin for a direct city-centre response. The Metropolitan District group plans to send a letter to Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris, asking for a Limerick-specific task force—modeled loosely on the ones set up for Dublin and Cork.
The urgency for Limerick is right in front of everyone. The city is looking to convert vacant or idle land into housing, just as officials weigh broader planning changes. The council’s proposed Variation No. 3 to the Limerick Development Plan aims to speed up housing construction, revise density standards, and get more zoned residential land into play. Public submissions are open until May 18.
Developers plan to tear down sections of the block on Catherine Street, while Nos. 35 and 37—both protected—would see refurbishment. In their place, Nos. 38 to 41 are slated for a new six-storey residential building. Earlier filings detail a mix of one- and two-bedroom units, 11 spaces for cars, secure storage for bicycles, plus a communal terrace on the fifth floor. Solar panels are part of the proposal as well.
Limerick’s had its eye on the site for years. Back in 2020, the council announced that An Bord Pleanála had approved a compulsory purchase order for Nos. 34-41 Catherine Street. That sparked a judicial review from the owners. The local authority, for its part, labeled the property among several high-profile derelict sites in the city centre.
Fine Gael councillors Olivia O’Sullivan, Daniel Butler, Dan McSweeney, Sarah Kiely and Peter Doyle put forward the task force plan at April’s Metropolitan District meeting. O’Sullivan argued, “it is now Limerick City’s turn” for a government-supported group, stressing that its focus should be on solutions specific to the city’s problems. Limerick Post
Peer city comparisons are adding to the urgency. Back in 2024, the government launched the Dublin City Taskforce, aiming to improve life, work, and tourism in the city centre. Their recommendations zeroed in on dereliction, local services, security, and the overall public realm. Now, Dublin City Council is fast-tracking the delivery through its own dedicated structures.
Cork is another local benchmark. The government signed off on the Cork City Futures Group on April 1, tasking it with a review of the city-centre action plan and a hunt for obstacles, plus recommendations around investment, business growth, culture, and infrastructure. That group is expected to deliver a high-level implementation framework later this year.
Limerick stands out for its scale and urgency—just 76 homes, all on a single block, rather than a sweeping city overhaul. Still, task force advocates point to it as a clear-cut instance of the projects they want sped up, provided national and local agencies are working in sync.
Risks remain. Planning permission doesn’t guarantee a shovel hits dirt — there’s still the matter of conditions, lining up financing, and nailing down the construction schedule. The site falls within the Newtown Pery Architectural Conservation Area, heritage-protected territory, and a bat report flagged its closeness to Lower River Shannon protected habitats. Those details can complicate — and bulk up the cost of — both demolition and building.
Housing demand in Limerick spills well beyond just the private apartment market. The council put out a call in February, urging developers, builders, and landowners to submit plans for social and affordable housing—looking explicitly for houses, duplexes, and apartments. Officials cited both current and future need for homes across the city and county.
The Catherine Street sign-off marks a small, noticeable shift downtown. Eyes now turn to whether the government grants Limerick’s bid for a task force—one with political clout on par with what’s backing Dublin and Cork.
