The General Election Candidate Has a Vision for a Two-Thousand-Capacity Venue
Dee Ryan, a General Election candidate for Limerick City, has proposed that the former Dunnes Stores site, now owned by the University of Limerick (UL), be sold to Limerick City Council for redevelopment.
She envisions the site transformed into a versatile arena, positioned to become a central hub for the city. The project, she suggests, could create thousands of jobs and breathe new life into Limerick’s waterfront. Ryan identified the area on Honan’s Quay as an opportunity to “breathe new life into the city centre.”
If her election campaign proves successful, the Fianna Fáil candidate pledged to “work with Limerick City council and UL to bring this to fruition.”
Ryan envisions a two-thousand-capacity venue that would provide a hub for arts, culture, and sports as well as a location for large business and education events. She highlighted Limerick’s ambition to place itself as a National City of Culture and the focus on the city in the National Development Plan.
Karen Ronan, general manager of the Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau, stated that they would “welcome any venue of increased capacity” and that they have “advocated for years for the development of a sustainable, multi-purpose venue for international events.”
Ryan concluded that “the site has been underutilised for too long, and by repurposing it, we can spark a transformation that will ripple through our local economy and cultural scene.”
The 2024 general election takes place this Friday, November 29.