Limerick Christmas Fayre to proceed at Crescent after councillors reject relocation in narrow vote.
LIMERICK’S controversial Christmas Fayre at the Crescent has been given the green light after councillors voted against proposals to relocate the market following five hours of debate on Tuesday.
In a vote that went down to the wire, Metropolitan District councillors voted nine to eight against an amendment to move the Christmas Fayre to Arthur’s Quay Park, allowing the original plans for the Crescent to proceed. Three councillors abstained.
The amendment was proposed by Cllr Sarah Kiely and seconded by Fianna Fáil Cllr Catherine Slattery. However, both Head of Trade and Investment and Riann O’Dwyer, owner of Big Boss Events, expressed concerns that relocating the market would significantly reduce its proposed capacity, from 750 people at the Crescent to approximately 150 at Arthur’s Quay.
The decision followed a lengthy adjournment and private discussions, with councillors divided over the legal implications of changing the event’s location.
Council solicitor Ger Reidy outlined legal advice suggesting that changing the venue would fall outside the council’s powers to make minor amendments to the event licence and could expose the local authority to a costly High Court challenge. During the original proceedings, Cllr Daniel Butler had challenged: “Who wants to take Christmas to court?”
The vote means the Christmas Fayre will proceed at the Crescent as originally proposed, despite continued concerns from local traders and residents over the impact of the road closure on business and traffic during the Christmas trading period.
The decision brings an end to weeks of uncertainty surrounding the proposed market, which forms part of Mayor John Moran’s wider Christmas in Limerick programme.