The Limerick Blogger: latest Limerick news and Limerick events

There is turbulence in the accomodation industry in Limerick, with one hotel going on the market for €8m and another being closed and used as a hostel for assylum seekers.

The Limerick Leader reports a story which has been floating around the internet for a few days that the Sarsfield Bridge Hotel, which includes the Pier One bar, is closing and is to become a hostel for 125 assylum seekers.

The owners of the prominent city centre hotel signed a lease agreement with the department of Justice last Friday.

Meanwhile, the Glentworth hotel, known now as the Best Western Pery, is on the market as a going concern for €8m.

Limerick Leader story
Coming to light on boards.ie June 20th

A second man is being questioned by Gardai investigating Monday’s bank robbery in Kilmallock.

At approximately 1130 hrs two men in fluorescent jackets entered the bank and threatened staff with what is believed to be a scissors. A third man kept lookout outside before the three of them made off with an undisclosed amount of cash.

The first man was arrested in Martinstown at 1400 hrs and by 1730 hrs a second man had been arrested. Gardai are now seeking the third man.

The red rover car used as the getaway vehicle has also been recovered, as has a quantity of cash, although it is not known if what cash has been recovered is the entire amount stolen earlier that day.

Both men who were arrested are aged in their 30s and 40s and from Limerick City.

Phil Ahern submitted this image for entry in the July banner contest. The monument is the one in the People’s Park.

Although not yet publicly announced, we’re reliably informed that Cllr John Gilligan has been elected as the next mayor of Limerick City. More to come…

UPDATE Some new information on the result of tonight’s Mayoral election: John Gilligan was elected after Labour councillor John Ryan, who was expected to vote for Kiely, voted to elect Kevin Kiely.

UPDATE More upset for the FG/Labour pact. As well as Kevin Kiely losing out on the Mayoral post, the Labour party nominee for deputy mayor also lost out. Labour party’s John Ryan had left the chamber by the time the result of the deputy mayor vote was announced, and Gerry McGloughlan eventually lost out to Fianna Fail’s John Cronin after they both received eight votes each.

UPDATE Outgoing Mayor Diarmuid Scully adds some clarification in the comments. “It was this Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Joe Leddin pact which broke down last night, when the two FF members supported John Gilligan. Cllr John Ryan was not a party to this agreement. He did not break it and can not be held responsible for what happened.” “I have no doubt he [John Gilligan] will make a great mayor [but] I am extremely disappointed for my colleague Kevin Kiely who has now been denied the mayoralty on two occasions when people who appeared to have pledged their support to him withdrew it at the last moment.”

A man is being detained at Bruff Garda station following the robbery of the Bank of Ireland branch in Kilmallock this morning.

At 1130 hrs this morning, two men, armed with a weapon entered the bank and threatened staff as well as demanding money. A third man remained outside to keep lookout.

They made off in a red rover car in the direction of Kilfinane. The car was later recovered by Gardai and has been taken away for forensic analysis.

This afternoon however, Gardai arrested a man in Martinstown. He is being held under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act and can be held for up to 12 hours.

This is just a reminder that this is the final week for submissions for the July banner contest. Remember to note the following when sending in your entries.

Pictures must be Limerick themed
The image should be 760 pixels in width and 200 pixels in height.
Be sure to take into account that the Limerick Blogger logo will be superimposed over your image when positioning the object in your photo.

Entries should be in by 2359 hrs on the 29th of June, with a public vote beginning on the 30th.

entries should be sent to editors@limerickblogger.org

Should have done this over the weekend but never got around to it.

A second Spanish language blog from Limerick has now been added to the blogroll of local blogs.

Lo que Dice Candela is run by RB, who has been living in Limerick for the past 11 years.

A journalist by profession, he has one published book to his credit.

The blog itself contains a variety of topics such as journals on trips around Ireland, music and movie reviews as well as some interviews with famous people, along with some of his written prose.

Lo que Dice Candela has been added to the list of local blogs, as always, if you have a blog from or about Limerick city or county, send us the link and tell us about it so it can be added to our list editors@limerickblogger.org

With the discontinuance of the Style Treaty blog after two years in operation, it’s followers will be pleased to know that it’s owner, Maz, has started a new blogging project, Made Marion.

The new blog can be found here, and the content of style treaty is still accessible for the time being.

Made Marian will be added to the list of local blogs. If you have a blog relating to or from Limerick city or county, send us the link, editors@limerickblogger.org.

A man has appeared before a special sitting of Limerick District Court in relation to the death earlier this week of 50 year old Brendan McEvoy.

Mr McEvoy was found dead on a stairwell in the Cherrydale Court Apartments on the Dublin Road on Thursday Morning.

Before the court hearing this morning was David Byrnes (24), who is originally from Castleconnell, but with an address of Copperhill, Ballintemple, County Cork. He was charged with assault causing harm.

During the brief hearing, Byrnes was granted free legal aid and was remanded in custody to appear before the court again on Wednesday.

Passing this along for anyone who might be interested:

To Increase cultural awareness and promote understanding, Limerick Community Gardai and Limerick Cricket Club propose to hold a 6 Aside 10 over cricket competition which will take place at the U.L. playing fields, Castletroy on the 27th of July 2008 the competition will run from 10am until the competition is completed. It is hoped to have teams representing as many countries as possible. One member of each team must be from the country they represent the rest may be from any country.

If you wish to submit a team contact Garda Chris McGrath at Mayorstone Garda Station on 061 456980 or 087 9340564 or E-mail Limerickcricketworldcup@Gmail.com

It is hoped that this will be a family event and participants’ are encouraged to bring the family along.