Cafe’s art classes to draw in the punters

A LIMERICK businessman has come up with a novel idea to make the city more customer friendly for Saturday shoppers.

Ger Sheahan, who runs Lulu’s cafe on Catherine Street, is offering supervised art classes for children aged five to 12 from 9am to 1pm each Saturday.

Ger said: “The city centre has a big battle on its hands in competing with the suburban shopping centres, so we have to be innovative.

“My new art class will help parents have their children in a secure environment enjoying themselves while they go shopping or to the hairdresser.”

Ger has engaged a qualified art teacher, Clia Clancy who will be accompanied by a primary school teacher, for the Saturday art class.

He said: “We expect that it will also generate more Saturday morning breakfast business when parents drop in with their children. What better way to start a morning going to the shops than with a good breakfast, while knowing the children are safe and happy.”

Limerick’s city centre traders complain that not enough is being done by the city council to make the city more attractive for shoppers.

A spokesman for the traders said: “Many people are put off coming into the city centre because of the fear of getting a parking ticket. We need to have some kind of parking ticket amnesty on Saturdays at least.

“The big shopping centres in the suburbs offer free parking and that is what we are up against.”