'Thousands of children and families will miss out' if Christmas Fayre is cancelled, says Limerick mayor

Limerick councillors are due to make a decision on Tuesday following legal advice that the location of the Christmas event cannot be moved from The Crescent, on O’Connell Street.

John Moran Mayor of Limeirck sent an email v asking for help 'to make sure that all voices for change which got together to elect me in 2024 are heard in the debate'. Picture: Brendan Gleeson

Limerick mayor John Moran has put pressure on councillors to approve a Christmas Fayre at a controversial location to avoid the cancellation of the market altogether.

Mr Moran has asked councillors to “give The Crescent a chance”, despite hundreds of objections from the public, with the majority not wanting the market to be located at The Crescent, on O’Connell Street.

Before a public consultation on the event’s licence was due to close, the mayor issued a statement appealing for Christmas in  Limerick 2026 to be approved.

As the deadline loomed for the public to share their views, Mr Moran sent an email via NationSend asking for help “to make sure that all voices for change which got together to elect me in 2024 are heard in the debate”.

More than half of respondents were positive about the Fayre, and 67% said they would support it in principle at another location.

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As councillors are due to make a decision regarding the license on Tuesday.

Limerick City and County Council sought legal advice on whether or not it would be possible to change the location of the Christmas Fayre. According to Mr Moran, Leahy Reidy Solicitors informed the council it would not be possible for members to amend the location of the market under Section 486 of the Planning Act 2024.

This is not the first controversy over events held at The Crescent. Over the summer, Mr Moran faced backlash from some traders and members of the public for street closures — including at The Crescent, which is on the main thoroughfare.

Mr Moran said Limerick made a three-year commitment to build a market of its own, and this is the first year the city would have a market.

“The council will apply what it learned in August to delivering the Fayre, including how traffic arrangements are communicated,” he said. "It also intends to count footfall on The Crescent and the surrounding streets throughout the event and share the results with members and traders in January."

He added that if The Crescent proves too disruptive as a location, the Fayre will move in 2027.

“Without the licence there is no market this year, which means thousands of children and their families miss out and we learn nothing about whether the idea works,” he said.

While members of the public strongly opposed the location of the Fayre, two groups issued separate statements in support of the location.

A number of traders in the area said the location would “provide an iconic backdrop to a Christmas fair”.

The owner of N1 Pery Square, Patricia Roberts, said: “The grand red-brick classic Georgian homes, classic sash windows, and beautiful Georgian doors enable the fair to have an edge and uniqueness no other Irish city can rival. The area shot to fame in recent years with the production of the beautiful Angela's Christmas.” 

Meanwhile, the owners of South’s Pub, Bobby Byrnes and Charlie Malones, also voiced their support for the location, which they said would “boost footfall to the city”.

A new group, ‘Limerick City Residents’, said they have come together as they are concerned “no one listens to the voice and concerns of existing city-centre residents, who we feel are the beating heart of the city”. The group claims to have 50+ members with “no political affiliations” and said they will engage with the council, and “look towards the 2029 local elections”.

However, they said that “due to online hatred and abuse directed towards anyone advocating for new ideas and changes” in the city, their members are currently reluctant to include their names or addresses.