One shop closes but another to open in Limerick village
BRUREE will only be without a shop in the village for a number of weeks, the Limerick Leader has learned.
There was shock at the sudden closure of Finucane’s store and post office on June 30. It is not known if it will reopen.
However, the former Costcutter shop, which has been closed for some time, is set to take up the mantle.
Workers were on site on Monday and the doors are expected to be open again in the coming weeks following renovations.
A new sign has gone up which reads “Spar Bruree opening soon” and advertising for staff. It is believed the shop will be open seven days a week, include an off-licence, provide the essential services and much needed employment in the area. When the new Spar Shop opens it is expected to employ up to 15 people.
Mayor Gerald Mitchell and Cllr PJ Carey welcomed the news. The newly-elected mayor said there will be a “positive outcome in the not too distant future”.
Mayor Mitchell stressed the importance of villages and rural areas having services locally and said he has been working behind the scenes on the issue in Bruree.
Cllr PJ Carey paid tribute to the Finucane family for the huge contribution and service that they have given to Bruree and society in general over the decades.
“Bruree has been very much neglected for decades by successive governments.
“It used to be a thriving village and even though the village now has well over 150 houses and a growing population, there are very little amenities.
“There is currently no shop, post office, cafe, playground, there is also very little employment. Bruree needs a boost like this with the new shop opening in the near future,” said Cllr Carey, who added that €50,000 has been awarded from the development fund for Bruree Park, as well as trying to advance and locate funding streams for a playground area at the green area across from the bottle bank.
An Post is working to appoint a “new contractor as quickly as we can".