Boost for Limerick as two new outlets to open in shopping centre

TWO new shops are set to open in Arthur’s Quay Shopping Centre in a welcome boost for the city centre.

Women’s clothing retailer Paco is to open in a unit on the ground floor of the mall, its second outlet in the city, with a gift shop specialising in crochet to trade on the first floor.

The gift shop is being opened by Tania Smetanko, who came to Limerick as a refugee from Ukraine following the start of its war with Russia three years ago.

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She came here with her family from Irpin, in the region of the country’s capital Kyiv.

After settling in and learning English, she was keen to continue a business she had operated while in her homeland.

For the last 12 years following the birth of her son, Tania has specialised in crochet.

This is a process of creating textiles by interlocking loops of yarn, thread or strands of other materials.

The key difference between crochet and knitting is that each stitch in crochet is completed before you begin the next one.

By contrast, knitting keeps many stitches open at a time.

Tania is currently based in Wickham Way market at Wickham Street in the city centre.

Here, she offers toys, wicker bags, embroidered portraits, decorations and watercolour paintings.

On top of this, she sells toys, blankets, cardigans, bags, jumpers and ornaments.

“This is the same business I had in Ukraine. This is why I opened here. When we arrived here, I always dreamt I needed to open my own business,” she said.

“But my English was at zero level. I attended courses in college and after this, I opened here,” added Tania.

“I wanted to have a physical store where people could come, look and touch the toys.”

Having initially lived in Pier One when she came to Limerick, Tania has now settled into permanent accommodation with her family at Childers Road.

She paid tribute to Network Ireland Limerick, a group for women in business and the arts for the support they have afforded her.

Having opened in November 2023, she feels it is time to move onto pastures new, and will begin trading at Arthur’s Quay in the next fortnight.

“Arthur’s Quay has a bigger audience, more clients. In here (Wickham Way market), I am busy only two days a week. But in Arthur’s Quay, I will be much busier. I know I will be able to help more people,” she added.

Tania is also inspiring the next generation of crocheters by running classes twice a week.

Women’s clothes retailer Paco is set to open its second store in Limerick on a ground floor unit in Arthur’s Quay and is currently seeking staff.

Paco currently has one store locally in the Crescent Shopping Centre.

The boutique, whose clothes have featured on RTE television, also has branches around the country including in Dublin, Ennis, Tralee and Killarney.