BREAKING: Multi-million euro Limerick farm of land purchased for council

MAYOR John Moran has struck a deal to purchase 70 acres of prime land through his mayoral funds for Limerick City and County Council.

The property at Attyflin on the edge of Patrickswell went sale agreed this week for a figure in the region of €4m or around €57,000 per acre.

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Around 21.5 acres are zoned enterprise and employment with the remaining 48.6 acres zoned for agricultural use. 

The lands are immediately adjacent to Patrickswell Enterprise Centre, M20 and N21 road network and the Limerick-Foynes railway. It was being guided at €4,725,000 by the selling agents.

Mayor Moran’s purchase of the "key strategic site” has been welcomed by local Fianna Fail representatives - Cllr Fergus Kilcoyne and Minister of State Niall Collins.

Cllr Kilcoyne said when this property went on the open market he immediately contacted Mayor Moran. 

“We met in Patrickswell, walked the village and viewed the property. We discussed the merits of the council acquiring the lands and using it to address the many competing demands and requirements for new housing, business, a new train station, a park and ride facility, enterprise and community facilities including a large scale playground in Patrickswell,” said Cllr Kilcoyne.

He continued: “I want to see the development of affordable housing for local people and couples. We need to provide a mix of housing options including the purchase of affordable new build houses and also the option for local first time intended home owners to acquire a serviced site from the Council upon which to build a home.”

Cllr Kilcoyne said Patrickswell has huge potential and “we need to harness this and the purchase of this key strategic site now gives us the opportunity to achieve so much”.

Mr Collins said the purchase of this significant landbank by Mayor Moran demonstrates huge foresight and ambition for Patrickswell which “I fully share and support”. 

“The opportunity now to further develop Patrickswell must be planned and managed so as to achieve the best outcome for the local community. I am calling for an ambitious ‘masterplan’ to be developed to ensure the sustainable development of the site to meet the local community needs and demands,” said Mr Collins.

He said he will ensure that a proper local public consultation will take place whereby local people and community groups will be centrally involved in making this “masterplan”. 

“The development of this strategic site must and will be a strong working partnership between the Government, Limerick City and County Council and the local community. I look forward to being centrally involved in this project for the years to come to ensure the best outcome for Patrickswell,” concluded Mr Collins.

Mayor Moran and Limerick City and County Council have been contacted for comment.