Limerick is set to get a new tourist attraction with the announcement that Treaty City Brewery will open a retail premises and brewery in Nicholas Street.
The news comes following a decision at the monthly meeting of the Metropolitan District of Limerick City and County Council today (Monday) to approve the leasing of numbers 24 and 25 Nicholas Street to Treaty City Brewery.
It is proposed that the company will develop a micro-brewery within these buildings which it will run in addition to its Ballysimon Road Industrial Estate brewery. They will offer tours, adjacent to King John’s Castle in Limerick’s historic King’s Island, which will enhance the tourism offering in the city’s medieval district.
The area was once the home of one of the first breweries in the south of Ireland, The City Brewery known as the Newgate Brewery which was founded in 1739 and situated in Newgate Lane, between the old City Gaol and King John's Castle.
Following today’s decision, Limerick City and County Council will begin pre-letting works on no’s 24 and 25 Nicholas Street over the coming weeks. This will be followed by the commercial fit-out and installation of brewing equipment for the new brewery.
Limerick City and County Council Director of Services, Social Development, Seamus Hanrahan said that significant capital has been invested by the local authority to bring the buildings to letting stage and the brewery will be an anchor tenant for Nicholas Street:
“The vision in 2012 to purchase and stabilise these derelict structures is now coming to fruition with the return of brewing to King’s Island, close to the site of the historic Newgate Brewery,” he said. “The revitalisation of Nicholas Street is a key element of the new Limerick City and County Council Tourism Strategy and the arrival of Treaty City Brewing is an important element of this work, not just for Nicholas Street, but for the whole of King’s Island and Limerick city. The objective of preserving these structures past to facilitate suitable economic use in the present will work towards creating a vibrant and sustainable street for Limerick.”
Treaty City Brewery owner Stephen Cunneen, said he was excited about the new development.
“We are looking forward to expanding our business into Nicholas Street, and we will play our part in the rejuvenation of this street that is being driven forward by Limerick City and County Council.”