Limerick Civic Trust’s New Chairperson is focused on Ambitious Plans for Limerick. Over 50 Restoration and Improvement Projects Earmarked – But Reliant on Funding.
Brian McLoghlin, a company director, mediator and lawyer, who was recently appointed Chairperson of Limerick Civic Trust, wants the voluntary organisation to play a bigger role in improving Limerick’s heritage and environment for the benefit of its citizens and tourists.
Speaking about his aspirations for the new role, Mr McLoghlin said, “My focus and that of CEO David O’Brien for the year ahead will be on attracting more contributing members and patrons so that we have the financial support to embark on and complete some of the 50 plus restoration and heritage improvement projects that we have earmarked. In addition, I will concentrate on the development of stronger working and mutually beneficial relationships with our partners, both public and private, as we demonstrate our competency in delivering community projects.”
“There are hugely exciting and ambitious plans for Limerick in train at the moment what with the 2030 Limerick Economic and Spatial Plan and the European City of Culture bid. I believe that Limerick Civic Trust will have a large role in supporting the delivery of these initiatives. Already the projects we undertake serve to enhance the image of our city amongst its citizens and to boost tourism, such as our “street-a-week” street cleaning campaign, walking tours, open spaces and cemetery maintenance, canal bank pathways, restoration projects like the Mortuary Chapel at Mount Saint Lawrence’s Cemetery, the erection of historical plaques and so forth. The Trust has the ambition and potential to breathe new life into many more areas of our city and county.”
“For instance, Limerick Civic Trust has just been granted a licence to develop Castle Green, the derelict area just opposite King John’s Castle. This is an important site and over the next few months we will turn this space into a beautiful public park. It can be seen as an extension of the King’s Island Community Garden that we opened in 2011 and which has gone from strength to strength.”
“Our headquarters at Bishop’s Palace and the Castle Green site marks the start of the so called ‘Royal Mile’ – one of the oldest transverse city routes from Thomond Bridge, down Nicholas Street, over Baal’s Bridge and on to John’s Square. This route has the potential to become a significant tourism trail. We have identified a number of projects and sites that we are eager to restore along this route in conjunction with our partners – but funding must come first.”
“As a voluntary organisation we are hugely indebted to the support and resources we receive from Limerick City and County Council, our corporate members, patrons and organisations like Shannon Heritage, the JP McManus Foundation and our third level institutions – UL, Mary Immaculate College and LIT. Their support has been invaluable. However, we need to encourage more support from the corporate world and to build up our membership base, if we are to continue on the delivery of our commitment to protect and enhance Limerick’s unique character and fabric,” he concluded.
Limerick Civic Trust undertakes projects that make places more attractive, enjoyable and distinctive. Whether it’s improving or maintaining a graveyard, a riverside walk, community garden or City Street, the Trust’s work aims to promote civic pride. The Trust also undertakes conservation and preservation projects as well as Educational and Research work.
About Brian McLoghlin
Brian McLoghlin is a company director, mediator and lawyer. He has in excess of 40 year’s extensive experience, largely derived as in-house lawyer/company secretary of various large organisations. He spent four years in with the European Commission, working in both the External Relations and Transport Directorates General (air transport division).
He then served as Chief Legal Officer and Company Secretary of GPA, then the world’s largest aircraft leasing company.
As a company director, Brian has chaired a number of boards in the fields of insurance, property development, leisure and sport and in the voluntary sector, with respect to which he chairs the board of the Special Olympics Europe Foundation.
Apart from his legal qualification, Brian has an MA in Economics and went back to UCD in 2010 to obtain a Diploma in Corporate Governance,
He was accredited as a mediator by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR), London in 2005. He is on the One Resolve and Just Sports Ireland mediation panel and has been mediator in both commercial and sporting disputes.
Brian came to live in Limerick in 1985.
