Statement From Sean O Neill (RSF)

CALL TO PRESERVE CLOTHING FACTORY ARCH

The preservation and restoration of part of Limerick’s industrial
history must be undertaken at the site of the former Limerick
Clothing factory a local community activist said today.

Sean O’Neill from Quinn’s Cottages in Prospect said that the
factory at Edward Street played a vital role in the story of
Limerick’s industrial development as it was the place where
production line methods were first introduced to the clothing
industry.

The arch to the entrance to the factory is still standing and
it must be preserved as a tribute to the workers of the city
clothing industry he said. We must not forget that under the
direction of Peter Tait Limerick occupied a leading place in the
story of the clothing industry. In fact the Limerick factory made
and supplied uniforms during the American Civil War.

I am in touch with the Limerick Civic Trust in relation
to the preservation of the arch at the former clothing
factory site. Contact is now to be made by the Trust
with the Limerick City Council. It would be a fitting tribute
to the workers of the city for the arch to be restored as a
memorial to all those who worked in the clothing factory.

In fact the clothing tradition of Limerick is being
carried on today by the Limerick School of Art
and Design and the Fashion School so the restoration
of the arch would be fitting.

This type of project can be done as witnessed by the
Recent replacement of the drinking trough by the City
Council at Ballinacurra.

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