Nenagh faces challenges as businesses close

THE closure of Caffrey's Furniture store in Nenagh has highlighted the challenges that regional towns face due to the collapse of the economy caused by the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Caffrey's, located at the Stereame Retail Park, announced a closing down sale on Friday week last in a move prompted by the impact of the coronavirus on the local economy.
"Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic unfortunatley our Nenagh branch will cease trading," the company said.
Announcing its final sale at the branch, the team at the store stated that they would like to thank the public for supporting the company over the past number of years.
All other branches of the company in the State as well as its warehouses and manufacturing facility are to remain open, the firm stated.
The announcement of the closure on social media was generally greeted with sadness locally, with several people praising the quality of furniture they had purchased in the store.
Caffreys operate other stores in Dublin, Cavan, Navan and Monaghan.
Caffrey's is not the first store in Nenagh to close since the outbreak of the pandemic in March, with the initial lockdown impacting severely on many businesses that were forced to close on a temporary basis.
The economic recession caused by the pandemic and uncertainty regarding the impact on the economy going forward also prompted the recent closure of the Bistro 41 restaurant in Summerhill, and the New Moon fashion accessories shop in Silver Street also closed earlier this year after nine years in operation.
Another sector badly impacted by the pandemic includes pubs, and already two pub proprietors have decided to bown out in Nenagh since the outbreak of Covid-19.
Seamus Ryan, who ran The Talbot bar in Kenyon Street, has decided to retire after 35 years in the business, while Mac Mathuna's pub at 47 Kenyon Street is currently up for sale.
While Nenagh has been identified as a 'Key Town' under the Government's Southern Regional and Economic Strategy, it is now facing difficult challenges, just like all other towns.
Under the strategy, Nenagh has been identified as a hinterland town of Limerick city, one of five cities earmarked by the the last government for major investment under the Project Ireland 2040 plan, which aims to ensure that 75% of grown takes place in regional cities over the next 20 years.
But overcoming the massive challenges posed by the coronavirus will be key to ensuring that the town like Nenagh face a bright future.
And if the town is to benefit from Limerick's city's planned expansion then a modern rail line between the two settlements is something that will be vital as far as organisations such as the Nenagh Rail Partnership is concerned. Sadly, the current situation is that the entire Limerick-Ballybrophy line, which was once so vital to the local economy, has been closed since March due to the pandemic.