Newtown Pery (Limerick)

 downtown / central business district  Add category

 Upload a photo

Newtown Pery is an area of central Limerick, Ireland. The area forms the CBD of Limerick. The district is known for its Georgian architectural heritage and is part of Limerick's Georgian Quarter. Newtown Pery houses the largest collection of Georgian townhouses in Ireland outside of Dublin.
Limerick - O'Connell Street looking north east. The majority of this section of Newtown Pery was rebuilt in the mid to late 20th Century

Newtown Pery dates from the late 18th to early 19th century as part of Edmund Sexton Pery's plan for the development of a new city on lands he owned to the south of the existing medieval city. In 1765, he commissioned the Italian engineer Davis Ducart to design a town plan on those lands which have since become known as Newtown Pery. The town was built in stages as Pery sold off leases to builders and developers who built 4 and 5 story townhouses in the Georgian fashion with long wide and elegant streets in grid plan design with O'Connell Street (previously Georges street) as its centre. The earliest houses are located along Bank Place, Rutland Street, Patrick Street which were built by the Arthur family - a prominent Limerick family during the 18th century. Some of Ireland's finest examples of Georgian Architecture can be seen at the Crescent area and Pery Square.
Tait Memorial Clock Tower & Dominican Church, Baker Place

From its development Newtown Pery has served as Limerick's CBD. It is also the city's main retail district which is centered on O'Connell Street, William Street and the adjoining streets.

Although housing an important collection of Georgian architecture and acting as Limerick's city centre, the future of Newtown Pery is uncertain and is in decline. The one time retail core of O' Connell Street & William street has been eclipsed by massive retail developments in the suburbs. Poor planning & lack of investment has resulted in high vacancy rates & dereliction which plagues some parts. A lot of the Georgian heritage of the area has also been compromised. The area is now a shadow of its former past as more and more businesses & retail facilities leave the city centre for the convenience of the new shopping centres.