Limerick’s vaccination centre is… in Clare!?

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has confirmed the centre will be located at the Radission Blu Hotel which is actually located in County Clare.

Immediately there was a surge of annoyance on social media, pointing out, never mind that County Clare therefore, got two proposed vaccination centres and Limerick got none, but that the location of the Radission Hotel was also not easy to get to if you’re without a car, as it is not served well by public transport.

Limerick’s vaccination centre is technically in Co Clare and is not well-served in terms of public transport.

In a city with several large sport facilities and one of the country’s largest university campuses – the choice is sure to raise a few eyebrows.https://t.co/gLiR9G6QsP

— Maria Flannery (@mariaflan) February 15, 2021

You might need to check google maps , you’ve a centre for Limerick in the raddison blue , that hotel is in Co Clare , that can’t be accessed by public transport

— Jason (@jason1916rise) February 15, 2021

Why in the name of Jesus is Limerick’s ONE vaccination centre in a hotel…in Co. Clare? 5 miles from Limerick city centre, side of a dual carriageway, no footpaths, not accessible by public transport. Jesus wept. Do better!

— Barra (@barraotuathail) February 15, 2021

Any place confirmed that’s actually in Limerick and not Co. Clare??

— Pa Bromell (@PaBromell) February 15, 2021

I’ve three vaccine sites within 16km of where I live right now in Cork. If I was still living in Limerick I’d have to travel 40km to get vaccinated, and it’s not accessible via public transport.

A joke. https://t.co/p9dmovIcyy

— Rebecca Laffan (@becca_laffan) February 15, 2021

Deputy Richard O’Donoghue also said having it in County Clare made no sense and is “an insult” to people living in Limerick. “They couldn’t have picked a worse location,” he told the Limerick Leader. “It will take a person from Abbeyfeale an hour to get there and even longer from Kilbehenny. They would be faster going to centres in Tipperary and Kerry.”

Facebook users also criticised the move. “That’s 5 miles from the city centre, on a motorway with no local bus route. How is this supposed to be accessible to people?? Have they learned nothing from putting the testing centres out of reach of those without the privilege of a car that they’re doing the same now with the vaccination?,” user Jen Ní said.

So far, the Department of Health has not commented on the proposed centre location.