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A former takeaway unit at the Limerick Milk Market (LMM), which needed a significant renovation, has been given a new lease of life this summer following a project funded by The Michael Guinee Charitable Foundation (MGCF).

Work on the project commenced in March 2026 and was completed at the beginning of July. Since then, the new team at the Rising Together Training Centre (RTTC), Unit G1 at the Milk Market, has been trialling the facility, with the official launch and unveiling taking place on 29th September 2026. The event will bring together representatives from MGCF, LMM and RTTC to mark the opening of the new training centre.

“The Limerick Milk Market team are delighted to receive the support to deliver on a long-held ambition to develop a food training centre in the heart of Limerick’s food community at the Milk Market.

“The unit renovation and fit-out was kindly sponsored by The Michael Guinee Charitable Foundation. We are very grateful for the generosity and support of the team and board at MGCF, who backed the project to transform a disused former takeaway into a modern, fully equipped kitchen training centre providing inclusive, skills-based training for adults with intellectual disabilities.

“On behalf of everyone at the Milk Market, we cannot thank MGCF enough for this vital support.”
Said David Fitzgerald, General Manager, Limerick Milk Market.

“This project is a great example of what can be achieved when organisations come together around a clear and practical idea. The new training centre will provide a supportive environment where people can develop skills, build confidence and gain meaningful experience in a real hospitality setting.

For the Foundation, it is particularly important that the project is focused on creating genuine opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities to participate more fully in employment and community life. We are delighted to have played a part in bringing the centre to life and wish Rising Together every success as it develops.”
Said Derek Barrett, Chief Executive, The Michael Guinee Charitable Foundation.

‘’The MG Foundation was delighted to help fund the refurbishment of the Rising Together Training Centre (RTTC) at the Limerick Milk Market.

This very admirable community-led social enterprise provides vocational training, work experience and employment pathways that unlock the potential of adults with intellectual disabilities.’’
Said Dr Michael Guinee, Founder, former CEO and current Chairman of Ei Electronics.

“This centre is about creating a place where adults with intellectual disabilities can learn through real work environment, discover their strengths and build a pathway into supported paid employment within our organisation and community networks. Since opening the doors this summer, we have seen participants grow in confidence as they develop baking, cooking, barista, catering and hospitality skills in the heart of the Milk Market. I am deeply grateful to The Michael Guinee Charitable Foundation and the Limerick Milk Market for making this space possible, and to our participants and families who have helped shape it.”
Said Laura Holland, Founder & CEO, Rising Together Training Programmes.

The Centre will provide practical, vocational training in baking, cooking, barista skills, catering and hospitality, giving participants the opportunity to develop confidence and workplace skills in a real food and hospitality environment.

It currently opens Monday to Friday and offers a range of off-site catering options, as well as takeaway sandwiches, soups, treats, pizza slices, and pastries, helping to generate funding to support the operation.

“We are honoured to welcome such an important community asset to the Milk Market and surrounding area. The centre will provide much-needed training and assistance for those interested in developing skills in the food and hospitality sector. This project also has a significant secondary benefit, in that it will assist the food and hospitality industry by providing trained participants who are ready to join this exciting & vibrant sector.”

“This project is a perfect fit for the Milk Market, given its focus on social impact, food development, and skills and enterprise development within one of Ireland’s few remaining historic markets. On behalf of the Limerick Market Trustees, as a community-focused, non-profit Trust, we would once again like to wholeheartedly thank the team and board at The Michael Guinee Charitable Foundation for approving our application and allocating the resources required to deliver such a worthy endeavour, while giving generously back to the people of Limerick and the wider region.”
Said Liam Flannery, Chairman of the Limerick Market Trustees.

Podcaste Limerick Milk Market welcomes new training centre creating employment for adults with intellectual disabilities – Live95 Limerick Today Podcasts | Acast

Link to Rising Together Training Centre | Facebook

Pictures of the Launch by Photographer Dermot Lynch

St. Patrick’s Weekend at the Milk Market 2026

 

📅 Friday, 13th March (11am – 3pm)

 

📅 Saturday, 14th March (8am – 3pm)

 

 

📅 Sunday, 15th March (11am – 4pm)

📅 Tuesday, 17th March – St. Patrick’s Day (10am – 4pm)

 

🙏 Special Thanks

This years St Patrick’s Weekend Events at the Milk Market 2026 are possible with support from its sponsor:
Festival & Events Dept. – Limerick City & County Council,

Christmas at the Limerick Milk Market 2025

The festive season is back and brighter than ever at the Limerick Milk Market, with a joyful series of Christmas Markets and community events running from Friday, 5th December to Wednesday, 24th December 2025.

This year’s celebrations will blend beloved traditions with exciting new additions, featuring festive food, crafts, art, music, and family fun under the market’s iconic Christmas Canopy of Lights, Christmas Animated Movies and Lego Style Santas Grotto sponsored by Festival & Events – Limerick City and County Council 

 

 

🎄 Main Christmas Market Dates 

Each weekend will showcase traditional daytime Christmas Markets, offering an abundance of local food, handmade gifts, and festive cheer. Visitors can also enjoy a special Open-Air Café experience every Friday and Sunday from 11am to 3pm, featuring:
Flying Cheese Farm Shop & Grill, Bon Appetit Creperie, Harpers Coffee, Greenacres Café, SOS Cookies & Meltie Toasties, The Edge Clothing, Restory Crafts, The Candle Shop, Wild Fig Bakery, and more.

✨ Special Market Highlights

Saturdays will feature the renowned Famous Food Market – Christmas Edition (8am–3pm), celebrating the best of Limerick’s seasonal food with artisan hampers, mince pies, puddings, Christmas hams and turkeys (pre-order advised), chestnuts, brandy butter, baked treats, and much more.

🧑‍🎄 Family Fun & Community Events

The festive magic continues throughout December with Santa’s LEGO-Style Grotto, located upstairs in the mezzanine area. Bookings are available via www.milkmarketlimerick.ie/experiences.
Santa will be at the Milk Market on the following dates:
Dec 5th–7th, 11th, 13th & 14th, and 19th–24th inclusive.

Additional Fringe Events in November include:

On Friday 5th December, the market will host a Christmas TY Student Enterprise Market, in partnership with the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Limerick and WizzKids.ie, featuring up to sixty local schools showcasing innovative student projects. Sponsored by Arachas Insurance, the event will also include festive music and local craft and food vendors.

💛 Community Spirit

On Friday 19th December (11am–3pm), the market will hold a fundraiser for Limerick Suicide Watch, sponsored by Lyons of Limerick, featuring live music, festive games, and a welcoming open-air courtyard.

The final stretch of the Christmas Market Series will include:

🌟 Christmas Message

“We’re thrilled to welcome everyone back for another magical Christmas series,” said David Fitzgerald, Manager of the Limerick Milk Market. “Our community spirit, local food, and festive atmosphere make the market a truly special place to celebrate this Christmas in Limerick.” We would like to take this opportunity to thank our traders, staff, trustees, sponsors and our amazing customers who make the community at the Milk Market a special place to visit, reconnect and restock/refuel with the very best of local food and crafts.

This year’s event will feature heated seating, local food and drink, and a canopy of twinkling lights to keep spirits bright. Families can also enjoy an animated Christmas movie upstairs, supported by Limerick Mental Health.

🙏 Special Thanks

The Limerick Milk Market extends sincere gratitude to its sponsors and partners:
Festival & Events – Limerick City & County Council, Lyons of Limerick Ford, Limerick Mental Health, Local Enterprise Office Limerick, and Arachas Insurance, for helping to deliver these free, family-friendly, community-based events.

 

Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all at the #LimerickMilkMarket!

Christmas Message from Limerick Milk Market 2024

Christmas 2025 

The Milk Market, Limerick
Sun 1st December
Friday 6th to Sun 8th December
Friday 13th to Sun 15th December
Fri 20th to Tue 24th December

We are delighted to announce the Christmas at the Limerick Milk Market series 2024. This year we have a range of traditional daytime Christmas Markets of festive foods mixed with some special once off Christmas Markets – Sun 1st December we have our largest Art Fair of the year, The Christmas Art Fair. Sun 8th December our Christmas Vinyl Record & CD Fair returns and Sunday 15th will feature a Christmas Antique, Vintage and Craft Fair.

Each Friday/Sunday will see an Xmas Open Air Café in addition to the special events (featuring Flying Cheese Farm Shop & Grill, Bon Appetit Creperie, Harpers Coffee, Greenacres Cafe, SOS Cookies/Meltie Toasties, The Edge Clothing, Restory Crafts, Antique Loft & Vintage Gem Store, Whack Vintage Popup shop, The Candle Shop, Wild Fig Bakery and Vito Vintage Clothing ) 11am to 3pm.

We have two special Christmas Fringe Events: Sun 17th Ivory Elephant Vintage Fair Xmas edition (Premium & Sports Vintage) 11am to 4pm and Sunday 24th November with Santa Paws Christmas Craft Fair, featuring over 20 Craft stalls, 7 Café/Food Shops and 6 Vintage, Antique and Craft Shops all in aid of Deel Animal Rescue 11am to 3pm.

Friday 6th December will feature a special event, Christmas Transition Year Enterprise Market in partnership with Local Enterprise Office (LEO) – Limerick and WizzKids.ie 10am to 2pm with up to a Sixty; second level local schools showcasing the latest in Student innovation projects with prizes for the best product/project team. Also featuring festive music and many local Craft/Food vendors.

Each Saturday will see the Famous Food Market Xmas edition, featuring the best of Local Limerick seasonal Food with a Christmas twist, Saturdays in Dec 8am to 3pm. We would like to encourage customers to shop early on Saturdays to guarantee your Christmas Food Favorites including: Artisan Christmas Food Hampers, Minced Pies, Specialty Hot Drinks, Puddings, Christmas Hams & Turkeys (Order in advance), Chestnuts, Brandy Butter, Christmas Deserts/Baked Goodies, and last but not least some traditional in season fruit and vegetables ready for all to enjoy and savour!

Santa will be visiting the Milk Market on Saturday 14th December and those who wish to get a picture with him are advised to bring their phone/camera for your 2024 picture, donations can be given to Limerick Suicide Watch on the day.

Friday 20th Dec 11am to 3pm will see a fundraiser day for Limerick Suicide Watch sponsored by Lyons of Limerick who will operate an Open-Air Courtyard with some Christmas tunes and Games Area.
There will be a Full Christmas Famous Food Market (featuring the best of Local Limerick Festive Food) Saturday 21st Dec 8am to 3pm with all your festive staples. Sun 22nd and Monday 23rd will see a Christmas Food and Craft Market with all the shops at the Milk Market with live music 8am to 3pm.

The Final Famous Food Market will take place on Christmas Eve, Tuesday 24th Dec 8am to 2pm, which will finish out the five day run into Christmas Eve and the Christmas Series 2024.” Said David Fitzgerald Limerick Milk Market Manager.

This year we hope to dazzle you with our ‘Christmas Canopy of Lights’ and Warm your soul with delicious Local Food/Drink and HEATED SEATs. We are delighted to offer our young market goers a chance to post your Santa letter at our custom Lumen Street Theater “Santa’s Post Box”.

Wishing You and Yours Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from All of us at the #LimerickMilkMarket

Special Thanks to our Christmas Series Sponsors Limerick City & County Council, Lyons of Limerick Ford for their assistance in bring you these community based family friendly and Free Entry Events.

For Further Press ONLY information please contact
David Fitzgerald Limerick Milk Market
Tel: 087 334 8111
[email protected]

Christmas Message from Limerick Milk Market
The Milk Market, Limerick
Friday 1st to Sun 3rd December
Friday 8th to Sun 10th December
Friday 15th to Sun 17th December
Thurs 21st to Sun 24th December

“We are delighted to announce the Christmas at the Limerick Milk Market series 2023. This year we have a range of traditional daytime Christmas Markets of festive foods mixed with some special once off Christmas Markets – Sun 3rd December we have our largest Art Fair of the year, The Christmas Art Fair. Sun 10th December our Christmas Vinyl Record & CD Fair returns and Sunday 18th will feature a Christmas Antique, Vintage and Craft Fair.

Each Friday/Sunday will see an Xmas Open Air Café in addition to the special events (featuring Flying Cheese Farm Shop & Grill, Bon Appetit Creperie, Harpers Coffee, Greenacres Cafe, SOS Cookies/Meltie Toasties, The Edge Clothing, Restory Crafts, Antique Loft & Vintage Gem Store, Whack Vintage Popup shop and Vito Vintage Clothing ) 11am to 3pm.

We have a special Christmas Fringe Event Sunday 26th November with Santa Paws Christmas Craft Fair, featuring over 20 Craft stalls, 5 Café/Food Shops and 5 Vintage, Antique and Craft Shops all in aid of Deel Animal Rescue 11am to 3pm.

Friday 8th December will feature a special event, Christmas Transition Year Enterprise Market in partnership with Local Enterprise Office (LEO) – Limerick and WizzKids.ie 10am to 2pm with up to a fifty; second level local schools showcasing the latest in Student innovation projects with prizes for the best product/project team. Also featuring festive music and many local Craft/Food vendors. There are three generous prizes Sponsored by MAST.ie /Arachas.ie for this event.

Each Saturday will see the Famous Food Market Xmas edition, featuring the best of Local Limerick seasonal Food with a Christmas twist, Saturdays in Dec 8am to 3pm. We would like to encourage customers to shop early on Saturdays to guarantee your Christmas Food Favorites including: Artisan Christmas Food Hampers, Minced Pies, Specialty Hot Drinks, Puddings, Christmas Hams & Turkeys (Order in advance), Chestnuts, Brandy Butter, Christmas Deserts/Baked Goodies, and last but not least some traditional in season fruit and vegetables ready for all to enjoy and savour!

Santa will be visiting the Milk Market on Saturday 16th December and those who wish to get a picture with him are advised to bring their phone/camera for your 2023 picture, donations can be given to Limerick Suicide Watch on the day.

Thursday 21st Dec 11am to 3pm will see a fundraiser day for Limerick Suicide Watch sponsored by Lyons of Limerick who will operate an Open-Air Courtyard with some Christmas tunes and Games Area. Friday 22nd December will feature the final outdoor café with live music of the year.

There will be a Full Christmas Famous Food Market (featuring the best of Local Limerick seasonal Food with a Christmas twist) Saturday 23rd Dec 8am to 3pm with all your festive staples.

The Final Famous Food Market will take place on Christmas Eve, Sunday 24th Dec 8am to 2pm, which will finish out the three day run into Christmas Eve and the Christmas Series 2023.” Said David Fitzgerald Limerick Milk Market Manager.

This year we hope to dazzle you with our ‘Christmas Canopy of Lights’ and Warm your soul with delicious Local Food/Drink and HEATED SEATs. We are delighted to offer our young market goers a chance to post your Santa letter at our custom Lumen Street Theater “Santa’s Post Box”.

Wishing You and Yours Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from All of us at the #LimerickMilkMarket

Special Thanks to our Christmas Series Sponsors Limerick City & County Council, Lyons of Limerick Ford and Mast.ie for their assistance in bring you these community based family friendly and Free Entry Events.”

For Further Press ONLY information please contact
David Fitzgerald Limerick Milk Market
Tel: 087 334 8111
[email protected]

Culture Night 2021 at The Milk Market!

September 17th, Open from 4pm -8pm with Free Entry!

Live Music By:
Downtown Dixieland
https://www.facebook.com/DowntownDixielandBand/
Kids Games Area

Magician Steve Spade
https://www.facebook.com/stevespademagic/

Pigtown Mask Making Demo by Lumen Street Theatre
https://www.facebook.com/Lumen-Street-Theatre-578858578960251/