Mobile Coffee Traders in Limerick Face Setback
Several mobile coffee traders in Limerick have been asked to cease trading by Limerick City and County Council, following concerns over licensing and designated trading areas.
Traders operating in locations such as Raheen and along the well-used Three Bridges route were informed they do not hold the required casual trading licences and are not located within approved trading zones. Many of these businesses were established during the pandemic, responding to local demand while investing in mobile units and building loyal customer bases.
Among those impacted is Breen Curtin of Blackbird Coffee, who set up his business after being made redundant due to Covid-19. Breen described the experience as “like a game of cat and mouse,” highlighting the lack of clear direction on how to trade legally.
Others, including Andrew Moloney of Hook & Ladder, have echoed the frustration, noting inconsistencies in how mobile traders are being treated across the country. In some counties, similar setups have operated without issue, raising questions about fairness and clarity in enforcement.
An attempt to introduce more flexibility through a council motion, allowing rate-paying businesses to apply for temporary trading licences, was rejected, with concerns raised about potential breaches of competition law.
The matter has now been referred to the Economic Development, Enterprise and Planning Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) for a review of the current bye-laws. In the meantime, many mobile traders remain in limbo, navigating a regulatory system that has not yet adapted to the challenges posed by the pandemic.
For the full article, see the Irish Examiner: Popular Limerick coffee trucks told by council to cease trading