Community
Limerick communities Going for Gold for a share in €60,000 prize fund
Mayor of Limerick City and County Francis Foley launched Limerick Going for Gold 2023 on Friday, June 16, 2023. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
Limerick communities will share in a €60,000 prize fund by bee-ing friendly, being environmentally aware and by keeping their neighbourhoods tidy for Going for Gold 2023
A top prize of €10,000 is up for grabs in Going for Gold 2023. There is a €5,000 prize in the Limerick ‘Bee Friendly in Bloom’ category.
The annual competition has been launched by Mayor of the City and County of Limerick, Cllr Francis Foley and Gerry Boland of the JP McManus Charitable Foundation.
The launch took place on the banks of the River Shannon in Castleconnell.
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Separate to the prize fund, over €50,000 in grant assistance has been distributed to communities so far this year.
The funding is applied-for under the Limerick Going for Gold Environment Improvement Grant scheme, jointly funded by Limerick City and County Council and by the JP McManus Charitable Foundation.
Grants ranged from €200 – €3,500 with the money assisting groups with their environmental work.
The overall aim is to make Limerick a cleaner, brighter place to work, live and visit. This year the competition element of Going for Gold will have over €60,000 in prizes to be distributed across a number of categories including Tidy Towns Category – Groups must have entered Tidy Towns 2023 national competition, Limerick Bee Friendly in Bloom open to all Tidy Towns groups who have not won a prize in Tidy Towns category along with groups who did not enter Tidy Towns 2023.
Also Residential Areas – This category is open to estates and similar areas, Judges Award – The group that has come to the judges attention and deemed worthy of an endeavour award, Reuse Award – A Limerick not for profit organisation, charity or group will be awarded for their involvement in reuse, Best Front Garden Category – This award is sponsored by the Parkway Shopping Centre.
In judging the competition, emphasis will be placed on litter control, general tidiness and upkeep, pollinator friendly planting, sustainable planting, overall impression, works undertaken/improvements from previous years (if applicable).
As in other years, all aspects of the judges’ decisions will be final.
Mayor of the City and County of Limerick Cllr Francis Foley said: “Limerick is in full bloom at this time of year and it has been great to see communities taking full advantage of the recent warm dry spell to make their neighbourhoods look their very best. Going for Gold is a great catalyst, giving proud communities that extra incentive to get stuck in. Long may this wonderful collaboration between Limerick City and County Council and the JP Mc Manus Charitable Foundation continue.”
Gerry Boland from the JP Mc Manus Charitable Foundation added: “I am very pleased to see that Limerick Going for Gold continues to grow from strength to strength, involving many new applicants each year right across all age groups. It is wonderful to see and hear the contribution it has made to the environment by helping communities to help themselves towards a cleaner and brighter place in which to live. It also incorporates pollinator friendly planting and highlights the need to protect our heritage and environment.
I can confirm that over €60,000, will be distributed in prizes this year with a top prize of €10,000 in the Tidy Towns Category, and €5,000 in the Limerick ‘Bee Friendly’ in Bloom Category.”
Limerick Going for Gold is managed by Limerick City and County Council with sponsorship from JP McManus Charitable Foundation. It is supported by Live 95, the Limerick Leader, Limerick Post, I Love Limerick, Limerick City Centre Tidy Towns, Southern Media and Marketing Design and the Parkway Shopping Centre.
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