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Limerick Civic Trust Announced as Local Champion in Community Response to COVID-19 Crisis

Limerick Civic Trust chief executive David O’Brien. Photo: Keith Wiseman Limerick Civic trust COVID19

Limerick Civic Trust Announced as Local Champion in Community Response to COVID-19 Crisis

By I Love Limerick Correspondent Sophia DiBattista

Limerick Civic Trust has been announced as the Local Champion for Limerick City thanks to their outreach during the COVID-19 crisis sweeping across the world. 


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The Government of Ireland, The Wheel and Irish Rural Link came together to bring forth this initiative that promotes community welfare, safety and security against the pandemic. With the mindset of not leaving any house or family behind, the Limerick Civic Trust has earned this title through their strong sense of support.

Local Champions have been established in every county during the COVID-19 outbreak. The Local Champion works hand-in-hand with the Local Authority response and with the Local Authority COVID-19 Community Response Forum.

Limerick Civic Trust is a self-funding charity that aims to take on projects and initiatives to better the city’s environment. They work alongside local authorities, state agencies and all of Limerick’s commercial, community, industrial and professional life. Everything these groups do ensures a more prosperous future for Limerick.

The organisation is no stranger to giving back to the community and all its members. Some of their other community work includes giving walking tours of well-known Limerick City locations, developing and creating the People’s Museum of Limerick, restoring St. Michael’s Graveyard to make a public park and so much more. The list is practically endless with the number of projects Limerick Civic Trust takes up. 

David O’Brien, Limerick Civic Trust CEO, described the organisation’s happiness upon receiving the news. He said, “We are delighted to take on this role for Limerick, and consider it to be within the remit of the long record of civic duty that the Trust has carried out in the city and county. In full partnership with state agencies, Limerick Council, and community organisations, we will help to streamline the community response so that vulnerable people receive timely and quality information and support from their own homes.” Limerick Civic Trust COVID19

People who do not have a family member or neighbour living nearby, and who need to self-isolate, are encouraged to contact Limerick Civic Trust. They will be linked with the service that is most appropriate for their needs. Family members are also invited to get in touch if they are concerned about a relative living locally who may need help.

John Martin has been appointed as the new Limerick County Community Champion.  There is a community champion in each county across the country, with two in Limerick.

John said, “I got a new job with Macra as their student Agricultural Development Officer and I ended up getting a phone call asking would I step in and become a community champion for Limerick. I didn’t hesitate because I do a lot of community and charity work as it is for my own community and I’ve a lot of friends in Limerick county.”

Working with existing organisations, State agencies in the county and the council in Limerick John is  helping to streamline the community response to the crisis saying, “I am identifying gaps with the other champions and my great volunteers in limerick county which I am reporting  back to the national coordinating team and local authority.”

“I said I had better establish my volunteers so I got onto the chairwoman of Limerick Macra, Vanessa Crean and she contacted all the clubs in Limerick and we’ve been having Zoom meetings every couple of days. They have been helping me do the groundwork. I’ve contacted nearly every community in the county to see if they are OK in terms of the elderly, entertainment, Meals on Wheels. At the moment we are trying to do a technology fundraiser to either provide them with tablets in the homes or with a parish radio so that they can get their Mass.”

John can be contacted on 086 0334584.

For the city please email [email protected] or call 086 0281828 for any assistance or questions.

To contact the COVID-19 Community Call Helpline, email [email protected] or call 1800 832 005. 

For more information about Limerick Civic Trust, click here.

For more stories on Limerick Civic Trust, click here.
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