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Limerick Going for Gold 2014

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Golden opportunity for Limerick communities

 

Limerick City and County Council, in association with the JP McManus Charitable Foundation, has announced that the deadline for receipt of applications and nominations in the Individual Merit Award, Community Challenge and Most Beautiful Front Garden categories of Limerick Going For Gold 2014 has been extended to Friday 15th August.

The annual campaign, which this year features a prize fund of €52,500, encourages businesses, community groups and individuals to improve their areas.


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While entries to three of the four Limerick Going For Gold categories are to remain open for another four weeks, the Tidy Towns category has already closed with groups scheduled to begin their live Going for Gold interviews on Live 95FM’s Limerick Today show next Monday. Listeners to the programme will nominate one finalist each week over the next 5 weeks with a sixth finalist being put forward by Going for Gold judges.

Going for Gold organisers have announced a number of changes to this year’s campaign including the introduction of a Perpetual Trophy for the Community Challenge category, which was won last year by the South Limerick City Residents Association. The Category prize fund has also been increased from €5,500 in 2013 to €10,000, with €5,000, €3,000 and €1,500 being awarded to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd placed participants, with one Highly Commended entrant receiving a €500 prize.

Kieran Lehane, Director of Services, Environment, Limerick City and County Council commented: “Going for Gold showcases the commitment and motivation of local communities to improving their local areas and making Limerick a cleaner, brighter place to work, live and visit. The campaign also complements the national TidyTowns competition and encourages active citizenship.”

“I would encourage residents associations, groups and individuals across the city to get involved and apply. I want to acknowledge the JP McManus Charitable Foundation, as well as the local media for their ongoing support,” added Mr. Lehane.

Limerick Going for Gold is supported by Live 95FM, The Limerick Leader and The Limerick Chronicle, Limerick Post, I Love Limerick and Southern Advertising.

Going for Gold category information:

Community Challenge (groups not participating in the TidyTowns Competition) – If you have a positive initiative happening in your community then download an application form from Limerick.ie/goingforgold. This category is open to all community groups and resident associations from Limerick City and environs.

Individual Merit Award – If you would like to acknowledge someone’s (adult or child) individual commitment to making their community a cleaner and brighter place to live, Going for Gold want to hear about it.  All you need to do is complete the Going for Gold application form which may be downloaded from limerick.ie/goingforgold and is available on request from[email protected] or 061-496367.

Most Beautiful Front Garden Competition (garden must be visible from the public road) – To enter the Going for Gold Garden Competition and be in with a chance to win a share of a prize fund to the value of €1,000 sponsored by the Parkway Shopping Centre send a completed application form and a maximum of 3 photos to [email protected] (email) or via post to ‘Limericks Most Beautiful Front Garden Competition’, Managers Office, Parkway Shopping Centre, Dublin Rd., Limerick.

Limerick Going for Gold 2014 campaign launch May 2014

Front from left: Roger Beck, The Parkway shopping centre, Geraldine O'Regan, Limerick's Live 95FM, The Mayor Kathleen Leddin, Eleanor Gleeson, Kathleen Horan and Gerry Boland. Back row from left: Fergal Deegan, Limerick's Live 95FM, Richard Lynch, I Love Limerick, Michael Casey, South Limerick City Residency, Christy O'Connor, Limerick City and County Council and Alan English, Limerick Leader at Limerick City Hall today for the launch of the Limerick Going For Gold 2014 campaign, which this year features a prize fund of €52,500.

Front from left: Roger Beck, The Parkway shopping centre, Geraldine O’Regan, Limerick’s Live 95FM, The Mayor Kathleen Leddin, Eleanor Gleeson, Kathleen Horan and Gerry Boland. Back row from left: Fergal Deegan, Limerick’s Live 95FM, Richard Lynch, I Love Limerick, Michael Casey, South Limerick City Residency, Christy O’Connor, Limerick City and County Council and Alan English, Limerick Leader at Limerick City Hall today for the launch of the Limerick Going For Gold 2014 campaign, which this year features a prize fund of €52,500. Picture: Sean Curtin Photography

The Mayor of Limerick Cllr. Kathleen Leddin joined local business and community group representatives at Limerick City Hall today for the launch of the Limerick Going For Gold 2014 campaign, which this year features a prize fund of €52,500.

Organised by Limerick City and County Council in association with the JP McManus Charitable Foundation, Going for Gold encourages businesses, community groups and individuals to improve their areas by getting involved in the National TidyTowns Competition and generally improving their areas and reducing the impact of litter across the City.

Participating communities will be hoping to emulate the success of the residents of Annacotty who scooped the overall Going for Gold Award last year.

This year’s competition once again features four separate categories, namely TidyTowns Groups, Community Challenge (groups not in TidyTowns), Individual Merit Award and Most Beautiful Front Garden (sponsored by the Parkway Shopping Centre).

Going for Gold organisers have announced a number of changes to this year’s campaign including the introduction of a Perpetual Trophy for the Community Challenge category, which was won last year by the South Limerick City Residents Association. The Prize Fund for the Community Challenge category has also been strengthened from €5,500 in 2013 to €9,000 in 2014 with €5,000, €3,000 and €1,500 being awarded to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd placed participants.

Meanwhile, the €43,000 prize fund for TidyTowns Groups has also been restructured to cater for the introduction of additional awards within the category, namely Overall Most Improved Score (€1,000), and the most improved entrant in Tidiness & Litter Control (€1,000), Sustainable Waste & Resource Management (€1,000), Landscaping & Open Spaces (€1,000), Community Involvement & Planning (€500), and Wildlife, Habitats & Natural Amenities (€500). The prize fund for the 10 main category finalists includes €10,000 for 1st, €7,000 for 2nd, €5,000 for 3rd, €4,000 for 4th, €3,000 for 5th and 6th, and €1,500 each for participants placed 7 to 10th.

Gery Boland and The Mayor Kathleen Leddin at Limerick City Hall today for the launch of the Limerick Going For Gold 2014 campaign. Picture: Sean Curtin Photography

Gery Boland and The Mayor Kathleen Leddin at Limerick City Hall today for the launch of the Limerick Going For Gold 2014 campaign. Picture: Sean Curtin Photography

Mayor Leddin has welcomed the introduction of additional awards in the TidyTowns Groups category and the increase in the Community Challenge category prize fund, adding: “Going for Gold proved to be a massive success in 2013 and these changes are likely to generate even greater interest amongst community groups and business who are considering participating this year.”

“Going for Gold is a wonderful mechanism for enhancing the appearance of the local environment in Limerick in the weeks leading up to Tidy Towns judging during June. I want to thank the JP McManus Charitable Foundation, as well as the local media for their ongoing support,” stated the Mayor.

Gerry Boland of JP McManus Charitable Foundation commented: “Going for Gold is a simple but powerful idea where people can make a difference to their own area and make it a better place to live, work and visit. The Foundation is delighted to provide local communities here in Limerick city with an incentive to get together, improve their own areas and enjoy and reap the benefits that participation can bring.”

Going for Gold category information:

Community Challenge (groups not participating in the TidyTowns Competition):

If you have a positive initiative happening in your community then download an application form from Limerick.ie/goingforgold.  The Community Challenge Category is open to all community groups and resident associations from Limerick City and environs.

Individual Merit Award:

If you would like to acknowledge someone’s (adult or child) individual commitment to making their community a cleaner and brighter place to live, Going for Gold want to hear about it.  All you need to do is complete the Going for Gold application form which may be downloaded fromlimerick.ie/goingforgold and is available on request from [email protected] or061-496367.

Roger Beck, The Parkway shopping Fergal Deegan, Limerick's Live 95FM, Richard Lynch, I Love Limerick, The Mayor Kathleen Leddin, Geraldine O'Regan, Limerick's Live 95FM, Gerry Boland and Alan English, Limerick Leader at Limerick City Hall today for the launch of the Limerick Going For Gold 2014. Picture: Sean Curtin Photography

Roger Beck, The Parkway shopping Fergal Deegan, Limerick’s Live 95FM, Richard Lynch, I Love Limerick, The Mayor Kathleen Leddin, Geraldine O’Regan, Limerick’s Live 95FM, Gerry Boland and Alan English, Limerick Leader at Limerick City Hall today for the launch of the Limerick Going For Gold 2014. Picture: Sean Curtin Photography

Most Beautiful Front Garden Competition (garden must be visible from the public road):

To enter the Going for Gold Garden Competition and be in with a chance to win a share of a prize fund to the value of €1,000 sponsored by the Parkway Shopping Centre send a completed application form and a maximum of 3 photos to [email protected] (email) or via post to ‘Limericks Most Beautiful Front Garden Competition’, Managers Office, Parkway Shopping Centre, Dublin Rd., Limerick.

TidyTowns Groups: Details on how to participate in the TidyTowns Groups category of Going for Gold are available on www.limerick.ie/goingforgold.

Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.