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Limerick’s Linda Ledger named as Ireland’s Inspirational Hero

Linda Ledger from Limerick is celebrating after being named an Inspirational Hero in the Gala Retail and Virgin Media Inspiration Awards.

Limerick’s Linda Ledger named as Ireland’s Inspirational Hero

linda ledger

Linda is known for her kindness and incredible work ethic. Picture: Leon Ledger.

FOLLOWING a nationwide search to uncover Ireland’s most inspirational people, Linda Ledger from Limerick is celebrating after being named an Inspirational Hero in the Gala Retail and Virgin Media Inspiration Awards. Inspirational people from across Ireland were nominated for the Gala Retail and Virgin Media Inspiration Awards, with 26 inspirational county heroes being named from the hundreds of entries received. Each of the 26 award-winning heroes demonstrated how they have made Ireland a better place with their selfless acts and inspirational deeds during the Covid-19 crisis, and how they have gone above and beyond for others in their local community.


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Over the course of the pandemic, Linda Ledger, CEO of St. Munchins Community Centre, and her team on the northside of Limerick city delivered more than 85,000 meals across Limerick city and county with the help of some amazing volunteers and including several metropolitan district councillors.

 

They provided a hot daily meal to 85,159 people over the age of 55 across Limerick from February 14 to September 25. Over the same period, 2,590 food parcels were delivered to children in need, with the service extending throughout the city and county.

 

“Every time there is a crisis, Linda whips into action to help everyone in her community and Limerick. Her drive and passion is what makes her a worthy individual for a Gala Retail inspirational county award. She works tirelessly for her community every day and not just during a pandemic,” commented a friend on her nomination.

 

This year marks the fifteenth anniversary of the establishment of St Munchins Community Centre, located in Kileely, Co. Limerick. This state-of-the-art community centre has had an active role in promoting community involvement and development in Limerick since opening in 2005 and has grown and expanded greatly over the last fifteen years as a result of the demand for its range of excellent facilities. St Munchins Community Centre is a hub of community activity, from age-friendly groups, education and dance classes, to their flower shop, beauticians and Meals on Wheels service, to name only a few.

 

Linda said, “I am honoured to have the love and support of the people in our community. That means the world to me. I am forever fighting for the centre, and now with the pandemic, I made sure to argue out my point that we would get the money from somewhere to keep going. I want to just make a difference for children in the position that myself and my own kids were in. I’m very passionate about what I do and it confuses a lot of people because sometimes they can’t understand me, it can be hard for people to keep up with me. I love what I do. Every day is different, I just think it’s the constant learning. You can think you know everything but you never know everything. I think the most rewarding part of it is when you see that you can keep an older person out of hospital, or when you can see the little things like thank you cards, and realising the things we may take for granted like doing their dinners, what that means to them is so much more, it might be the only phone call or visit they get that day, some of their families might live away and its security for them. When we thought we had to close down at the beginning of the pandemic, the amount of people who tried to help, the money that was donated to us, that blew us away. It’s the people of Limerick and Ireland that kept us open, and that keeps me going. Thank you to everyone who has contributed.”

 

Commenting on the quality of the entries, Gary Desmond, CEO of Gala Retail said, “This year Gala Retail teamed up with Virgin Media for the Inspiration Awards as we wanted to deliver a national platform to shine a light on and reward the amazing people who have become true heroes during life under lockdown and who are making a real difference to Irish society. 2020 has been hugely difficult for everyone however, it has also demonstrated the immense community spirit that exists within Irish communities. We were overwhelmed by the level of nominations we received and Linda along with the fellow inspirational heroes are true examples of people who are making Ireland a better place for us all.”

 

2020 marks the second year of the Gala Retail Inspiration Awards created as a way of celebrating the selfless acts and inspirational deeds of people in Ireland who are making the country a better place.

 

Gala Retail has gifted €20,000 of prizes to the winners, with 26 county winners being awarded with luxury stays in some of Ireland’s most beautiful Blue Book properties. 

 

For more about St Munchins Community Centre, click HERE

 

For more stories about St Munchins Community Centre, click HERE

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.