Rockhill-Bruree qualifies as a finalist in Going for Gold contest
Five communities have now reached the final of the competition which rewards areas that are clean and tidy
ROCKHILL-BRUREE Tidy Towns has secured a place in the final of the prestigious Going for Gold competition.
The group will now be making their way to the final of the competition being held in October this year. Patrickswell Tidy Towns, Rathkeale Tidy Towns, Templeglantine Tidy Towns, Tournafulla Tidy Towns and Woodlawn Park Residents Association are still in with a chance of obtaining a place in the coveted final as the judges will be selecting wildcard finalists in the coming weeks.
Representative for the Rockhill-Bruree group Jimmy Feane said the group is “delighted” to have made it through to the final.
“There's a lot of activity happening in our community, a lot of organisations out there doing great work and trying to raise a few bob for their own particular causes so for us to get through to the finals is great.”
He is looking forward to the awards ceremony later this year which he said is recognition of the efforts of the volunteers involved. “There's great enthusiasm from the wider community for what the towns are doing.”
Mr Feane remarked that Rockhill-Bruree Tidy Towns have plans for projects next year. “The Tidy Towns work is never finished.”
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This year, Rockhill-Bruree Tidy Towns have continued their landscaping work. They are currently in the process of upgrading some of their planters. They are replacing concrete pipes with stone.
Mr Feane said: “That work is almost completed and we are increasing the amount of planting and planters around the village. That's been the main focus this year. We continue to work with the Bat Rehabilitation Centre in Bruree as well, in terms of the biodiversity side of things and working on the provision of bat boxes and owl boxes.”
If Rockhill-Bruree Tidy Towns won Going for Gold, they would further enhance street furniture around the village.
Mr Feane said they have plans to campaign to increase volunteerism and participation in the community, particularly in Tidy Towns. “We plan to circulate a questionnaire into every house in the parish and ask people to indicate an interest in any of the voluntary organisations.”
Mr Feane said the Tidy Towns group is looking into further landscaping and installing more planters throughout the village.
“I think the financial benefit of getting through to the final will be of great benefit to us in terms of some money that we need to spend on a few projects next year.”
Limerick Going for Gold encourages communities to be environmentally aware and keep their neighbourhoods clean and tidy.
A top prize of €10,000 and other monetary prizes are up for grabs this year.