A record-breaking 23,500 volunteers will take to the streets of Limerick City & County today for the 10th edition of Team Limerick Clean-Up (TLC) – Europe’s largest one-day tidy-up.
Thousands of participants from every town in Limerick, alongside City volunteers, will form part of the tidy army that will celebrate a milestone TLC; businesses, schools, neighborhood groups, Tidy Towns committees and sports clubs across the county have all registered to join the celebration. Indeed, 89 schools from across Limerick will take part, 51 sports clubs, 41 Tidy Towns groups alongside 463 volunteer groups.
TLC was founded in 2015 by JP McManus, Helen O’Donnell and Paul O’Connell, in partnership with Limerick City & County Council. It started with an aim to foster and build relationships with the community, instill a sense of pride in the people of Limerick and protect the environment; all clean-ups finish up with a cup of tea, coffee, and a chat to celebrate the hard work done by families, friends, neighbours, colleagues, and communities.
Last year, waste partner Mr Binman collected almost 58 tonnes of litter, equating to approximately 2300 household wheelie bins of rubbish.
Mayor of Limerick, John Moran, said:
"As Mayor of this vibrant and resilient city and county, I am immensely proud to see the incredible turnout for the 10th edition of Team Limerick Clean-Up. This initiative not only beautifies our streets but also strengthens the bonds within our community. The dedication and spirit of the 23,500 volunteers, organisers, sponsors and our own Limerick City and County Council staff, embodies the true essence of Limerick. Together, we are making a lasting impact on our environment and showcasing the pride we have in Limerick. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this remarkable effort. Let's continue to work together to keep Limerick clean and green for generations to come."
TLC Founders JP McManus, Helen O’Donnell & Paul O’Connell said:
“It’s quite incredible to see an idea that started over a cup of tea many years ago now celebrating its 10th anniversary. The thousands of volunteers across our wonderful county who come out in force year after year deserve the credit and we’re all looking forward to chatting with them again today. Let’s celebrate 10 years and let’s also celebrate Limerick, and all that makes it so special. See you all on the streets!”
As part of its 10-year celebration, Team Limerick Clean-Up released a launch video, Make It Better, celebrating Limerick and its people. Participants were asked about what Limerick means to them and what they love most about being from Limerick.
Familiar faces include Cian Lynch, John Kiely, Róisín Ní Ríain, Paul O’Connell, Declan Hannon and Barry Murphy. The video name takes inspiration from its featured song, Make it Better by Limerick band Hermitage Green, and is available to watch HERE.
Sponsored by the JP McManus Benevolent Fund and supported by Limerick City and County Council, TLC last year saw 57 tonnes of litter collected, which is equivalent to approx. 2300 household wheelie bins of rubbish.