Limerick Civic Trust Seeks Support for Ambitious Heritage Plans for Limerick

David O’Brien, CEO, Limerick Civic Trust, hailed the Community Employment workers under the care of the Trust ‘an army of heroes’ as he confirmed they spent over 50,000 man-hours so far this year on improving the environment. He was speaking at the Trust’s annual Christmas Business Lunch in No.1 Pery Square, Limerick, where over 60 business people were in attendance.

Under the Community Employment Scheme, Limerick Civic Trust manages over 70 participants or trainees at any one time. Through on-the-job training, individuals are allowed the opportunity to improve their core skills, learn new skills and are exposed to constructive challenges of the work place. They are also assisted in finding long term employment.

Speaking about the work they have undertaken this year, David O’Brien said, “The CE scheme workers have dedicated over 50,000 man-hours so far this year on making places more attractive, enjoyable and distinctive. They have cleaned our city’s streets, improved river walks, maintained graveyards and community gardens, restored city boundary markers and more. They are an army of heroes who’ve delivered on so many projects and we know that people in our communities benefit from them, enjoy them and value them.”

He also called on ‘the people who love Limerick’ to support the voluntary organisation’s ambitious plans to improve key heritage sites for the benefit of its citizens and tourists.

Outlining some of the projects they have in plan for the next two years, O’Brien said “My focus for the next two years is about gathering people around us – business people, architects, engineers and people who love Limerick – and we will beg and borrow to get the resources we need to embark and complete some of the 50 plus restoration and heritage improvement projects that we have earmarked; restoration and conservation projects like the Mortuary Chapel at Mount Saint Lawrence’s Cemetery, converting St Munchin’s Church into a museum, the erection of historical plaques and so forth.”

Brian McLoghlin, Chairman of the Trust echoed the call for support, “Whether it is contributing to the redevelopment of community living in the city centre, the collecting, collating and archiving of the stories of the region through our digital oral achieve or the continued enhancement of the environment through historic plaques, street cleaning, maintenance of public spaces and the renewal of derelict areas the LCT is very involved. But for the larger projects and sites that we are eager to restore funding must come first”, he said.

“Members have a say in what we look at and it is the member’s interest the Trust serves, so we are encouraging more people to become members and help drive our agenda,” McLoghlin concluded.