Limerick community is reborn through collective action

THE FACE of an estate in the city has changed for the better following the Trojan work of a residents' association.

The Johnsgate Village Residents' Association was set up in 2017 by locals who felt their area had been blighted by anti-social behaviour, illegal dumping and open drug dealing.

They engaged with council, the gardai, and the private landlords in the area.

And eight years on, the area is unrecognisable.

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Ian Barry, the chair of the residents' association explained how the association put its own money forward to buy properties to ensure suitable tenants took up residence.

They have also installed CCTV in a bid to facilitate prosecutions locally.

Now, the majority of the 53 homes in the estate are full - a far cry from when Limerick Leader / Limerick Live reported from the area four years ago.

“It’s unreal how it’s changed. There used to be a huge anti-social and drugs problem within the community. There was racism. You name it, it was here,” Mr Barry explained.

For the chair of the residents' association Mr Barry, a successful businessman, it was a personal mission, as he had lived in Johnsgate Village since 2004.

He says the community is now home to an “eclectic mix of people” with 13 nationalities represented including Sudan, Poland and Somalia.

Children are being encouraged to tend to a vegetable patch, and trees have been planted. And last summer, the community’s efforts were recognised with a Pride of Place award.

“Johnsgate will never go back to how it was, and that’s a fact,” smiled Mr Barry.