Voting opens as 37 groups vie for prestigious Going for Gold title

LIMERICK'S much-loved Going for Gold competition is back - with 37 community groups now in the running and public voting officially open.

The competition celebrates and empowers communities across Limerick who are working to create cleaner, greener, and more sustainable places to live, work, and visit.

The 2025 campaign will culminate in a prestigious final ceremony on Wednesday, October 23 at the Castletroy Park Hotel, where increased funding and special awards will be announced in celebration of community achievement.

Public voting for the Tidy Towns category is now open and will run until 12pm this Thursday, August 14. It is an opportunity to support your favourite local group and help them progress directly to the final. To vote, visit the official Live95 Going for Gold voting page on their website.

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The community group with the most votes will automatically secure a place in the final. Additional wildcard finalists will be selected by a panel of trusted adjudicators following their site visits and assessments in early September.

Patrickswell was the overall winner of the Going for Gold competition for 2024. Patrickswell Tidy Towns created a beautiful fairy garden and introduced a mini library there last year, made from upcycled material. The fairy garden consists of lots of handcrafted items and materials, which were produced by the students from the local preschool and national school in recent years. The Tidy Towns group is also celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

During a clean-up of the fairy garden, the group stumbled upon a bit of local history hidden behind all the ivy and overgrowth. They uncovered a mural from 1973 celebrating their local hurlers after Limerick beat Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final. They also worked on planting trees and native Irish wildflowers and weeding and general maintenance.

Now in its 15th year, Limerick Going for Gold continues to inspire civic pride and environmental responsibility. Funded by Limerick City and County Council in partnership with the JP McManus Charitable Foundation, this initiative recognises and rewards the dedication of community groups in improving biodiversity, promoting the circular economy, reducing waste, and enhancing the overall wellbeing of their neighbourhoods.

Over the years, Limerick Going for Gold has seen growing participation from primary and secondary schools, youth groups, and residents of all ages, all united by a shared passion for shaping a better future. The competition aims to make Limerick a cleaner, brighter, more sustainable place to work, live and visit.

It has captured the imagination of Tidy Towns groups, residents’ associations, smaller groups and individuals right across Limerick city and county since it began in 2012.

The community based environmental competition is supported by media and promotional partners: Live95, The Limerick Leader, The Limerick Post, I Love Limerick, and Southern Marketing Design & Media.