Paul O’Connell hoping fifth Team Limerick Clean-Up is ‘biggest and best yet’

THE COUNTDOWN is officially underway to the fifth edition of Team Limerick Clean-Up, which takes place on Good Friday, April 19.

Registration is now open for the major clean-up which sees thousands of volunteers across Limerick city and county take a couple of hours out from their day to tidy their local area.

Among those who gathered at the the Castle Oaks House Hotel in Castleconnell for the launch this Monday morning included the youngest and oldest Team Limerick Clean-Up (TLC) participants Evelyn Sloane, 2, and pensioner Robert Coll. They were joined by Limerick senior hurling vice captain Paul Browne and full forward Kevin Downes, who brought the Liam MacCarthy Cup.

Also present was Mayor of Limerick City and County, James Collins, Chief Superintendent Gerard Roche and Superintendent Derek Smart. 

Commenting ahead of the launch of Team Limerick Clean-Up 5, Munster and Ireland rugby legend Paul O’Connell said: “While we are of course looking forward to Team Limerick Clean-Up 5, it’s also important to reflect on what we have achieved to date.

“We are so thankful to every volunteer who makes TLC what it is and comes out on Good Friday to clean around their locality. We’d urge previous participants to sign up early, and anybody who hasn’t yet got involved in TLC, now is the perfect time to start and help us make TLC5 the biggest and best yet and Limerick city and county the cleanest it has ever been!”

Five in a row! Some familiar faces joined us in Castleconnell to kick-off #TLC5 - and we're once again calling on the people of Limerick to volunteer this Good Friday and make your community a tidier place. Do it for your county.

Registration is now open: https://t.co/bePWJTq9Dj pic.twitter.com/VmzAX0X46z

— Team Limerick Clean-Up (@TLC_Limerick) January 28, 2019

All fun and games at the launch of TLC5 here in Castleconnell. Another success story about to unfold pic.twitter.com/iYzRlEucu9

— Áine Fitzgerald (@AineFitzgeraldA) January 28, 2019

Sponsored by the JP McManus Benevolent Fund, the event has seen over 360 tonnes of litter gathered from the streets by volunteers and event partner Mr Binman since its inception in 2015 – equating to over 14,500 household wheelie bins.

Overall participation figures have passed the 60,000-mark and included over 550 volunteer groups from every town in Limerick last year. Volunteers come from every walk of life from schools/colleges and GAA clubs, to Munster Rugby, community/residential groups, businesses, charities and well-known faces locally.

The sustainability message is also key for 2019, with prevention the best cure when it comes to littering and looking after the community. 

Team Limerick Clean-Up is currently running the Design A TLC Bottle competition for primary schools across the county. Prizes include vouchers for school equipment and the winning designs will be printed on reusable bottles for every class member. All entries will be on display at the Hunt Museum and teachers wishing to enter their class are asked to visit the TLC website before close of business this Tuesday.

Team Limerick Clean-Up is an initiative sponsored by the JP McManus Benevolent Fund and supported by Limerick City and County Council. Endorsed by Paul O’Connell, the official partners include Mr Binman, the Limerick Leader and Limerick Live 95FM.

Celebrating what will be a milestone year for the much-loved community event, volunteers are urged to sign up early at www.teamlimerickcleanup.ie and help make this the biggest and best TLC to date.