Some familiar Limerick faces share their hopes, goals and wishes for 2024

THIS time of year is always a time to reflect on the year gone by and focus on the year to come. We've spoken to seven well-known Limerick people about their wishes for 2024.

Mike Casey - Limerick hurler
As we enter 2024, I have to reflect on the year I have had. In March 2023, I returned to the hurling field after a significant knee injury and the success that followed made all that effort worthwhile.

For me, the basis for a fulfilling year revolves around personal and family well-being, as well personal success.

Hand in hand with this, I wish for an injury-free year ahead filled with success both on and off the hurling field. Speaking of success, the hurling field, for me, is somewhere where achievement and dedication come together.

May 2024 be a season showcasing the rewards of this determination and teamwork on the sporting field.

Beyond the realm of sport, my wish extends into that of my personal and family life. I wish for happiness, good health and success in all my endeavours and in those of my friends and family.

Marty Ryan - Anna's Anchor
On a professional level, 2024 will see 10 years of Anna’s Anchor.

My wish is that we celebrate this with those nearest and dearest to us with a fun, intimate show during the year in the city that I grew up in and adore. On a broader level, I wish for more compassion and empathy in 2024.

We’re seeing so many crises and struggles happening right now in the country and it breaks my heart. A move towards equality, affordable living and reducing poverty and homelessness is what I want for our great city more than anything else.

Karen O'Leary - Limerick ladies footballer

In 2024 I am looking forward to hopefully another happy and healthy year with my family and friends. I also hope to have another successful year with my football club Monagea, after winning the Limerick county final for a third year in-a-row this year.

Myself and the club are aiming to go one-step further next year and win the Munster final to set us on the path for All-Ireland glory.

I am also hoping to have a successful 2024 with my camogie club Newcastle West.

I was lucky enough to be hugely successful with both football and camogie this year and I really want to push myself to go even further next year.

On top of this I also hope the Limerick Ladies football team can take it one more step by getting over the line in Croke Park and winning an All-Ireland for the county.

Roisin Wiley - Rose of Tralee

2023 and 2024 have become very consumed with the Rose of Tralee, and this has felt very along the lines of what I want to do in my life.

As I move forward, I hope to fully embrace what this title has given me in terms of the opportunity to meet people, to formally represent Ireland here in New York and New York in Ireland.

I've felt in the last couple of weeks that this role is perfect for who I want to be and grow to continue to be, in terms of finding my own confidence, continuing to travel and meeting people.

I hope to just continue to embrace and embody that even more.

Darren Shan - Author

The main thing for me in 2024 is to see my first book for children, The Terrified Troll, published. Eva Byrne, the illustrator, is working hard on that right now.

I will probably try and release a new book for adults too, I've released one this year, under the name Darren Dash, and I'm hoping to get one out next year too.

On the personal front. I'm looking to get back into my house. I've been out in the house since November 2022, when we had a house fire.

I've got two young kids, we've been out for a year now and that's a long time when you're a little one.
So hopefully in this spring, early summer, I'll get moved back in, and get back to normal.

In Pictures: Out and about in Limerick for the Christmas Day GOAL Mile

Brendan Ring - Cliona’s Foundation

The priority for me is to concentrate on the growth and expansion of Cliona's Foundation.

I think we've had great breakthroughs this year, but next year I believe we will get some state funding, a first for the charity.

So that's an aspiration and something we're working towards since 2018.

From my own business point of view - Cube Printing - that it continues to prosper as well.

It's around a long time, but it gives me the opportunity to spend 90% of my time doing Cliona's work, which is what I want to do and continue to do.

However my number one wish is that we're all well and have a really nice 2024, and that everybody prospers.

Dan Mooney - Author and Playwright

I have a lot of momentum gathered in terms of writing from 2023.

The first play that I ever wrote was performed this year which is really, really cool, and kind of inspired me a little bit, and with my novel The 14th Storm coming out, so I'd like to just carry that with me.

There's a lot of good buzz around it, so that's energising, from a writing perspective.

I'm working on another novel again, I'm going to sit down in January to map that out and have a first draft by summertime.

I think I would like to find the time and the space to write a full length play in the second half of the year, that's the plan for next year.