Victory for Kilmallock Tidy Towns as town crowned 2025 Going for Gold Champion

A TRIUMPHANT Kilmallock Tidy Towns has taken top honours in this year’s Limerick Going for Gold awards, earning the overall title in recognition of its outstanding efforts to enhance the town’s appearance and community spirit. They also received the top cash prize of €10,000 for their efforts.

A total of 11 communities made the final of the Limerick Going for Gold Tidy Towns Category before the winners were announced at the grand finale, attended by hundreds of people from communities across Limerick in the Castletroy Park Hotel.

The €70,000 prize fund was shared over a range of categories from the Tidy Towns Category, Limerick Bee Friendly in Bloom, Residential Areas, Endeavour Award and the Best New Entrant. 

Bruff Tidy Towns took home first place in the Judge's choice category and the joint winners of the sustainability award, both winning €3,000 respectively were Kilmeedy Tidy Towns and Hospital Tidy Towns.

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Granagh Development Association scooped the Endeavour award for their work engaging with the local authority water programme.

In addition, Meadowbrook Residents Group in Corbally won the Best Residential Area award and Kildimo Tidy Towns and Effin Tidy Towns were both jointly recognised as the Best New Entrant at this year's awards.

Six Wildcard groups were selected following a comprehensive judging process and they were Croagh, Galbally, Garrienderk, Glin, Kilfinane, Templeglantine. These communities were selected across three judging categories: Going for Gold Tidy Towns, Limerick Bee Friendly in Bloom, and Residential Area. 

They joined the previously confirmed groups of Castleconnell, Kilmallock, Kilmeedy, Athea, and Bulgaden, who secured their places through a public vote hosted by Live95.

Speaking about the importance of volunteering in benefitting mental health, Mayor of Limerick, John Moran said: "I think the most meaningful impact that happens with events like this, with the work that you do, is the amazing contribution that that makes to bigger challenges that we have in Limerick which is mental health and isolation and particularly just continuing to stay connected to your community."

"The extra impact that can make in somebody's lives by feeling a sense of belonging, by feeling a sense of camaraderie is immeasurble."

Helen O'Donnell from the JP McManus Charitable Foundation added: 

"On behalf of JP McManus and Noreen McManus and JP McManus Charitable Foundation, I'd like to congratulate all the participants in Going for Gold 2025."

"We're really excited about the possibilities of the next couple of years in Limerick, because in 2027 we have the Ryder Cup and then in 2028 we have a lot of international festivals coming to Limerick so we will be hoping that the incredible volunteerism that happens in Team Limerick Clean-Up can continue throughout the year."

The Going for Gold initiative continues to shine a light on the transformative power of community spirit, environmental awareness, and civic pride across Limerick.

The competition is sponsored by the JP McManus Charitable Foundation. It is organised by Limerick City and County Council and supported by Live 95, The Limerick Leader and The Limerick Post, I Love Limerick and Southern Marketing Media & Design.