and called to her 63 neighbours to organise a volunteer clean up of the estate, which had become overgrown with grass, trees and bushes.
โI was told I would be fighting a losing battle, but I said Iโd give it a shot. So, I knocked on doors and asked for signatures. So, I started a residents committee. Our area started to get run down so, we set out to clean it ourselves,โ Ms McNamara explained.
Residents agreed that while the council has cut grass in the estate from time to time, it hadnโt collected it.
Also, there are no playground facilities for children, only a tarmac square in the middle of a field.
From the smallest children to an 82-year old man, residents took their shovels, rakes, lawnmowers, and chainsaws, to transform the estate into one of the tidiest in Limerick.
โIt was hard work but itโs fantastic to see everyone out cleaning up the estate. Weโve dealt with a lot of areas, which had been very overgrown. Weโve cut down branches, overgrown nettles, trees. Weโve collected rubbish, broken chairs etc. We collected over 45 bags in one area alone,โ added Ms McNamara.
She also visited the cityโs Mayor who provided them with gloves, plastic bags, and litter grabbers for the big clean up.
Mayor Jim Long, said: โWeโre cutting the grass as a goodwill gesture. Weโre looking at taking the estate in charge but it may take up to nine months because a number of strict criteria must be signed off before we can do thatโ.
However, Ms McNamara isnโt stopping just there, and added: โSo, the next thing is to get a grant for bins into the area and a tennis court so that, the children will come out and play in an area that has been provided for themโ.