LIMERICK is getting ready to feel the TLC one again this year, as Europe’s largest one-day tidy-up – and one of the most anticipated community events in the Limerick calendar – is set to return for another year.
An army of eager volunteers will hit the streets this Good Friday (April 3) for the 11th instalment of the Team Limerick Clean-Up (TLC).
The day will see an estimated 24,000 people take to their communities to do their bit and keep the streets tidy, coming from 94 schools, 42 Tidy Towns groups, and 48 sports clubs, and over 400 groups spread across Limerick city and county.
Schools, businesses, neighbourhood groups, Tidy Towns committees, and sports clubs will band together for another year in the spirit of community for the annual day-long community clean-up – the largest of its kind in all of Europe.
The Team Limerick Clean-Up started strong in 2015 with an impressive volunteership of over 10,000. In less than five years, those numbers had doubled when 21,000 turned out in 2019, including individuals and almost 600 community groups, organisations, and schools.
In 2024, the event, sponsored by the JP McManus Benevolent Fund and supported by Limerick City and County Council, saw 57 tonnes of litter collected, the equivalent of 2,300 household wheelie bins full of rubbish.
An impressive 23,500 turned out on Good Friday last year as the Team Limerick Clean-Up celebrated its 10th anniversary.
Now, with the event opening a new decade on a fresh note, a statement on the Team Limerick Clean-Up website from co-founders JP McManus, Helen O’Donnell, and Paul O’Connell said that TLC “is a massive county-wide initiative which encourages people to get involved in a one-day clean-up every Good Friday”.
“As co-founders of TLC, we are so proud of how much this initiative has grown since its inception back in 2015. Every year, our wonderful volunteers across the county are committed to making Limerick a cleaner and better place to live. With over 23,500 volunteers involved in TLC 2025, we are looking forward to another great day this Good Friday.”
All clean-ups finish up with a cup of tea, coffee, and a chat for all taking part to mark the hard work done by families, friends, neighbours, colleagues, and communities and celebrate the sense of community shared by all.
Speaking ahead of this morning’s proceedings, TLC founders JP McManus, Helen O’Donnell, and Paul O’Connell said: “We are delighted to be celebrating a new decade of Team Limerick Clean-Up this Good Friday.”
“Last year was a tremendous success as we celebrated our 10-year milestone, and seeing our numbers rise again this year is very encouraging.
“We have had an increase in schools, sport groups, and Tidy Towns group this year which is very positive. We’re very proud of how TLC has evolved over the last decade, and that comes down to the commitment, support, and pride of our wonderful volunteers. We hope everyone has a fun and safe day.”
Mayor of Limerick John Moran said: “Team Limerick Clean-up continues to showcase the very best of Limerick. We shouldn’t forget that everything that happened today across the length and breadth of Limerick is powered by the extraordinary volunteers who give their time and energy to take such pride in their communities.”
“It is heartening to see the same, if not greater enthusiasm for the thousands of people getting up and out on Good Friday as there was for the first event back in 2015. I am immensely proud of everyone involved and want to let all Limerick people know that we are building a cleaner, stronger, more connected Limerick. Today embodies the progress we’re making on that journey.”
Council Príomh Chomhairleoir, Cllr Catherine Slattery, said: “Team Limerick Clean-Up is something I look forward to every single year. There’s nothing quite like putting on the high-vis vest, heading out into the community, and working side by side with neighbours and volunteers who all share that same civic pride. It’s such a simple idea, but the impact is incredible.”
Director General of Limerick City and County Council, Dr Pat Daly said: “Limerick City and County Council is delighted to once again support Team Limerick Clean-Up which has grown into a flagship environmental initiative for the whole county. The positive impact of removing tonnes of litter each year is significant, but equally important is the awareness and sense of pride it fosters in communities.”
TLC is supported by the Limerick City and County Council, the Limerick Post, Mr Binman, the Limerick Leader, I Love Limerick, Elive, Dunnes Stores, the JP McManus Benevolent Fund, and Live95.