Going for Gold Categories

There are number of categories in the Limerick Going for Gold Environment Improvement Grant & Competition 2026.

Limerick communities taking part in Going for Gold competition

  • Tidy Towns Category – open to groups who have entered Tidy Towns 2026 National Competition
  • Limerick Bee Friendly in Bloom open to all Tidy Towns groups including groups who have not entered Tidy Towns 2026
  • Residential Areas – open to all estates and residential areas across Limerick who applied for the Limerick Going for Gold Environment Improvement Grant in 2026 including residents' groups and associations located in the regeneration area
  • Endeavour Award – goes to the most improved Limerick entrant in the National Tidy Towns Competition Awards
  • Sustainability, Waste Prevention & Community Engagement (former Reuse Award) (Circular Economy – Repair/reuse/recycle) - A group/community/club which has come to the attention of Limerick City and County Council for preventing waste or encouraging the prevention of waste by the means of Reuse, waste reduction, use of recycled materials
  • Best New Entrant – open to newly formed community groups
  • Community Youth Involvement – open to groups who encourage and empower youth to contribute with their fresh, innovate ideas, visions allowing them to shape the community, getting youth involved and create a partnership in order to strengthen the community and make it sustainable and resilient

Limerick City and County Council also invites applications from Residents' Associations / Residents' Groups located within the Regeneration Areas.

To download this year's Going for Gold grant scheme application forms click here.

In 2026, Limerick Going for Gold focus will be on biodiversity, nature, wildlife features, pollinator friendly planting as well as on circular economy (repair, reuse, recycle), use of recycled materials, waste reduction, community involvement biodiversity & pollinator friendly planting schemes for wild bees and pollinating insects (ie. Skip hire, artificial planting is not eligible).

Irish home with flower window boxes and green hedges
Wildflower Garden with yellow flowers and greenery

Tidy Towns Category

This category is open to all groups who have entered Tidy Towns National Competition.

Some of the elements that may be involved in the judging of this category are as follows:

  • Desktop review of all applications
  • Site visits
  • Live 95 interviews and text voting
  • Visit by Limerick Going for Gold judges

Residents' Associations / Residents' Groups located within the Regeneration Areas are eligible to apply.

Tidy Towns/Residents' Associating Groups should consider applying for 2026 National Tidy Towns competition.

Click here for details of National Tidy Towns competition.

Limerick Bee Friendly in Bloom Category

This category is open to all Tidy Towns groups who have not entered Tidy Towns 2026 National Competition or who have not won a prize in Tidy Towns 2026 National Competition.

The Limerick Bee Friendly in Bloom competition relates to pollinator friendly planting and floral displays.

Items relevant in this category are: Use of colourful, perennial, conservation, biodiversity, pollinator friendly planting schemes for wild bees and pollinating.

The following criteria will be considered by the judges: pollinator friendly planting including native trees, selection of nectar and pollen rich plants for community planters, rainwater planters, colour, size, variety, location, suitability of various planting scheme, bee conservation, management of native hedgerows and creating nesting habitats for pollinators.

Residential Area Category

The Residential Area Category is open to all estates and residential areas across Limerick who applied for the Limerick Going for Gold Environment Improvement Grant in 2026.

Residents' Associations / Residents' Groups located within the Regeneration Areas are eligible to apply.

Residents' Associations/Groups should consider applying for 2026 National Tidy Towns competition. 

Click here for details of National Tidy Towns competition.

Endeavour Award

The Limerick Going for Gold Endeavour Award goes to the most improved Limerick entrant from the previous year in the National Tidy Towns Competition.

Sustainability, Waste Prevention & Community Engagement (former Reuse Award)

The Limerick Going for Gold Sustainability, Waste Prevention & Community Engagement Award goes to a group/community/club (s) etc which have come to the attention of Limerick City and County Council for preventing waste or encouraging the prevention of waste. The circular economy ensures that everyone uses fewer resources and prevents waste in order to promote sustainable economic growth.

Circular Economy Reuse award adjudication takes place in August.

To view Circular economy information click here or here.

Click here to see how to deal with waste at home.

Please see Resources and campaigns - My Waste for interesting resources and campaigns to help us to manage waste.

Best New Entrant Category

This category is open to newly formed community groups across Limerick City and County.

The elements that may be involved in the judging of this category are as follows:

  • Desktop review of all applications
  • Site visits
  • Visit by Limerick Going for Gold judges

Community Youth Involvement

This category is open to all Community Groups where young volunteers are getting involved, contribute with innovative ideas and visions. Youth volunteers must be actively working in partnership to strengthen the community and make it resilient and sustainable.

The elements that may be involved in the judging of this category are as follows:

  • Desktop review of all applications
  • Site visits
  • Visit by Limerick Going for Gold judges
Wildlife area sign in Irish garden with long grass and trees

Adjudication

The judging panel will consider number of aspects when adjudicating applicants in all of the categories and the following criteria will be included, but are not exhaustive:

  1. Litter management and general absence of litter from the areas including approach roads
  2. Focus on biodiversity, nature, wildlife features & pollinator friendly planting (artificial flowers/plants are not eligible). Wildflower seed packs from supermarkets etc should be kept for use in private gardens. If planting grass seeds, please ensure a higher percentage of clovers and daisies, which will benefit wildlife
  3. Vegetable planting focus rather than bedding plants. Please do not place planters on grass/green areas. Native Trees and other plants should be planted directly into the ground
  4. These funds should not be used for the purchase of weed killer, bedding plants, skip hire, artificial flowers/plants
  5. Sustainability, focus on circular economy (repair, reuse, recycle), use of recycled materials, waste reduction & Community involvement
  6. Homemade compost should be used if possible, please check if any resident in your area can supply it to the project as an alternative to moss peat. Please note, free mulch is available from the Recycle Centres in Mungret, Kilmallock and Newcastle West
  7. If you are planting Hydrangeas, please ensure they are a variety that attract pollinators beneficial for wild bees and pollinating insects. Please see ‘Useful Links’ below for more information
  8. Community Youth Involvement - young volunteers involvement, innovative ideas and visions allowing them to shape the community, including youth work in partnership with the Community in order to strengthen the community and make it resilient and sustainable
  9. Please take the valuable advice from previous Tidy Town’s seminars
  10. Support of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s)– please see ‘Useful Links’ below for more information. These Goals reflect economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development, which are aligned with Limerick Going for Gold ethos
  11. Works for which Limerick Going for Gold Environment Grant Aid was provided
  12. Appropriate planting schemes – native trees, pollinators, perennials etc
  13. Additional works undertaken since previous year if applicable
  14. Features of approach roads to area, village or town
  15. Application form received
  16. Any other aspects that the judges may consider relevant
  17. Live 95 interviews and text voting applicable to Tidy Towns category only

Please note, Limerick Going for Gold 2026 adjudication will take place in August 2026. 

Live 95 interviews and voting (Tidy Towns category) ordinarily takes place during the month of August.

Useful links:

Information re composting go to: https://mywaste.ie/sustainability/food-waste/home-composting/ 

Information re Pollinators go to: All-Ireland Pollinator Plan » All-Ireland Pollinator Plan

Guidelines: https://pollinators.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/AIPP-A5-Community-guidelines-2023-WEB.pdf 

Limerick Biodiversity Action Plan 2025 - 2030: https://www.limerick.ie/council/services/environment-and-climate-action/limerick-biodiversity-action-plan/limerick 

Tidy Towns information: https://www.limerick.ie/council/services/environment-and-climate-action/clean-community/national-tidy-towns-competition-0 

Limerick Tree Policy 2024 - 2030: https://www.limerick.ie/council/services/environment-and-climate-action/tree-policy/tree-policy-for-limerick 

Website to record your newly planted trees: https://trees.limerick.ie/ 

Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s): https://sdgs.un.org/goals