Rubberbandits obviously care a lot about their home city of Limerick.
Today they joined forces with the former Secretary General at the Department of Finance to write an open letter to all of the councillors of Limerick, discussing how great the city was, is, and should continue to be.
There is currently a #LiveableLimerick campaign in the works, as the final decisions are being made about the future look of O’Connell St, the city’s main street, with visions of how it should look going forward:
With that in mind, here is the letter to the councillors, where the achievements of the city to date are surprisingly sprawling, and the goals they have in mind nothing short of brilliant.
An Open Letter to Limerick Councillors
In 100 years since freedom, we, as a people, too often accept that ”good enough” and ”sure it’s grand” is what our island was worth? What we are worth?
What is the last really great public space that we as a nation have planned and built? We must do better than this.
The city which dreamt in the 1800’s and through public petition defied the experts to have its way and build a towering home for the Bells of Alphonus cannot be so average.
There’s is nothing we can’t achieve.
Nothing.
We Irish built cities, tunnels and infrastructure all over the world!
We built the largest airline in Europe.
We built America goddamnit! The ”greatest nation” nation on earth!?
Why should we settle for anything less than the greatest nation on earth at home as well?
We Irish are the best people – we should have the best cities to match!
We, fellow Irish men and women, are a bunch of absolute legends – as long as we are fighting for issues that are not our own – asking for more – for others, but not ourselves.
When it comes to what we expect from our lives, our cities, our spaces, we assume a strange apathy, – sure it’s grand.
It makes no sense!
Look at the world full of Irish people leading the way, demanding nothing but the best – working like lunatics – building things, companies, friendships, so many leaders in the world are Irish/Irish grown.
We are a nation of builders and dreamers!
Two Limerick lads have built a billion dollar company before they reached the age of Christ – and are still reaching further!
A Limerick school kid dreamed of a submarine and made it a reality.
Well, we say to you Limerick Councillors – PLEASE CONTINUE TO DREAM TOO!
Dream of ”golden” streets with magical housing that they say in Dublin cannot be built, dream of kids playing safely once again in our streets, dream of fast trains to Dublin that seem impossible, dream of creating water from the air and energy from the sun hitting our roofs, dream of another All-Ireland, dream of eclipsing Dublin in 13 years as the place to live, dream of a special heart for Limerick THAT DEFINES WHO WE ARE – that defines what we demand of our lives!
Demand everything you can dream of – become Europe’s new coolest metropolis.
Because you know what, if the city home to the Red Army where one third of the world’s contacts lens are made, can’t make it happen – then it really can’t be done.
A main street without cars and buses driving through it and people playing on its paved surfaces – doesn’t really seem like such a big deal after that now does it.
#LiveableLimerick supporters in Limerick, Copenhagen and beyond are proposing to you a solution for the common good, where people come first. Your team have already made some very good solutions but more can be done.
It is in your hands now Councillors! And….
”If you’re looking for a ride, we’ve a Bike outside….!” (with licence from the Rubberbandits)
On behalf of the supporters of #LiveableLimerick
John Moran (Limerick and Dublin), Mick Bradley (Copenhagen and Cork), Rubberbandits (Limerick and the World)
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
