Limerick Voice* Friday, 12 December 2014 Page: 9
Circulation: Area of Clip: Page 1 of 1
Colivet Court residents thriving in new homes
1 35300mm²
“I was living in fear of my life before with all that was going on but there’s a real community spirit here,” she said. FOUR months after it officially One resident who found the move opened its doors, the success story of hard was Alice O’Reilly. elderly facility Colivet Court continues. “I found it difficult coming from private rented accommodation. I had Colivet Court is the first phase in no utility bills so everything had to the redevelopment of Southill as part be set up. Mary has been excellent of the Limerick Regeneration Programme and is an apartment complex to me; I call her ‘Mother Theresa’. dedicated to older persons. I don’t think I’d have been able to New residents are thriving in the make the adjustment without her,” complex with many of them expressing she said. their delight over the new facility. As well as benefiting its residents, Mary said the new development is The first resident to move in to Colivet Court, Mary Sheehan-Blake, already having a good impact on said she is happier than she has ever the wider Southill community. John O’Sullivan, Housing Manager of been. From left; Margaret Finucane, Joan Barrett, Mary Sheehan Blake, social “I love it. I absolutely love it. I Cluid Housing Association, reiterated worker Mary O'Flehir, and Helen Ryan, at the Colivet Court Retirement Village. have never been so happy in my Mary’s point and said: “It’s fantastic Picture: Jessica Leen whole life. I’ll be the rest of my life to see the community developing thankful that I made the move,” she life of the residents has drastically Mary Sheehan-Blake, a former and growing and flourishing. improved and all the residents have resident of O’Malley Park, said: said. “I think Limerick Regeneration “excelled” since moving into the “There were cars exploding every Margaret Finucane, who moved has done a fantastic job in producing €5.6m development last summer. night outside my house; they broke into the complex four months ago, a building like this. People are starting my windows. I couldn’t sleep with said it is the best decision she ever “It’s company for them. They to see a real change in their own haven’t that isolation and they’re the cars flying up and down the road made. fives on a day to day basis.” not ostracised from the community but I can sleep now.” “I love it. It’s the best thing I’ve Colivet Court was recognised earlier because they have their own community Similarly, Margaret Finucane also ever done in my life.” this year when it was named winner Southill Community project worker, within here. Their quality of life said moving to Colivet Court helped of the Best Housing category at greatly improves.” Mary O’Hare, said the quality of her. the 2014 Irish Architecture Awards.
Rebecca Maher