Colleagues dig in for gardening blitz in Cork city 

A recent gardening blitz saw employees of a major utilities company and its contractors helping older people in areas across Cork city to maintain their gardens.

Employees from Gas Networks Ireland, working in collaboration with the company’s charity partner Age Action Ireland, went to work gardening with older people in the Glen, Knocknaheeny, Ballyphehane, and Grange.

The Gas Networks Ireland workers were joined by volunteers from the company’s contractors, GMC and Murphys, clearing overgrown areas and helping to maintain gardens.

Marie Lyster, Gas Networks Ireland customer experience manager, thanked the employees who volunteered.

“It was fantastic to see our employees, along with our partners GMC and Murphys, coming together to support such a worthy cause and provide much needed assistance to older members of our community,” she said.

Gas Networks Ireland has donated almost €65,000 to Age Action since 2019, and in addition to financial support, the utility has also donated €150,000 worth of carbon monoxide alarms to Age Action’s Care and Repair programme, ensuring that vulnerable older people are safe in their homes.

In 2019, Gas Networks Ireland donated an upgraded van, complete with Age Action branding, to the Care and Repair team in Cork, and has continued to service Age Action’s fleet of vans.

Carrie Benn, Age Action Ireland’s head of fundraising and communications, said its ongoing partnership with Gas Networks Ireland had been invaluable in helping the charity to support older people across the country.

“The dedication and commitment shown by Gas Networks Ireland during initiatives like the gardening blitz, as well as their ongoing financial support, have made a real difference in the lives of many older people,” Ms Benn said.