The Slam Dunk Monks, nicknamed after they organised a basketball outreach in the Bronx in the 1980s, plan to reach out to the people of Moyross by getting involved with the GAA and possibly opening stables to appeal to horse-loving young people.

Five New York-based Franciscan Friars of the Renewal have moved into three abandoned houses donated by Limerick city council which they are turning into a friary.

Bishop Donal Murray of Limerick invited the brothers to the area, where they have been living for the past few weeks.

"We come to places that need a boost. We've been getting to know the people and the reception we've got has been overwhelmingly positive. One of the brothers does religious rap. The kids thought that was really cool, " said Brother Shawn O'Connor, a native New Yorker.

"The kids here are like all the kids we meet, they're crying out for love and attention.

They were immediately interested in our clothes, " he added.

The brothers dress in grey habits and have taken a vow of poverty, relying on donations.

Since arriving a few weeks ago, they've been walking around the area meeting as many people as they can.

"One unique thing about Moyross is that a lot of the people have horses. It's neat to see. There is an idea that we'll build a stables but that's still just an idea at the moment.

We may also plug into the social services and do some work to help local women here, " O'Connor added.

"They are decent people here and Moyross is a very different place to the way it's thought of from the outside.

"The most important part of our life is our prayer life. We pray for four-and-a-half hours a day and everything we do flows from that. We heard about the Irish hospitality and we have found that to be true."

As well as friaries in the US, the brothers are also established in London.

"We come here with a hope that we are here to stay. Our one rule is that we leave if a place becomes too wealthy, " said O'Connor.

The Franciscan friars were officially welcomed to the area yesterday with a mass in the Corpus Christi church in Moyross celebrated by Bishop Murray.