Council Praises Limerick’s Tidy Towns Participants

The Cathaoirleach of Limerick County Council has congratulated Adare on receiving a Silver Medal in Category C of the 50th National Tidy Towns Competition.

Adare picked up the accolade at the National Awards Ceremony in Dublin on Monday evening, just 12 months after it was awarded a Bronze Medal and the Limerick County Award in the National Tidy Towns Competition 2007. The latest award success for Adare comes less than 2 months after it was named winner of the ‘Best Kept Small Town’ category in Ireland’s Best Kept Towns 2008 competition.

Adare also won the Limerick County Award this year while Galbally and Ardpatrick came second and third place respectively. Meanwhile, Kilbehenny received the County Endeavour Award and Moore's Pub in Doon won the Regional Shopfront Award. Most notably, Adare received 9 more points than it did last year while Galbally increased its 2007 tally by five points.

Commenting on Adare’s success, Mr. Mike Brennan, Chairperson of Adare Tidy Towns Committee, ‘I would like to sincerely thank the local community for their cooperation and the team effort involved over the past year. The awarding of a Silver Medal to Adare is evidence of the strong community spirit that exists among businesses and residents of the town and is also symbolic of the ongoing efforts being made within County Limerick to compete and succeed at national level.’ Mr. Brennan added, ‘To celebrate winning a Silver Medal, a function has been organised for the people involved in the Tidy Towns effort at the Woodlands House Hotel this evening in Adare at 8 o’clock.’

According to Councillor John Gallahue, Cathaoirleach of Limerick County Council, ‘I am delighted to see that Adare, with the support of Limerick County Council, has won a silver medal and once again lead the way for County Limerick in this year’s competition’.

Complimenting the efforts of Tidy Towns volunteers across County Limerick, the Cathaoirleach said, ‘I have personally worked for many years with Voluntary Organisations and, therefore, I recognise the huge effort required by community groups to participate in and achieve success in such competitions. I believe that the Tidy Towns Competition is truly a celebration of community spirit, teamwork and an awareness of the natural environment. I also wish to commend the staff of Limerick County Council, along with the elected representatives for the invaluable support they have provided Tidy Towns committees throughout the year’.

Commenting on the achievements of Limerick’s Tidy Towns participants, Councillor Francis Foley, Chair of the Community & Cultural SPC, stated, ‘I would like to congratulate all 36 participants from Limerick who have done their county proud in this year’s National Tidy Towns Competition and, indeed, throughout the past 50 years. I would particularly like to acknowledge the efforts made by new entrants to the competition and urge each new committee to retain the motivation to keep going and recruit more volunteers.”

Mr. Ned Gleeson, Limerick County Manager said that the achievements of County Limerick’s Tidy Towns participants was especially pleasing as Limerick County Council had this year launched two new environmental initiatives aimed at enhancing the appearance of towns and villages across County Limerick. He continued, ‘Not only did Limerick County Council assist the Tidy Towns Committees in increasing their overall marks this year, we also introduced two new environmental schemes that have helped participants prepare better for this year’s competition. The Council remains committed to providing support to community and voluntary organisations in this regard.’

‘The concept of promoting community involvement in the improvement and enhancement of the local environment has been developed and strengthened over the years by Limerick County Council. This has further been enhanced through the considerable involvement of community groups, tidy towns committees, residents associations and local businesses in the Priming Grants Scheme and Limerick in Bloom Competition’, concluded Mr. Gleeson.

The Tidy Towns competition is organised by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. SuperValu, and its 180 plus storeowners around the country, have sponsored the competition since 1992. The Tourism Division of Shannon Development administers and promotes the competition in the Shannon Region. Judging of entries takes place in June, July and August each year.

Adare’s Tidy Towns Win Augurs Well For National Tidy Towns Competition

The new Cathaoirleach of Limerick County Council has expressed confidence that Limerick can achieve regional and national success in this year’s National Tidy Towns Competition.

Councillor John Gallahue made his comment just days after Adare was named as winner of the ‘Best Kept Small Town’ category in Ireland’s Best Kept Towns 2008 competition.

The competition, which is organised by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Northern Ireland Amenity Council, features towns that have reached the highest standards in Tidy Towns in the Republic of Ireland and Best Kept Awards in Northern Ireland. Participants are judged on criteria such as cleanliness, the outward appearance of buildings, the presentation of roads and public facilities and the natural environment. Meanwhile, judging in the 50th annual National Tidy Towns Competition is currently underway in towns and villages across County Limerick.

“I have every confidence that Adare, with the support of Limerick County Council, can once again lead the way for County Limerick in this year’s competition”, stated Councillor Gallahue. Adare was awarded a Bronze Medal and the Limerick County Award in the National Tidy Towns Competition 2007. Knockainey picked up the Best New Entry (Category B) Award, Galbally received the County Highly Commended accolade, Ardpatrick won the County Commended award, Glenosheen received the County Endeavour Award, N. Rainsford in Doon won the Regional Shopfront Award, while Scoil Athain in Lisnagry received the Regional Schools Award.

The Cathaoirleach stressed the importance of the work done by Limerick’s Tidy Towns volunteers and the Council’s ongoing commitment to providing support to community and voluntary organisations.

“I have many years of experience of working with Voluntary Organisations and, therefore, I recognise the huge effort required by community groups to participate in and achieve success in such competitions. I believe that the Tidy Towns Competition is truly a celebration of community spirit, teamwork and an awareness of the natural environment”, added Councillor Gallahue. The Kilmallock Electoral Area Councillor continued, “I would like to congratulate all participants from Limerick who have done their county proud down in the National Tidy Towns Competition through the years and, in fact, during the last half-century. I would particularly like to acknowledge the efforts made by new entrants to the competition and urge each new committee to retain the motivation to keep going and recruit more volunteers.”

The Tidy Towns competition is organised by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. SuperValu, and its 180 plus storeowners around the country, have sponsored the competition since 1992. The Tourism Division of Shannon Development administers and promotes the competition in the Shannon Region. Judging of entries takes place in June, July and August each year and the results are announced at the National Awards Ceremony in Dublin Castle in September. Aughrim, Co. Wicklow was named as Ireland's Tidiest Town for 2007.