Adare Tidy Towns and Development Association were last night named the overall winner of the 2010 Limerick in Bloom competition at a ceremony held in the Woodlands House Hotel.
36 communities from across County Limerick took part in the third annual competition, which is a motivational mechanism for the many small local based groups throughout the county to enhance the visual impact of their settlements by means of flower, tree and shrub planting.
Organised by Limerick County Council, in conjunction with Shannon Development, ‘Limerick In Bloom’ adjudication takes place during July and considers such factors as colour, size, variety, location and appropriateness of the various planting schemes along with the management of litter.
Competition categories are based on population size with a first, second and third prize in each category of EUR1100, EUR550 EUR300 respectively. Category 1 caters for towns and villages with a population in excess of 700, Category 2 is for population centres of between 300 and 700 people and Category 3 features villages with a population less than 300.
The 2010 Overall Winner of Limerick in Bloom and the winner of Category 1, catering for towns with a population of over 700, was Adare Tidy Towns and Development Association.
Cathaoirleach of Limerick County Council Cllr. Richard Butler presented the Association with a €1500 voucher, certificate and the Limerick in Bloom trophy.
Congratulating the Association for their work in enhancing the overall appearance of the town, Cllr. Butler said: “The village has a long history of successful participation in national and international competitions and this experience is evident in the quality of the planting, the maintenance of public spaces and of front gardens and parks. Adare in 2010 was awarded a Gold Medal in the National Tidy Towns Competition and this is a huge achievement and the result of enormous work by all concerned on various committees in Adare.”
He added: “It has to be said that when compared to many of the other entrants, Adare is perhaps in a class apart. Adare is possibly one of the most beautiful villages in the Mid-West if not nationally. The well thatched cottages are a beautiful feature of the village. Flower baskets and window boxes are brimming over with bright colourful blooms. The park located at the centre of the village is a beautiful feature of this quaint village and is dotted with a large variety of trees and shrubs which are meticulously groomed. It is spotless and litter free and one can see the great pride people have there.”
Patrickswell Tidy Towns finished second in Category 1 while Croom Community Development Association were awarded third prize.
Hospital was named overall winner of Category 2, for villages and towns with a population of 301-700. Hospital Tidy Towns were presented with a cheque for €1,100 and were congratulated for their work in enhancing the appearance of the village. Works carried out included roadside maintenance along routes leading into the town, planting near the Mahore River and at the Community Centre, and the placing of hanging baskets throughout the village. The runners up in Category 2 were Pallaskenry Tidy Towns (2nd) Oola Tidy Towns (3rd) . There were 6 entries in Category 2.
The village of Ardpatrick was named overall winner of Category 3, for villages with a population under 300. Ardpatrick Tidy Towns were congratulated for their efforts throughout the year which included the maintenance of the local church grounds and the Grotto area, their upkeep of the local park, and the provision of hanging and wall baskets throughout the village. The runners up in Category 3 were Glin Homes for the Elderly (2nd) and Broadford Development Association (3rd). In Category 3 there were 26 entrants.
Meanwhile, other participating communities in the Limerick In Bloom competition were lauded for their work to enhance the appearance of their respective towns and villages. A total of 27 community groups were presented with framed certificates and a €100 voucher for the effort undertaken to beautify their local areas.
HIGHLY COMMENDED
• Kilfinane – Forest View Resident’s Association
• Glenbrohane Tidy Towns Group
• Ardagh Development Association
• Kilteely Tidy Towns
• Knockainey Tidy Towns
• Muintir Na Tire C.C. & Tidy Town, Templeglantine
• Shanagolden Tidy Towns
• Castlemahon Development Association
• Kildimo Tidy Towns
• Kilmeedy Community Development Group Ltd.
• Strand Community Development Ltd.
• Glenside Residents Association
• Murroe Tidy Towns
COMMENDED
• Kilcolman Development
• Tournafulla Tidy Towns Committee
• Corran Deel Voluntary Housing, Feenagh
• Clarina Tidy Towns
• Killeedy Parish Community Project Ltd.
• Carrickerry / Old Mill Development Association Ltd.
• Mountcollins Development Association
• Coolcappa Community Group
• Colemanswell Community Area
• Kilbehenny Tidy Towns Committee
• Glin Development Association
• Donoughmore/Knockea/Roxboro Community Association, Ballyneety
• Castleconnell Tidy Towns
• Bruff Tidy Towns
According to Cllr. Butler: “Limerick In Bloom provides members of the local community with the opportunity to show their pride in their respective towns and villages. By improving County Limerick’s appearance through attractive floral displays, participants have also helped to lift spirits during these difficult economic times. It is evident from the high level of participation in this year’s competition that the spirit of volunteerism and pride of place is very much alive in this County. I look forward to this community spirit shining through again in 2011 when hopefully there will be a further increase in participants.”
Addressing last night’s ceremony, Josephine Cotter Coughlan, Director of Service, Limerick County Council said: “When Limerick County Council and Shannon Development announced details of the inaugural competition in 2008, we were hopeful that there would a positive response from community and voluntary organisations. We were, of course, taken aback when 27 towns and villages were represented. In 2009, the number of participants rose to 32, and in 2010 to a total of 36, which is a testament to the pride which people across County Limerick have in their respective communities. There is no question that the scale of the response in the past 2 years and again this year has exceeded all expectations.”
Ms Cotter-Coughlan acknowledged the efforts of those who participated in and contributed to this year’s competition. “I wish to pay tribute to Shannon Development for their generous sponsorship of the competition. Special mention should be given to Limerick County Council staff members, particularly my colleagues in the Community and Enterprise Department, and the Council’s elected members who assisted participants across the County. I also wish to congratulate the 36 participants. Without their participation and contributions to the appearance of their respective communities, there would be no competition”, Ms Cotter-Coughlan concluded.
Further information on ‘Limerick In Bloom’ is available from the Community and Enterprise section of Limerick County Council on 061-496454.
36 communities from across County Limerick took part in the third annual competition, which is a motivational mechanism for the many small local based groups throughout the county to enhance the visual impact of their settlements by means of flower, tree and shrub planting.
Organised by Limerick County Council, in conjunction with Shannon Development, ‘Limerick In Bloom’ adjudication takes place during July and considers such factors as colour, size, variety, location and appropriateness of the various planting schemes along with the management of litter.
Competition categories are based on population size with a first, second and third prize in each category of EUR1100, EUR550 EUR300 respectively. Category 1 caters for towns and villages with a population in excess of 700, Category 2 is for population centres of between 300 and 700 people and Category 3 features villages with a population less than 300.
The 2010 Overall Winner of Limerick in Bloom and the winner of Category 1, catering for towns with a population of over 700, was Adare Tidy Towns and Development Association.
Cathaoirleach of Limerick County Council Cllr. Richard Butler presented the Association with a €1500 voucher, certificate and the Limerick in Bloom trophy.
Congratulating the Association for their work in enhancing the overall appearance of the town, Cllr. Butler said: “The village has a long history of successful participation in national and international competitions and this experience is evident in the quality of the planting, the maintenance of public spaces and of front gardens and parks. Adare in 2010 was awarded a Gold Medal in the National Tidy Towns Competition and this is a huge achievement and the result of enormous work by all concerned on various committees in Adare.”
He added: “It has to be said that when compared to many of the other entrants, Adare is perhaps in a class apart. Adare is possibly one of the most beautiful villages in the Mid-West if not nationally. The well thatched cottages are a beautiful feature of the village. Flower baskets and window boxes are brimming over with bright colourful blooms. The park located at the centre of the village is a beautiful feature of this quaint village and is dotted with a large variety of trees and shrubs which are meticulously groomed. It is spotless and litter free and one can see the great pride people have there.”
Patrickswell Tidy Towns finished second in Category 1 while Croom Community Development Association were awarded third prize.
Hospital was named overall winner of Category 2, for villages and towns with a population of 301-700. Hospital Tidy Towns were presented with a cheque for €1,100 and were congratulated for their work in enhancing the appearance of the village. Works carried out included roadside maintenance along routes leading into the town, planting near the Mahore River and at the Community Centre, and the placing of hanging baskets throughout the village. The runners up in Category 2 were Pallaskenry Tidy Towns (2nd) Oola Tidy Towns (3rd) . There were 6 entries in Category 2.
The village of Ardpatrick was named overall winner of Category 3, for villages with a population under 300. Ardpatrick Tidy Towns were congratulated for their efforts throughout the year which included the maintenance of the local church grounds and the Grotto area, their upkeep of the local park, and the provision of hanging and wall baskets throughout the village. The runners up in Category 3 were Glin Homes for the Elderly (2nd) and Broadford Development Association (3rd). In Category 3 there were 26 entrants.
Meanwhile, other participating communities in the Limerick In Bloom competition were lauded for their work to enhance the appearance of their respective towns and villages. A total of 27 community groups were presented with framed certificates and a €100 voucher for the effort undertaken to beautify their local areas.
HIGHLY COMMENDED
• Kilfinane – Forest View Resident’s Association
• Glenbrohane Tidy Towns Group
• Ardagh Development Association
• Kilteely Tidy Towns
• Knockainey Tidy Towns
• Muintir Na Tire C.C. & Tidy Town, Templeglantine
• Shanagolden Tidy Towns
• Castlemahon Development Association
• Kildimo Tidy Towns
• Kilmeedy Community Development Group Ltd.
• Strand Community Development Ltd.
• Glenside Residents Association
• Murroe Tidy Towns
COMMENDED
• Kilcolman Development
• Tournafulla Tidy Towns Committee
• Corran Deel Voluntary Housing, Feenagh
• Clarina Tidy Towns
• Killeedy Parish Community Project Ltd.
• Carrickerry / Old Mill Development Association Ltd.
• Mountcollins Development Association
• Coolcappa Community Group
• Colemanswell Community Area
• Kilbehenny Tidy Towns Committee
• Glin Development Association
• Donoughmore/Knockea/Roxboro Community Association, Ballyneety
• Castleconnell Tidy Towns
• Bruff Tidy Towns
According to Cllr. Butler: “Limerick In Bloom provides members of the local community with the opportunity to show their pride in their respective towns and villages. By improving County Limerick’s appearance through attractive floral displays, participants have also helped to lift spirits during these difficult economic times. It is evident from the high level of participation in this year’s competition that the spirit of volunteerism and pride of place is very much alive in this County. I look forward to this community spirit shining through again in 2011 when hopefully there will be a further increase in participants.”
Addressing last night’s ceremony, Josephine Cotter Coughlan, Director of Service, Limerick County Council said: “When Limerick County Council and Shannon Development announced details of the inaugural competition in 2008, we were hopeful that there would a positive response from community and voluntary organisations. We were, of course, taken aback when 27 towns and villages were represented. In 2009, the number of participants rose to 32, and in 2010 to a total of 36, which is a testament to the pride which people across County Limerick have in their respective communities. There is no question that the scale of the response in the past 2 years and again this year has exceeded all expectations.”
Ms Cotter-Coughlan acknowledged the efforts of those who participated in and contributed to this year’s competition. “I wish to pay tribute to Shannon Development for their generous sponsorship of the competition. Special mention should be given to Limerick County Council staff members, particularly my colleagues in the Community and Enterprise Department, and the Council’s elected members who assisted participants across the County. I also wish to congratulate the 36 participants. Without their participation and contributions to the appearance of their respective communities, there would be no competition”, Ms Cotter-Coughlan concluded.
Further information on ‘Limerick In Bloom’ is available from the Community and Enterprise section of Limerick County Council on 061-496454.
