County Clare Takes Roots Up Approach To Tackling Recession

County Clare’s first ever local authority allotment scheme was launched in Shannon today.

Interest from local families in cultivating their own vegetables and fruit has been so great that all 37 allotments have already been reserved while a further ten families have been placed on a Clare County Council waiting list. The successful applicants have been provided with plots, each measuring 10m by 15m and costing 40 euro per annum.

Launching the scheme today, Mayor of Clare Councillor Madeleine Taylor Quinn said that increasing numbers of people were now growing their own food due to the current financial situation. “By creating new growing spaces Clare County Council is helping people to start growing for the first time”, commented the Mayor. She added, “Many people have realised that renting an allotment plot and growing their own food is much cheaper than going to the local supermarket. As a result of this growing enthusiasm for homegrown food, we are seeing more and more allotment gardens being developed throughout the country. County Clare is no different and the interest generated by this new scheme has been exceptional.”

Mayor Taylor-Quinn noted that the growing interest in allotments was not instigated by the worsening financial situation alone. “Having an allotment is a great way to exercise as well as cultivate your own food for a healthy diet. Working on an allotment is also regarded as a great family day out. Many people take great satisfaction from sowing seeds and harvesting the fruit and vegetables of their labour”, she stated.

Allotment schemes in Ireland have their origins in 1916 when the threat of German blockades and increasing unrest at home led to the establishment of the City Allotment Scheme in Dublin and Belfast. Until recent years, allotments had virtually disappeared in Ireland, compared to the 1940s when there were an estimated 40,000 around the country.

“The idea to develop the Shannon allotment scheme originated in 2006 when local Councillor Patricia McCarthy requested the Local Authority to explore the possibility of making land available for allotments”, explained Michael McNamara, Senior Executive Officer, Corporate Services, Clare County Council. He continued, “So as to ascertain the level of interest there would be in such a scheme the Council invited expressions of interest from householders in the Shannon Town area. The Council then had to locate an area of land in Shannon that would be suitable for allotments and that would also easily provide facilities such as car parking. Eventually lands in the vicinity of the new burial ground at Illaunmanagh were identified as being suitable. It is now timely with the arrival of the growing season to allocate the plots to the applicants”.

Commenting on Ireland’s latest allotment scheme, James Kilkelly of www.allotments.ie and popular gardening forum www.irishgardeners.com said, “This timely move puts County Clare on the allotment map and should get the ball rolling in further towns and counties bereft of these communal growing areas."

Meanwhile, Clare County Council was today urged to develop allotments schemes throughout the County. Councillor Patricia McCarthy said that the significant demand for plots at the newly launched Shannon Allotment Scheme, the first such scheme to be managed by the local authority, indicated the potential demand for similar schemes elsewhere.

The Independent Councillor first proposed making land available for the provision of allotments in County Clare in February 2006. Following this Clare County Council set about ascertaining the level of interest there would be in utilising such allotments.

“I am delighted with the outcome, and that the day has finally arrived when allotments are once again available under a structured scheme for allocations”, stated Councillor McCarthy. She continued, “Clare County Council should now examine the possible extension of the scheme, if not at the current location then elsewhere around Shannon. Furthermore, the keen interest being expressed by local families wishing to cultivate their own fruit and vegetables indicates that the scheme would be successful elsewhere in County Clare.”

Councillor McCarthy suggested that the expansion of the allotment scheme offered new employment opportunities. “Clare Adult Learning Centre recently provided Horticulture Classes in West Clare, which proved to be extremely popular. I believe that the local authority should examine the possibility of working with the Centre to provide such classes in Shannon and elsewhere as this is an area with potential for self employment or direct employment opportunities going forward,” she added.

County Clare Takes Roots Up Approach To Tackling Recession

County Clare’s first ever local authority allotment scheme was launched in Shannon today.

Interest from local families in cultivating their own vegetables and fruit has been so great that all 37 allotments have already been reserved while a further ten families have been placed on a Clare County Council waiting list. The successful applicants have been provided with plots, each measuring 10m by 15m and costing 40 euro per annum.

Launching the scheme today, Mayor of Clare Councillor Madeleine Taylor Quinn said that increasing numbers of people were now growing their own food due to the current financial situation. “By creating new growing spaces Clare County Council is helping people to start growing for the first time”, commented the Mayor. She added, “Many people have realised that renting an allotment plot and growing their own food is much cheaper than going to the local supermarket. As a result of this growing enthusiasm for homegrown food, we are seeing more and more allotment gardens being developed throughout the country. County Clare is no different and the interest generated by this new scheme has been exceptional.”

Mayor Taylor-Quinn noted that the growing interest in allotments was not instigated by the worsening financial situation alone. “Having an allotment is a great way to exercise as well as cultivate your own food for a healthy diet. Working on an allotment is also regarded as a great family day out. Many people take great satisfaction from sowing seeds and harvesting the fruit and vegetables of their labour”, she stated.

Allotment schemes in Ireland have their origins in 1916 when the threat of German blockades and increasing unrest at home led to the establishment of the City Allotment Scheme in Dublin and Belfast. Until recent years, allotments had virtually disappeared in Ireland, compared to the 1940s when there were an estimated 40,000 around the country.

“The idea to develop the Shannon allotment scheme originated in 2006 when local Councillor Patricia McCarthy requested the Local Authority to explore the possibility of making land available for allotments”, explained Michael McNamara, Senior Executive Officer, Corporate Services, Clare County Council. He continued, “So as to ascertain the level of interest there would be in such a scheme the Council invited expressions of interest from householders in the Shannon Town area. The Council then had to locate an area of land in Shannon that would be suitable for allotments and that would also easily provide facilities such as car parking. Eventually lands in the vicinity of the new burial ground at Illaunmanagh were identified as being suitable. It is now timely with the arrival of the growing season to allocate the plots to the applicants”.

Commenting on Ireland’s latest allotment scheme, James Kilkelly of www.allotments.ie and popular gardening forum www.irishgardeners.com said, “This timely move puts County Clare on the allotment map and should get the ball rolling in further towns and counties bereft of these communal growing areas."

Meanwhile, Clare County Council was today urged to develop allotments schemes throughout the County. Councillor Patricia McCarthy said that the significant demand for plots at the newly launched Shannon Allotment Scheme, the first such scheme to be managed by the local authority, indicated the potential demand for similar schemes elsewhere.

The Independent Councillor first proposed making land available for the provision of allotments in County Clare in February 2006. Following this Clare County Council set about ascertaining the level of interest there would be in utilising such allotments.

“I am delighted with the outcome, and that the day has finally arrived when allotments are once again available under a structured scheme for allocations”, stated Councillor McCarthy. She continued, “Clare County Council should now examine the possible extension of the scheme, if not at the current location then elsewhere around Shannon. Furthermore, the keen interest being expressed by local families wishing to cultivate their own fruit and vegetables indicates that the scheme would be successful elsewhere in County Clare.”

Councillor McCarthy suggested that the expansion of the allotment scheme offered new employment opportunities. “Clare Adult Learning Centre recently provided Horticulture Classes in West Clare, which proved to be extremely popular. I believe that the local authority should examine the possibility of working with the Centre to provide such classes in Shannon and elsewhere as this is an area with potential for self employment or direct employment opportunities going forward,” she added.

Clare Towns And Villages Urged To Participate In TidyTowns Competition

Minister of State, Mr. Tony Killeen has urged towns and villages throughout County Clare to participate in the 2009 National TidyTowns Competition, details of which were announced this week.

The competition, which is one of the world’s longest running environmental initiatives, is now in its 51st year. Minister of State Killeen said that communities across Clare should take confidence from the County’s performance in last year’s competition.

Ennis was named Ireland’s tidiest large urban area while it also retained its Gold Medal along with Kilrush. The County Capital also picked up the overall County Award with Kilrush and Ballynacally being named second and third respectively. Ballynacally won a silver medal, and Kilkee and Mountshannon both received bronze medals. Elsewhere, Lissycasey won a Best New Entry Award in Category B, Ennis was named Regional winner of the Best Presented Bring Bank, Labasheeda Community Pride was named the winner of the Regional Notice Nature Biodiversity Award, Killaloe won the County Endeavour Award, Ennis TidyTowns Committee was presented with the Regional Award in the ‘Don’t Let it all go to Waste! Recycle Initiative 2008′ category, while Holy Family Senior NS in Ennis won the Regional School Award.

According to Minister Killeen, “The standards in County Clare have always been extremely high and I was especially delighted to see that so many local participants were officially recognised in 2008, which is a testament to the efforts of those involved. I would particularly like to acknowledge the efforts made by new entrants to the TidyTowns competition.” The Junior Agriculture Minister said the achievements of large towns such as Kilrush and Ennis could not have been accomplished without the support of the wider community. He said: “TidyTowns provides members of the local community with the opportunity to show their pride in their respective towns and villages. It is evident from Clare’s outstanding success in last 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 2009.”

Minister Killeen noted that this year, for the first time, a special Climate Change award was being included in the structure of the competition. He continued, “The aim of the award is to facilitate community groups to investigate their carbon footprint and use this to raise awareness of the climate change issue at a local level. It is also intended that the award will encourage groups to develop, enhance and exchange best practice for community group structures, models and management. The larger the number of initiatives and the more innovative they are, the better.” “There was unprecedented interest in Tidy Towns in 2008, and I would urge everyone to participate in 2009,” concluded Minister Killeen.

The closing date for receipt of entries for this year’s competition is 22nd May 2009. Entry forms can be obtained from the TidyTowns Unit in the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government – Phone (01) 8882300 or by visiting www.tidytowns.ie.