Dromiskin Tidy Towns continues to lead the way

Fresh from being crowned Louth Looking Good Champions 2026, Dromiskin Tidy Towns certainly did not rest on their laurels.

Just two days after celebrating their award-winning success, volunteers were back in action, this time bringing the community together for a special event to mark Climate Action Week 2026, showcasing the village's ongoing commitment to biodiversity, sustainability and environmental protection.

The morning's celebrations began at Ginnety's Pond Nature Park with the formal unveiling of a new Alluvial Woodland, comprising 20 trees planted as part of the community's expanding biodiversity programme.

The First Citizen of County Louth, Cllr Dolores Minogue, officiated at the unveiling, marking another significant milestone in the transformation of the park into a haven for wildlife and a valuable environmental resource for the wider community.

The unveiling was followed by an engaging and informative guided walk around the Park, led by local landscape architect and dedicated Tidy Towns volunteer, Kevin Halpenny, who shared his expertise on the environmental importance of the woodland, the benefits of native planting and the role of nature-based solutions in responding to climate change.

Among those joining the celebrations were Ruairí Ó Murchú TD, Sinéad Finn of the River Basin Management Service, Cllr Robert Nash and Cllr Sionainn McCann, alongside local residents, volunteers and supporters of the Tidy Towns programme.

The strength of community support for Dromiskin's environmental initiatives was further demonstrated with the unveiling of a special commemorative sign recognising the generous individuals and families who sponsored 33 native trees in an existing woodland area within the park.

The sponsorship initiative, which attracted an overwhelmingly positive response, is another example of how local people are playing a direct and meaningful role in enhancing the natural environment for present and future generations.

Following the outdoor celebrations, attendees made their way to St. Peter's National School, where Kevin Halpenny delivered a fascinating presentation on the environmental benefits of alluvial woodland planting and Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS).

His presentation highlighted how relatively simple, nature-based interventions can help manage surface water, improve biodiversity, reduce flood risks and strengthen communities' resilience to the effects of climate change.

A particularly inspiring element of the morning was the involvement of the pupils of St. Peter's National School, who had been invited to put their creativity and environmental awareness to the test through a Climate Action Poster and Slogan Competition.

The winning entries were announced by School Principal Aoibheann Lynch, with prizes presented in the form of vouchers sponsored by Dromiskin Tidy Towns. The competition and associated activities were supported by a Climate Action grant awarded by Louth County Council.

One of the highlights was the unveiling of a beautifully designed Climate Action Tree Poster, featuring a series of thoughtful pledges made by the young people themselves. Carrying the powerful message "Climate Action Starts With Us", the display served as a timely reminder that everyone, regardless of age, has a part to play in protecting our planet.

The morning also provided an opportunity to recognise the outstanding environmental achievements of St. Peter's National School.

The school's Green Schools Committee, whose members participated in the celebrations, is currently working towards its remarkable 14th Green Flag, building on a proud history that saw St. Peter's become one of the first schools in Ireland to receive this prestigious environmental award.

The final initiative of the morning was the launch of Dromiskin Tidy Towns' new "Top 10 Tips to Be a Climate Action Hero" information leaflet.

Designed to encourage practical, everyday changes that can reduce individual and household carbon footprints, the leaflet was distributed to those attending and is also available from the Telephone Kiosk Information Point in the village centre and online at www.dromiskintidytowns.com.

The event provided a fitting celebration of Climate Action Week and demonstrated that Dromiskin's success in the Louth Looking Good competition is built on much more than the appearance of the village. It reflects a sustained, community-wide commitment to environmental stewardship, education, biodiversity and positive climate action.

With a large attendance spanning generations, from enthusiastic primary school pupils to long-standing community volunteers, the celebrations reinforced the importance of working together to create a greener, healthier and more sustainable future.

The message from Dromiskin was clear: small actions, when embraced by an entire community, can make an extraordinary difference.

And while Dromiskin Tidy Towns may have been celebrating its latest award-winning success, the events of Climate Action Week proved that this is a community with its eyes firmly fixed on the future — continuing to turn environmental ambition into meaningful action, one tree, one project and one small step at a time.