Full house turn-out for county Limerick Tidy Towns annual awards ceremony
Over 35 groups who do 'sterling work' represented at the community awards
THE 34TH Ballyhoura Tidy Towns Awards ceremony gathered a full house of attendees, with over 35 groups represented on the evening.
The awards tookplace in Aubergine Restaurant in the Civic Centre in Croom on Thursday, September 19, with competitors grappling for six prizes, based on improvements in their marks in the national Tidy Towns competition year after year.
The annual community event celebrates “the significant voluntary effort and dedication” of all the Limerick-Cork border Tidy Towns groups. Over 50 community members attended to represent their groups.
This year's Tidy Towns winners in the three categories were: Bruff and Glenroe for the Overall Development Approach award, Galbally and Cappamore for Litter Control, Waste Tidiness and Housing Areas, and Garrienderk and Mitchelstown for Built Environment and Landscaping.
Winners were presented with commemorative plaques and a pear tree to plant in their community.
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The evening started with a presentation by experienced horticulturist Lynda Sheehan from Rockbarton Garden Centre, based in Holycross in Co Limerick. Lynda spoke about how Tidy Towns groups can add edible plants to enhance their landscaping.
Sarah O'Connell, development officer with Ballyhoura Development, gave an engaging talk about how communities can become Sustainable Energy Communities and the value which the SEC Programme brings to communities around how they can action community energy projects.
“Ballyhoura Development would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the Tidy Towns groups from across Ballyhoura Country, who undertook sterling voluntary work throughout the year in their local villages, communities and towns,” organisers say.
“As always, new groups are encouraged to contact Ballyhoura Development if they would like support or guidance.”
This year's Ballyhoura Country Tidy Towns Awards was supported by Limerick City & County Council and hosted by Caherconlish Tidy Towns Group.