Offaly Tidy Towns enthusiast claims council 'likes dead weeds'

A Tidy Towns enthusiast from Tullamore has claimed Offaly County Council “likes dead weeds” in its planters in the town's O'Connor Square.

“The council planters are a disgrace . . . it appears the council really likes these dead weeds and grasses.”

Michael McGrath said Tidy Towns received a letter from the council at the the start of this year's campaign asking the voluntary group to leave the planters alone.

Mr McGrath, in a letter submitted to the Tullamore Tribune this week, outlined: “While Tullamore Tidy Towns expect to improve their overall marks in this year's competition we will never be winners unless the council, local businesses and other civic groups pull together as a team.”

The full content of Mr McGrath's statement is as follows:

“Five years ago I retired from wedding photography. This gave me an opportunity to use my free time to take up other interests. I started of with gardening and last year that lead me towards Tullamore Tidy Towns. This has proven to be the best and most enjoyable thing that I have ever done. It has opened my eyes to the good, the bad and the very ugly areas of Tullamore.

“It has shown me how a small group of volunteers working together can make a big difference to our town. So please if you want to be part of that great team please join with us. We meet up every Wednesday at 7pm in Kilbride Plaza.

“While there are a lot of businesses in our town that take great pride in their appearance with some wonderful displays of hanging baskets and planters, there is one business that stands out by the great effort that they make. Tullamore Credit Union don’t just directorate the front of their office. No they do the whole of Patrick St. What a joy it is to walk down that street and see those wonderful planters and baskets that they put up every year.

“When it comes to our Tidy Towns marks, there is one part of the marks section where Tullamore leads the way. That's in the residential estates section. Tullamore regularly gets top marks in this section. We are the envy of other Tidy Towns groups.

“So then how do we do it. We have a secret weapon that works so well for us. Its great because we don’t have to do a thing, it just works all by itself. Its that inspired and wonderful tidy estates competition that Tullamore Credit Union run each year. The friendly rivalry between estates has meant that Tullamore has the best kept estates in Ireland. So thank you Tullamore Credit Union for giving tidy towns this gift.

“In total contrast to this is O’ Connor Sq. The council planters here are a disgrace. At the start of this year's campaign Tullamore Tidy Towns got a letter from the council telling us to leave these planters alone. It appears that our council really like these dead weeds and grasses growing in them.

“While Tullamore Tidy Towns expect to improve their overall marks in this years competition we will never be winners unless the council, local businesses and other civic groups pull together as a team.

“Because it's only by forming a winning team that we will greatly improve our chances of winning. Tullamore Credit Union has shown how things can be greatly improved. So let's work with the Credit Union, tidy towns and those other Tullamore businesses that take pride in their appearance. Be part of the team that perhaps in a year or two can get Tullamore to be the overall winner in the Tidy Towns competition.”