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Former Tidy Towns winner aims for gold
SO close, so tantalisingly close. The long-hoped for gold medal in the National Tidy Towns competition is a mere handful of points within the grasp of the Adare Tidy Towns Committee.
And this week, committee chairman Michael Brennan appealed for a last big push by residents in order to get them over the line and claim gold in this year's competition.
"Last year, we gained nine points and won the silver medal in our category," Mr Brennan explained. "To get to the top this year is now our aim."
What has put extra zip in the step of Tidy TownsCommittee members is that 2008 was also the year Adare was named as Best Kept Small Town in the Best Kept Towns competition.
"We are only seven points short of gold," Mr Brennan continued, and he is confident the very significant work undertaken last year will stand to them in this year's competition.
"Judging last year was in the first week in June and July. A number of projects we had started were not fully complete at the time of the judging, but we kept going throughout the year," he said.
But now, significant projects that they believe will help them garner those few extra, precious points are completed – including the river walk and signage, work on the fountain on Main Street, other work on the washing pool and the town park, the eco-friendly St Nicholas National School and the footpath linking the school and the village. Work on restoring Adare Castle has also finished and it is now being spot-lit.
"All the heavy work is now completed," Mr Brennan said.
"We are now really depending on the residents to put on the best show possible for June. The most important work now and during May is the support of the people. There has been fantastic support from people generally, but we are asking people to make that little extra effort to have the place looking its absolute best.
"Our performance in this year's competition rests on the extent of community involvement in creating and maintaining flowerbeds, keeping streets tidy, cutting grass and picking up litter."
Adare had undergone significant changes since it was first named national winner of the competition in 1976, Mr Brennan continued.
"Adare is a major tourist destination, a popular wedding and conference venue, home to a number of world-renowned stables, and has twice hosted the Irish Open.
"Despite the huge volumes of people that visit Adare each year, it has successfully managed to retain its genuine heritage town charm. This has been achieved through the combined efforts of residents and the business community, in conjunction with various regional and Government bodies, to enhance the town's appearance."
Mr Brennan praised the partnership approach as being "key" to their success so far.
Josephine Cotter-Coughlan, director of community and enterprise services
with Limerick County Council, added her encouragement in Adare's quest
for gold.
"I was delighted to see that Adare, with the support of Limerick County Council, won a silver medal in 2008, and once again led the way for County Limerick in the National Tidy Towns Competition," she said this week.
But she also recognised the enormous effort put in by community groups around the county and wished them all well in this year's competition.
"I believe that the Tidy Towns competition is truly a celebration of community spirit, teamwork and an awareness of the natural environment," she said.
Last year, the council worked in tandem with Tidy Towns committees,
and had also initiated the Limerick in Bloom competition and the Priming Grants scheme.
Such attributes were alive and well here in Adare and are evidenced by the town's numerous award successes, she said
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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