PICTURES: Limerick Tidy Towns groups clean-up

THE efforts of groups across Limerick to keep their communities looking clean and tidy were recognised at an awards ceremony in Cork.

Tidy Towns volunteers from Limerick and around the country descended on the Talbot Hotel, in Ballincollig, which was named Ireland’s tidiest town, for a special ceremony.

In that number were groups from Adare, Castleconnell, Galbally, Newcastle West, Ardpatrick and Limerick city centre.
Adare, which is a former winner of the national Tidy Towns competition, received a gold award in the Supervalu-sponsored competition.

The Limerick City Tidy Towns group have achieved a silver award after six consecutive years of winning bronze.

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Meanwhile, a silver award went to another former Tidy Towns winner, Galbally, which was Limerick's most recent victor in 1994.

They were joined by Castleconnell in securing silver, with the riverside village also being highly commended in the Waters and Communities section of the contest.

Bronze medals went to Tidy Towns groups in Ardpatrick and Newcastle West, while Patrickswell also secured an Endeavour award.

It was a busy day for Limerick City Tidy Towns, which had just before travelling to Cork, given its annual award for shop fronts in Limerick

It was a busy day for Limerick City Tidy Towns, which had just before travelling to Cork, given its annual award for shop fronts in Limerick to the Adapt charity outlet at Parnell Street in the centre.

“We are giving an award and getting one,” exclaimed chair of Limerick City Tidy Towns Helen O’Donnell.

She feels the city Tidy Towns group getting an award is a great achievement given the size of the area, its higher population, and the challenges it faces as a result to keep the streets clean.

She said a big thank you is owed to every single volunteer who takes part in the group’s twice weekly clean-ups - on Wednesday evening and now Sunday lunchtime, given the summer months have arrived.

“It's important to acknowledge the work we do. This would not happen without all the volunteers who go out twice a week. We have a really loyal cohort of people. They may not get in every week, but they pop in when they can. It’s all about making Limerick a better place,” she said.

As it is the first time the city has ever won a silver, Ms O’Donnell said it’s a “double celebration”.

"We went up in the rankings last year. It was a pretty hectic time last year,” she added.

She praised Maura O'Neill and Sharon Slater for putting together the Tidy Towns application.

“This is not just about a clean, tidy city, it's about the environment, fresh air, noise pollution. There is a whole element of biodiversity. There is a huge amount we fill into our application form. We work very closely with the local authority. They support us in some of the areas too,” she said.