Limerick in Bloom Award Ceremony 2011
Glin Homes for the Elderly were named the overall winner of the 2011 Limerick in Bloom competition at a ceremony held in the Council Chamber on Wednesday 26th October.
46 communities from across County Limerick took part in the fourth annual competition, which is a motivational mechanism for the many small local based groups throughout the county to enhance the visual impact of their settlements by means of flower, tree and shrub planting.
Organised by Limerick County Council, in conjunction with Shannon Development, ‘Limerick In Bloom’ adjudication takes place during July and considers such factors as colour, size, variety, location and appropriateness of the various planting schemes along with the management of litter.
Competition categories are based on population size with a first, second and third prize in each category of EUR1100, EUR550 EUR300 respectively. Category 1 features villages with a population less than 300, Category 2 is for population centres of between 300 and 700 people, Category 3 caters for towns and villages with a population in excess of 700 and Category 4 caters for Housing Estates and Community Areas.
The 2011 Overall Winner of Limerick in Bloom and the winner of Category 4, catering for Housing Estates and Community Areas, was Glin Homes for the Elderly.
Cathaoirleach of Limerick County Council Cllr. Mary Harty presented the winner with a €1600 voucher, certificate and the Limerick in Bloom trophy. She congratulated the group for their work in enhancing the overall appearance of the estate, and acknowledged the excellent community involvement in the Community day care centre.
Cappamore Estates Committee finished second in Category 4 while Bruff RFC and Kilteragh Residents Association were awarded joint third prize.
Adare Tidy Towns were named overall winner of Category 3 for villages and towns with a population over 700. The runners up in Category 3 were Patrickswell Tidy Towns (2nd) and Castleconnell Tidy Towns (3rd).
Oola was named overall winner of Category 2, for villages and towns with a population of 301-700 with Murroe Tidy Towns and Broadford Development Association being named second and third place winners.
Winner of Category 1, for villages with a population under 300, was the village of Kilteey. The runners up in Category 1 were Strand Community Development (2nd) and Ardpatrick Tidy Towns (3rd).
Meanwhile, other participating communities in the Limerick In Bloom competition were lauded for their work to enhance the appearance of their respective towns and villages. A total of 33 community groups were presented with framed certificates and a €100 voucher for the effort undertaken to beautify their local areas.
HIGHLY COMMENDED
- Ardagh Development Association
- Cappagh Community Council
- Croagh Village Renewal Group
- Kilbehenny Tidy Towns
- Galbally Tidy Towns
- Pallaskenry Community Council & Tidy Towns
- Hospital Tidy Towns
- Kilfinane Tidy Towns
- Drombanna Houses & Senior Citizen Centre
Commended
- Castlemahon Development Association
- Clarina Tidy Towns
- Colemanswell Community Council
- Coolcappa Community Group
- Creeves Community Group
- Glenbrohane Tidy Towns
- Kilcolman Development
- Kildimo Tidy Towns
- Kilfinny Community Council
- Killeedy Parish Community
- Kilmeedy Community Development Group
- Knockainey Tidy Towns
- Knocklong Tidy Towns
- Doon Tidy Towns
- Glin Development Association
- Shanagolden Tidy Towns
- Ballyneety Village
- Bruff Tidy Towns
- Croom Community Development Association
- Kilmallock Tidy Towns
- The Forts Residents Association
- Killeaney AFC
- Forest View Residents
- Glenside Residents Association
According to Cllr. Harty: “Limerick In Bloom provides members of the local community with the opportunity to show their pride in their respective towns and villages. By improving County Limerick’s appearance through attractive floral displays, participants have also helped to lift spirits during these difficult economic times. It is evident from the high level of participation in this year’s competition that the spirit of volunteerism and pride of place is very much alive in this County. I look forward to this community spirit shining through again in 2012 when hopefully there will be a further increase in participants.”
Mr. Eoghan Prendergast of Shannon Development, sponsors of the Limerick in Bloom Competition, acknowledged the efforts of those who participated in and contributed to this year’s competition. “I wish to pay tribute to the 46 entrants, without their participation and contribution to the appearance of their respective communities, there would be no competition”. Mr. Prendergast concluded by congratulating Glin Homes for the Elderly on being the 2011 overall winner of the Competition.
Pride Of Place Success for County Limerick
The winners of the 2011 Pride of Place Competition were announced at a gala celebration ceremony in Gorey, Co. Wexford on Saturday 5 November. More than 500 people from practically every county on the island were in attendance to hear the results of the 9th annual competition.
Communities in County Limerick once again excelled in the Pride of Place Competition. For the fifth year in a row a County Limerick community has received a first place award in the all-island competition.
The Mullally Lawns, Mullally Grove, Inse Bui and Truagh Crescent, collectively known as the Cappamore Estates, was awarded first place in the Housing Estates category. As a category winner the Cappamore Estates Committee received an exclusive crystal decorative memento along with a monetary prize. Commenting on Cappamore Estates, the judges said: “The welcome for the judges on the day of their visit was complimented by a display of passion, energy, excitement and enthusiasm. They really enjoyed their visit to this wonderful community – one of the best examples of a community looking after its own area that they have encountered. It commended itself for so many reasons – the hard working committee, the volunteers, the cleanliness, the level of participation by the residents, the sense of enjoyment and the relationship with the council and other agencies. The judges wish this community every success in the future”.
Adare village was awarded runners-up in Category 3 for populations between 500 and 1000. County Limerick’s third entrant was Croom Development Association in the single issue category of Community Health Initiative.
The Pride of Place initiative came from the Local Authority All-Island Steering Forum of Co-Operation Ireland - a forum that encourages strategic, sustainable approaches to cross border co-operation.
Congratulating the Cappamore Estates Committee and Adare on receiving awards, Cllr. Mary Harty, Cathaoirleach of Limerick County Council said: “Limerick’s nominees demonstrated what can be achieved when people work together to enhance and change parts of their area for the good of the whole community. I wish to congratulate Cappamore and Adare on their respective successes and look forward to County Limerick bidding for further national recognition in 2012”.
Jimmy Coleman, Chairman of the Estates Committee added: “The estates are celebrating a national win, a more prestigious award than any other. It shows what can be achieved when each member of a Community works together. This award can be celebrated by all because each household had an input in its achievement.
He continued: “The Estates Committee has worked since 2008, in conjunction with Limerick County Council, Ballyhoura Development Ltd and other agencies to create a very positive and progressive atmosphere in the estates in Cappamore. We are very proud to say we are the best community in the Housing Estates category in the whole thirty two Counties. We would not want to live anyplace else. Our many thanks to Ballyhoura Development Ltd and Limerick County Council for having such faith in us.”
Limerick County Manager Ned Gleeson commented: “This is the ninth year of the Competition, which recognises and celebrates the vital contributions that community partnerships make to society. Nominating bodies, including Local Authorities from practically every county in Ireland, nominated groups in their local area. The vast range of participating communities in the competition makes the successes of Cappamore and Adare all the more impressive.”
Commenting on the Pride of Place Competition Josephine Cotter Coughlan, Director of Services said: “The focus is on people coming together to shape, change and enjoy all that is good about their local area. It differs from other similar projects in that they specifically recognise the involvement of the local community in all aspects of rural and urban regeneration including, promoting social cohesion, involvement in planning, the promotion of heritage and environmental awareness.”
“There is no doubt that local communities that have participated in the past have benefited greatly from their experiences. It has provided them with an excellent opportunity to highlight the elements of their areas that they have civic pride in, and gave them a platform to showcase the work they are doing on a continual basis”, Ms. Cotter Coughlan concluded.
Further information on the Pride of Place Competition is available from http://prideofplace.cooperationireland.org.
ACTIVITIES
Children's Strategy
All children have a right to Play and Limerick County Council recognises the rights of the child as stated by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) whereby: “The child shall have full opportunity to play and recreation, which should be directed to the same purposes as education: society and the public authorities shall endeavour to promote the enjoyment of this right.” (Article 7).
More details can be obtained at the following link: -Local Play Policy
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