Top Marks For Carrigaline

Top Marks For Carrigaline

All these milestones were outlined at the annual Tidy Towns Awards Night held in the Carrigaline Court Hotel on Monday night last. Chairman Liam O’Connor gave a very detailed slideshow on the work done by the large group of volunteers during 2016 which included the completion of the 1916 Garden at Milwood, flower boxes along Main Street, the cleaning of the bridge, planting, painting and weeding, a boat at the Lidl Roundabout and this month a Reuse and Recycle Month amongst others. The participation of the local schools was also acknowledged, including work done by TY students in the Carrigaline Community School with their ‘Recycled Tree’ made out of cans; the annual schools poster competition and involvement with pupils in various planting and cleaning projects. The Mayor of Cork County Cllr Seamus McGrath remarked that he was delighted to be at this very prestigious event and duly congratulated the group for their magnificent showing in the Tidy Towns Competition, being only one mark away from a Gold Medal. He added that the County Council has ‘stepped up to the plate’ in playing its part in working with local groups such as Tidy Towns across the county and was looking forward to working with the Carrigaline group in the future. Minister Simon Coveney TD also congratulated the group on their work within the community and remarked that Carrigaline was the fastest growing community in Munster and the fourth across the country in recent years and that it was important to keep up with infrastructure and developments, which are currently being assessed. He remarked that Carrigaline had improved in every category in the Tidy Towns competition and congratulated them on their recent successes and their ‘relentless pursuit of improvements in the town’. Projects planned for 2017 include the planting of 2000 bluebells and 25kgs of daffodils across the town, the erection of a train sculpture along Bothar Guidel, additional work on the Welcome sign, additional floral displays, a wildflower meadow and a bioversity area along the Crosshaven Road amongst others. Grateful thanks were expressed to the large number of sponsors, contributors, volunteers, residents’ associations and businesses for their support and assistance during the year as the town looks forward to achieving Gold next year. Main awards this year were awarded to Walshs Pharmacy as Best Overall Business; Herons Wood Estate as Best Estate while a special Achievement Award was presented to Niamh McCarthy for her magnificent silver medal showing in the Paralympic Games in Rio last month. Awards were presented to the following – Business Awards Best Business Front – Gaelic Bar, G. Long Cobbler, Kusadasi Barbers, Michael Piggott Auctioneers, Man O Mano and the Hut Best Window Display – Bohans Opticians, Stitch N Time Best Floral Displays – Twomey Crowley Dentist, Carrigaline Court Hotel, O Crualaoi’s Best Landscaped Area – Barry Collins SuperValu Overall Business Front Winner – Walshs Allcare Pharmacy Best Estates – Riverside/Castlerock, Castlecourt, Glenwood, Dun Eoin, Ardcarrig, Mount Rivers Overall Best Estate – Herons Wood Private Gardens – Container Garden – Noreen Barton, Church Hill Cottage Garden – Maureen Horgan, Ballea Road Small Summer Garden – Denis Drinan, Mount Rivers ‘Buzzing’ Garden – Mary Willis, Nova Court Eye Catching Garden – Bridget O’Grady, Glenwood Large All Year Round Garden – Sheila Drinan, Ballea Road Small Estate Garden – Mary Murphy, Seaview Town Garden – Paul Drievers, St Johns Terrace Large Summer Garden – Eithne Howard, Currabinny Large Mature Garden – Pat Grace, Ballea Road Community Awards – Community Employment (Solas) Cork County Council (Gateway) Alan Maye Jack Scully Carrigaline and District Lions Club Carrigaline Community School John Lyons, Carrigaline Community School Achievement Award – Niamh McCarthy