Shinrone increased Tidy Towns marks again this year

SHINRONE increased its marks in this year's Tidy Towns competition with its marks going up to 308, compared to 302 in 2022.

The Adjudicator's report on Shinrone's entry this year noted that Shinrone’s Tidy Towns Committee has 12 members, and an extra 14 volunteers, and meets regularly.

The first section, ‘Community – Your Planning and Involvement’, is where Shinrone received 45 points out of 80.The committee is supported by the Offaly County Council, as well as other county organisations. The local National School and Preschool are involved in Junior Tidy Towns, which is an excellent way of including the youth in the project.

Next, under the ‘Streetscape & Public Places’, the village was given 42 out of 80 marks. The report noted that the overhead wires are due to be rerouted underground in 2023, and also noted that the new pavement and trees on Main Street look trim and crisp, though they need to be weeded. The play area beside the Brosna is bright, however it should be looked after more as it has become unkempt.

In the ‘Green Spaces and Landscaping’ section, Shinrone was, once again, awarded 42 marks out of 80. Though the report mentioned that it was good to see a selection of recently planted trees in St Mary’s Terrace, the trees need to be cared for properly in order to mature like the ones currently residing there.

Receiving 32 out of 55 marks in the ‘Nature and Biodiversity in your Locality’ category, the village was praised for its use of Swift boxes, and its contact with Birdwatch Ireland in regards to its Barn Owl Survey. Different areas in the village are also well maintained for pollinators.

For the ‘Sustainability – Doing more with less’ section, Shinrone was given 20 marks out of 55. The report mentioned the waste resource survey which was carried out by the committee so that local firms could recycle more waste.

Giving 47 marks out of 90 for the ‘Tidiness and Litter Control’ category, the report noted that litter remains a problem for the village, with weed control also posing an issue.

In the next category, ‘Residential Streets & Housing Areas’, the village was awarded 39 marks out of 55. The housing estate at the Birr road entrance was well maintained with seats, colourful bedding plant displays, pollinator plants, and a shrubbery with trees and bird feeders.

Finally, in ‘Approach Roads, Streets & Lanes’, Shinrone received 41 out of 55 marks. The entrances to the town from both the Birr and Brosna roads were both deemed ‘attractive’ within this report.