Birr Tidy Towns glowing with pride after winning Gold Medal

BIRR TIDY TOWNS is glowing with pride this week having been awarded a coveted Gold Medal for the first time ever in the National Tidy Towns Competition.
The group was awarded 376 points by the adjudicator this year, an increase of 15 points on last year (the maximum points obtainable is 550).
The categories which the group did best in were Streetscape and Public Spaces (57 points), Green Spaces and Landscaping (54 points), Community - your planning and involvement (57), and Tidiness and Litter Control (58).
“I saw hardly any litter throughout the town on my visit,” said the adjudicator in his comments. He also pointed out that “The Pride of Place competition seems to be very popular and no doubt has a positive effect on the cleanliness of the residential areas.
“It was a joy to visit Birr,” he added, “and I was very impressed with the changes in your town, having not visited for many years. It is clear you are putting in a huge effort to enhance your beautiful, historical town and you should be very proud of your hard work to date. I wish you all the best going forward with the Tidy Towns competition!”
The Birr Tidy Towns Pride of Place Awards Night took place in The County Arms Hotel on Thursday evening, giving the group an opportunity to celebrate its achievements over the last year and to announce this year's winners of the various categories throughout the town.
Addressing the large gathering, Bernie Fanneran of the committee thanked the County Arms and the Credit Unionfor sponsoring a new van during the year which has been a great assistance to the committee.
Bernie said Birr has been entering the national competition for the last 40 years “and finally we reached the summit of a Gold Medal this year. We are thrilled.”
She praised the various members of the committee, including Bernie Taylor Lynch (“who looks after the social media updates”), Eileen Fitzimons (Chair of the group and a member for 15 years), Fiona Devery (an expert on biodiversity), Ann Madigan (an excellent florist), Eddie Nolan (“Eddie is a superstar!”), Lesley Farrar (who looks after Eden Row Corner), Adrian Haines (“our MacGyver! Anything we need fixing, Adrian fixes it!”), Tommy Moody, Breda Murray (who liaises with the town's schools), Dympna Gallagher (“my sidekick!”); “and a number of great young people including Matthew, David, Micheál, Zoe and Luke.”
Cllr Peter Ormond told the gathering that other towns and villages are envious of how active and committed the Birr Tidy Towns group is. He said some people might associate Tidy Towns with litter picking, but it is much more than that, as is shown by the various categories. He remembered former Councillor Tony McLoughlin who used to be a great TT stalwart.
Cllr John Clendennen said Tidy Towns is not just about improving how a town looks. “It's also about bringing the town together and creating a sense of family.” He said the Council strongly supports the group “but I would like to see the Council giving more money to the group.”
Bernie Fanneran praised Greg Smith, who invests a lot of time and effort each year in preparing the application form for the national competition. She also thanked St Brendan's Environmental Group and Tús.
In the schools category in the Pride of Place competition Oxmantown National School was the overall winner.
A special award was given to the County Arms Garden and its gardeners, Darren, Barry and Podge. “It's an exquisite garden, a place of beauty and biodiversity,” said Bernie.
A presentation of a clock in memory of Mark Daly was presented to Mark's family.
The winner of the Hanging Baskets competition was the Fighting Cocks pub.
The Small Garden award went to Catherine Coolihan. The Medium Size Garden award was won by Eddie Spain in Bulfin Park. The Large Garden Award went to Jenny Campbell.
Two certificates were presented to the members of Riverview Resource Centre and Ashbrook Day Care Centre, who regularly assist with litter picks.
The Small Estate competition was won by Cappaneale. The best Medium Estate was Hollypark Drive; and the Large Estate award went to Meadowville.