VOLUNTEERS HONOURED
Over 300 children, community groups, volunteers, resident groups and individuals gathered in the Ferrycarrig Hotel to celebrate the environment and local voluntary efforts at the Wexford County Council Environment Awards.
Awards were received by 16 schools, 38 community groups and three individuals on the night and many councillors from across the county and other individuals came along to join in the celebrations.
Chairman of Wexford County Council Cllr Paddy Kavanagh congratulated all of those who have carried out magnificent work throughout the county.
‘Your dedication is an inspiration to communities everywhere and illustrates the real benefits of pulling together for the greater good of the place we all call home. We welcome the opportunity to pay a public tribute to the many excellent people who work so hard year in, year out to enhance their communities,’ he said.
Tidy Towns groups were recognised for their recent wins at the National Tidy Towns Competition while Wexford Tidy Towns and Ballycanew Tidy Towns were presented with an award for their achievements in the GumLitter Taskforce Award. Ferns Tidy Towns were presented with a Value Water Award and the Gap Tidy Towns and Heritage Group, Ballygarrett Tidy Towns and Ballyduff Development Group were also presented with awards for their participation in the North Wexford 2K. Cois Barry Community House Rosslare were awarded in the community group snap into action competition.
A ‘Sort Of ‘ Environment Quiz kept all guessing at the beginning of the night and prizes to the first six correct answers drawn were presented. Winners drawn were Abbie White, Faye Murphy, Ryan Healy, Betty Walsh, Bernie Walker and Pat Kinahan.
This year’s Environment Awards coincided with the 40th year of the Keep Wexford Beautiful Campaign and to mark this, a special draw was held on the night. Ballyellis National School and Cloughbawn GAA Club were the lucky winners of a special prize of €200.
Ballycanew Tidy Towns were the overall winners of the Keep Wexford Beautiful Competition, as announced by Master of Ceremonies on the night Alan McGuire.
‘ The community has worked relentlessly during the past 12 months and many new projects were completed. These include, the childrens park in the Parochial field which features “the little duckling express”, a wigwam, and minions made from old tyres; the Bee Garden, with raised areas and solitary bee hives made from reused wood and old hanging baskets; and the shelter, which provides a recreational area for the youth of the village. Seats were installed, flowers planted, art displayed and one can enjoy the history of Ballycanew Tidy towns which was established 1994. The overall appearance of Ballycanew village is a credit to the Tidy Towns, Junior Tidy Towns and Tiny Tots Tidy towns committees and is an example to us all,’ he said.
Chairperson Cllr Paddy Kavanagh presented four Green Schools with a nest box sponsored by The Wexford Naturalists’ Field Club. These were gratefully received by Colaiste Eamonn Ris Wexford, FCJ Bunclody, Gaelscoil Moshiolog Gorey and Raheen National School.
This year seven schools in Wexford were awarded certificates for their participation in An Taisce’s Coastcare Project: Ballycanew, Ballyellis, Courtnacuddy, Scoil Naomh Mhaodhóig, Poulfur, , Scoil Mhuire, Rosslare and St Ibar’s, Castlebridge.
Michelle Murphy from Ballyduff National School was overall primary school winner in the Christmas Decoration Competition. Her entry entitled ‘Santa’s House’ was made by using cardboard boxes, bottle caps, yogurt cartons, plastic, magazine cuttings, an old doll, plastic pipe, foil bottle caps and aluminium can rings. Senior class 2 group from Our Lady of Fatima School Wexford were awarded a plaque for their decoration ‘Christmas Tree of Hope’ which won overall in the secondary school category.
In the Environment Artwork Competition, Kate Doyle of Ballyduff National School was named overall primary school winner, while Finn O’Driscoll from St Peter’s was the overall secondary school winner. St Anne’s National School were also awarded a plaque for being Wexford’s Cleanest School.
Diarmuid O’Sullivan, Joan Sinnott and John Handyside were honoured for their dedication to their communities when they each received an award for Outstanding Individual Contribution to Wexford’s Environment.
“Your dedication is an inspiration to communities everywhere”