COUNTY COUNCIL ENVIRONMENT AWARDS HONOUR LOCAL GROUPS
MORE THAN 300 children, community groups, volunteers, resident groups and individuals attended last week’s Environment Awards ceremony at the Ferrycarrig Hotel in Wexford.
The annual event celebrates the environment and voluntary effort of those who strive to maintain it in their local communities. Councillors from across the county were also in attendance.
Presentations were made to 14 schools, 47 community groups and two individuals.
Council cathaoirleach Cllr John Hegarty welcomed and congratulated all participants, acknowledging the magnificent voluntary work going on throughout Co. Wexford.
He said: ‘The unselfish effort and generosity displayed by volunteers really does make a difference to communities. It is heartening to see groups of local volunteers showing such spirit and endeavour and, in the process, inspiring others in their community to follow their example.’
He welcomed the opportunity to pay a public tribute to the many excellent people who work so hard, year-in and year-out, to enhance their communities.
A ‘Sort Of ’ Environment Quiz took place at the beginning of the night and the six winners were: Erin Kehoe, Dean Boggan, Adam Butler, Barbara Brennan, Breda Byrne and Helen Murphy.
Various organisations were recognised on the night. Tidy Town groups were acknowledged for their achievements in the national competition. Ballycanew Tidy Towns were presented with the Our Community Climate Action and Let’s Get Buzzing awards. Wexford Tidy Towns were presented with the Clean Air Award. Ballyduff were the recipient of the Can It Award and Rosslare Tidy Towns were presented with a Value Water Award.
Ballyduff Development Group, Ferns Tidy Towns and Camolin Community Development Association Development Group were also presented with awards for their participation in the North Wexford 2K.
The overall winners of the Keep Wexford Beautiful Competition were Rosslare Tidy Towns.
Master of Ceremonies for the night, Alan McGuire described Rosslare as a “scenic village and seaside resort which prides itself on being the sunniest spot in Ireland”. He said that many parts of the village stood out including the entry to the beach, the new community notice board on the gable end of the public toilets, commercial properties, a new sensory garden, the old rail cottage and the RNLI Monument, to name a few.
Three Green Schools received awards from Cllr. Hegarty – each received a nest box sponsored by Wexford Naturalists’ Field Club. The schools were: Creagh College, Gorey; St. Fintan’s National School, Mayglass; and St. Joseph’s Primary School, Gorey.
Seven schools were awarded certificates for their participation in An Taisce’s Coastcare Project. They were: Ballycanew National School; Ballyellis National School; Courtnacuddy National School; Scoil Naomh Mhaodhóig, Poulfur; Fethard-on-Sea; Scoil Mhuire, Rosslare; St. Ibar’s National School, Castlebridge; and St. Patrick’s National School, Craanford.
Noah Kehoe of Screen National School was awarded a plaque as the overall primary school winner in the Christmas Decoration Competition 2016. His entry, ‘The Nutcracker’ was made using cereal boxes, bottle caps, plastic bottles and sweet box lids among other things.
Erin Doyle from Ballyduff National School was the Overall Primary School winner in the Environment Artwork Competition and Yvonne Lambert from Bunclody Vocational College was the Overall Secondary winner.
Scoil Mochua, Oulart was also awarded a plaque for being Wexford’s Cleanest School.
Awards for Outstanding Individual Contributions to Wexford’s Environment were presented to Anne-Marie Toomey and Samantha
Paya.
The overall feeling leaving the hotel following the event was that the future of Wexford’s environment is in very good hands.
THE FULL LIST OF WINNERS IS AS FOLLOWS:
Green Schools– Creagh College, Gorey; St. Fintan’s National School, Mayglass; St. Joseph’s Primary School, Gorey.
Coastcare Project - Ballycanew National School; Ballyellis National School; Courtnacuddy National School; Scoil Mhaodhóig, Poulfur; Fethard on Sea; Scoil Mhuire, Rosslare; St Ibar’s National School, Castlebridge; St. Patricks National School, Craanford. W ex ford’ s Clean est School
– Scoil Mochua, Oulart. Christmas 2016 Decoration Competition in conjunction
with SouthEast Radio–Noah Kehoe, Screen National School.
Annual Environment Artwork
Competition Primary–Erin Doyle, Ballyduff National School.
Annual Environment Artwork
Competition Secondary–Yvonne
Lambert, Bunclody Vocational College.
Keep W ex ford Beautiful Overall Winnner – Rosslare Tidy Towns. Best Environmentally Award and Presented Town/Village
First – Kilanerin Tidy Yowns; Joint Second – Ballycanew Tidy Towns, Blackwater Tidy Towns. Joint Third – Ballyduff Development Group, Ballygarrett Tidy Towns. Highly Commended – Ballymurn Tidy Towns, St. John’s Amenity Group, Caim. BestNewEntry First – The Gap Tidy Towns and
Heritage Group; Second – Boolavogue Tidy Village Group; Third – Camolin Community Development Association; Highly Commended – Ballycanew National School. Best Community Environment Initiative
First – Killanne Development Group; Second – Monageer Parish Grotte Group; Third – Clean Screen Team; Highly Commended – Community Hospital Garden, Camross ICA Guild. Best Community Project that Tackle sand Reduces the
Impact of Climate Change First – Ballycanew Tidy Towns; Second – Kilmuckridge Tidy Towns; Third – Ballygarrett Tidy Towns; Highly Commended – St. Joseph’s Centre, Gorey. Best Community Re-Use Project
First – Askamore Muinti na Tire Community Project; Second – Rosslare Tidy Towns; Third – Bridgetown Community Development, Monageer Parish Grotto Group; Highly Commended – Cloughbawn GAA Club. Best Community Waste Prevention Project
First – Ballygarrett Tidy Towns; Second – Ferns Tidy Towns; Third – Killanne Development Group; Highly Commended – Ballyduff Development Group. Best Community Project to Improve Accessibility to Infrastructure– Ferns Tidy Towns.
Best Community Biodiversity Project
First – Duncormick Area Action Group; Second – Ferns Tidy Towns; Joint Third – Clonegal Tidy Village Committee, Ballycanew Tidy Towns; Highly Commended –
Blackwater Junior Tidy Towns. Best Heritage Preservation &Conservation Project
First – Tomhaggard Pastoral Council; Second – Scoil Mochua, Oulart; Third – Ballycanew Tidy Towns; Highly Commended – Clonroche Development Association. Best Community Coastal Management Initiative
First – Rosslare Harbour/Kilrane Environment Group; Second – Kilmuckridge Tidy Towns; Third – Cullenstown Community Group. Best Environmentally Aware and Presented Housing Estate First – Kilanerin Tidy Towns – The Elms; Second – Cois Abhainn Residents Association, Blackwater; Joint Third - Ounavarra Park Residents Association, Ballycanew, Westwinds Residents Association, Kilrane; Highly Commended – Greenore Park Residents Association, Rosslare Harbour, The Villas Residents Association, Clonroche. North W ex ford 2 K Clean est
First – Ballyduff Development Group; Second – Ferns Tidy Towns;
Third – Camolin Community Development Group. Our Community Climate Action
Award – Ballycanew Tidy Towns Value Water Award – Rosslare Tidy Towns Clean Air Award– Wexford Tidy Towns Can It Award– Ballyduff Development Group
Let’s Get Buzzing Award – Ballycanew Tidy Towns Outstanding Individual Contribution to W ex ford’ s Environment – Anne-Marie Toomey, Samantha Paya.