Environment awards for those making a difference

OVER 250 children, community groups, volunteers, resident groups and individuals convened at the Ferrycarrig Hotel for the Wexford County Council Annual Environment Awards.

A total of 88 awards were handed out on a night that celebrated the efforts of those committed to protecting the county’s environment through a variety of innovative initiatives and programmes.

St Colman’s National School in Ballindaggin was named Wexford’s Cleanest School for 2019. The Kilanerin Tidy Towns group was named the county’s Best Environmentally Aware and Presented Town/ Village. From an individual perspective, Mary Gethings was one of those recognised for her work in the community, receiving the Tidy Towns Community Hero award. In addition, Anne White, Fintan Lambe, John and Ann O’ Brien and Pat Roche were honoured for their ‘Outstanding Individual Contribution’ to Wexford’s environment.

Councillor Michael Sheehan, Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council, congratulated all the participants, stating, ‘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. The results of your hard work is evident across County Wexford in towns and villages that are more attractive, better cared for, better places to live and more appealing places to visit.’

List of Award Winners

Green Schools:

CBS Secondary School, New Ross

Coastcare Schools:

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

Annual Environment Artwork Competition:

Overall Primary School winner – Owen Crosbie, Kilmore National School

Overall Secondary School winner – Ciara Sharp, Gorey Community School

Christmas Decoration Competition (in conjunction with South East Radio): Overall Primary School winner – Scoil Naomh Abbáin, Adamstown

Marine Explorer Award: Ballaghkeene National School CBS Primary School Wexford Coolgreany National School Screen National School

Scoil Naomh Bríde, Blackwater

Cool Planet Experience:

Kilanerin National School

Scoil Mhuire, Coolcotts

Scoil Réalt na Mara – Kilmore National School St Aidan’s National School, Clonroche St Aidan’s Primary School, Enniscorthy

Wexford’s Cleanest School:

St Colman’s National School, Ballindaggin

Snap into Action competition:

Community Group winner – Clohamon Community Development Group

School Battery Champion: Ballyduff National School

Young Environmentalist Award: FCJ Secondary School, Bunclody St Colman’s National School, Ballindaggin

National Water School Of The Year Award: Ballaghkeene National School, The Ballagh

Keep Wexford Beautiful Competition: Overall winner: Monageer Grotto Parish Group

Best Community Environment Initiative: First – Kiltealy Tidy Towns plaque Second – Ballyduff Development Group Joint third – Camolin Community Development Association CLG

Joint third – Clonroche Development Association Highly commended – C Foulksmills Tidy Towns Highly commended – Ballyfad/Gurteen Walkers Group

Best New Entry:

First – Southend Family Resource Centre, Wexford Joint second – Barntown Heritage Group Joint second – Ladhra Residents Association, Blackwater

Joint third – The Killinick Project

Joint third – Clohamon Community Development Group Highly commended – Castlehayestown Crew

Best Community Biodiversity Project:

First – Gorey Tidy Towns

Second – Blackwater Junior Tidy Towns Joint third – Clonegal Tidy Village Committee Joint third – Ferns Tidy Towns

Highly commended – Camolin Community Development Association CLG; Highly commended – Bridgetown Community Development

Best Environmentally Aware and Presented Housing Estate:

First – Westwinds Residents Association, Kilrane Second – Kilanerin Tidy Towns

Joint third – Ounavarra Park Residents Association, Ballycanew

Joint third – Cois Abhaínn Residents Association, Blackwater

Highly commended – Greenore Park, Rosslare Harbour; Highly commended – St Joseph’s Centre Gorey

Best Environmentally Aware and Presented Town/ Village:

First – Kilanerin Tidy Towns

Second – Blackwater Tidy Towns

Joint third – Duncormick Area Action Group Joint third – Bree Tidy Towns

Highly commended – Clean Screen Team Highly commended – Ballygarrett Tidy Towns

Best Heritage Preservation & Conservation Project:

First – Tomhaggard Pastoral Council Second – Campile Area Development Group Third – Gorey Tidy Towns

Highly commended – Caroreigh Church, St Garvan’s Well; Highly commended – Gorey May Bush Féile

Best Community Coastal Management Initiative:

First – Rosslare Tidy Towns

Second – Rosslare Harbour/Kilrane Environment Group

Third – Cullenstown Community Group Highly commended – Kilmuckridge Tidy Towns

Best Community Project that Tackles and Reduces the Impact of Climate Change:

First – Kilanerin Ballyfad Community Development Association

Second – Seal Rescue Ireland

Third – Ferns Tidy Towns

Highly commended – Killanne Development Group

Best Community Project to Improve Accessibility to Infrastructure:

First – Bree ICA

Best Community Project to Improve Accessibility in Gardens / Parks:

First – Rosslare Community Development Association CLG/Friends of Rosslare

Best Community Waste Prevention/Re-Use Project:

First – Askamore-Muintur na Tire Community Project Ltd/Tidy Towns

Second – Ferns Tidy Towns

Joint third – Seal Rescue Ireland

Joint third – Ballygarrett Tidy Towns Highly commended – Killanne Development Group

North Wexford 2K Clean:

First: Ferns Tidy Towns; Second: Hollyfort Tidy Towns; Third: The Gap Tidy Towns & Heritage Group

National Tidy Towns Special Category Awards: Tidy Towns Climate Action & air Quality Award – Kilanerin Tidy Towns

Tidy Towns Community Heroes – Mary Gethings

Tidy Towns County Awards Heroes – First – Blackwater Tidy Towns; Second – Rosslare Tidy Town; Third – Duncormick Area Action Group

Endeavour Award – Bree Tidy Towns

Outstanding Individual Contribution to Wexford’s Environment – Anne White, Fintan Lambe, John and Ann O’Brien and Pat Roche.

na Tire CommunityProject Ltd / Tidy Towns was awarded Best Community Waste Prevention/Re-Use Project. From left: Geraldine Berney, Cathaoirleach Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District Cllr Malcolm Byrne, Jackie Christian, Hugh Maguire (environment officer, WCC) and Paul Knight.

Ballyduff Development Group with their Keep Wexford Beautiful award. From left: Cathaoirleach, Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District Cllr Malcolm Byrne, Helen Murphy, Jim O’Rourke, Kevin Walker, Enda Furlong, Michelle Doyle, Connie Rooney, Marie O’Rourke and Kevin Doyle. Ounavarra Park Residents Association, Ballycanew receiving third place in the Best Environmentally Aware & Presented Housing Estate. From left: Charlie Byrne, Nora Byrne, Sean Ryan, Maura Ivory, Cliona Connolly (Environment education officer, WCC), Dora Ryan and Cllr Pip Breen.

Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council Cllr Michael Sheehan addressing the attendees. Sam Brittain, Kim Smyth and Melanie Croce from Seal Rescue Ireland, Courtown receiving their award with Minister of State for the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure Michael Darcy TD, Cathaoirleach of Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District Cllr Malcolm Byrne and Deputy James Browne TD.

Ballygarrett Tidy Towns receiving highly commended in the Best Environmentally Aware & Presented Town/Village. From left: Bernie Byrne, Cllr Mary Farrell, Cathaoirleach of Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District Cllr Malcolm Byrne, Gretta Doyle, Hugh Maguire (environment officer, WCC) and Bridget Roche.

The Gorey May Bush Feile were highly commended in the Best Heritage Preservation & Conservation Project. From left: Eire Ni Fhaolain, Rachel Ui Fhaolain, John O Faolain and Chulainn O Faolain with Cliona Connolly, environment education officer, WCC.

Ferns Tidy Towns receiving their awards. From left: Cliona Connolly (environment education officer, WCC), Cllr Aidan Browne, Bernie Doyle, Deputy James Browne TD, Cathaoirleach Enniscorthy Municipal District Cllr Kathleen Codd Nolan, Mary Gethings, Hugh Maguire (Environment officer, WCC), Angela Breen, Aoibheann Mulhall, Cllr Cathal Byrne, Frank Gethings, Angela Mulhall and Cllr Jackser Owens.

Kilanerin Ballyfad Community Development Association and Kilanerin Tidy Towns with their awards. From left: Deputy James Browne TD, Cllr John Hegarty, Cllr Anthony Donohoe, Karen Finegan, Leas Cathaoirleach Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District Cllr Joe Sullivan, Jim Hughes, Cathaoirleach Wexford County Council Cllr Michael Sheehan, Leas Cathaoirleach Wexford County Council Cllr Lisa McDonald, Cllr Donal Kenny, Minister of State for the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expendature Michael Darcy TD, Cllr Jim Codd and Cathaoirleach Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District Cllr Malcolm Byrne.

Fintan Lambe receiving his award for ‘Outstanding Individual Contribution to Wexford’s Environment’ with Cel Lacey, Mary Porter, Liz Kenny, Hugh Maguire (environment officer, WCC), Daphne Owens, Cliona Connolly (environment education officer, WCC) and Billy Halford.

Ballyfad / Gurteen Walkers Group were highly commended in the Best Community Environment Initiative. From left: Minister of State for the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure Michael Darcy TD, Cllr Anthony Donohoe, Cllr John Hegarty, Roseanna Kinsella, Leas Cathaoirleach Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District Cllr Joe Sullivan, Maureen Kelly, Cllr Donal Kenny and Cathaoirleach Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District Cllr Malcolm Byrne.