TIDY TOWNS LOCAL RESULTS AND
included Coghlan Kelly Solicitors and The Chamber of Commerce building with its very distinctive railings.’
The judges wondered if there were any plans for the old Courthouse while they said ‘ the new Catherine McAuley and Edmund Rice school two-storey buildings look bright and modern.
‘On Irish Town Road Corcoran’s Stores and pub looks well with a mix of stone and painted front, traditional signage and hanging baskets adding colour. The EuroBuster building needs painting. Ann McDonald, Bridget’s Sweet Boutique, The One and Carries Creations all had bright colour shop fronts that help inject colour on Mary Street. Hogans, The Bakehouse and Campbell’s were admired for their traditional shop signage. Campbell’s, in particular, looked fresh and recently painted.
‘ The Tholsel Bar looked well on adjudication day. The empty building beside Emerald Dry Cleaners needs some attention as it detracts from the streetscape here. Ronan’s Fish Shop on Wexford Street looked clean and fresh.
In respect of Landscaping and Open Spaces the judges said the town parks looked well and were well used. The bug walls and new butterfly gardens were also commended.
‘ The library park was very impressive and is another delightful green space right in the centre of the town, an asset other towns across Ireland would be envious of. Planting at Irishtown Cross and at the Longstone Cross which commemorates the 1798 rebellion was also admired.’
Under the Wildlife, Habitats and Natural Amenities category the judges commended the River Barrow Story Board completed by nearby school, St Canice’s 6th Class pupils in 2014 and suggested other schools get involved in similar projects.
In terms of Sustainable Waste and Resource Management the judges were pleased that funding has been secured for energy efficiency upgrades at the community centre and also praised the work of the allotment groups and GIY New Ross.
In respect of Tidiness and Litter Control the judges found the Irishtown Road was ‘quite littered particularly the upper end before the traffic lights. Litter was also noted at the Old Towns walls. Broken glass was noted on the steps leading from the Library Park to the Barrack Hill car park. Dog fouling was an issue on the footpath on South Street outside Dillon Dental and on the path at Napper’s Pond.’
The judges noted the committee is currently working on the issue of dog fouling with the installation of more dog litter bins.
They also wondered if the ‘redundant Eircom phone box now be removed beside the statue near the Tholsel Inn?’
When it came to the Residential Streets and Housing Areas the judges suggested planing might help screen the electricity sub-station at Caislean Maol.
Estates that were praised where the Fair Green on Longstone, Beech Grove, Assumption Terrace and the Rivergate Apartments.
The judges felt that ‘ there are quite a number of apartment buildings that now require painting in and around the town.’
Judging the Approach Roads, Streets and Lanes category the judges had praise for the mural on Charles Street but said the rear of the buildings facing the Barrack Lane car park looks quite poor and unimpressive with graffiti.
Concluding the judges ‘ here has been some considerable progress in the town over the past few years and a number of exciting plans in the pipeline which could help elevate New Ross to the higher echelons of this competition’.
Foulksmills jumped two points in this year’s Tidy Towns competitions going from 300 points in 2016 to 302 this year.
The village was competing in category A and received a one point increase on last year’s mark in the category of Sustainable Waste and Resource Management and Tidiness and Litter Control while the other categories remained the same.
Foulksmills received the following marks this year: Community Involvement and Planning – 44; Built Environment and Streetscape – 41; Landscaping and Open Spaces – 46; Wildlife, Habitats and Natural Amenities – 24; Sustainable Waste and Resource Management – 13; Tidiness and Litter Control – 64; Residential Streets and Housing Areas – 33; Approach Roads, Streets and Lanes – 37.
In terms of Community Involvement and Planning the judges felt that the committee were using various methods to liaise with the community.
‘You are engaging across generations, including the youth with an art competition and annual duck race which we gather is a long-standing tradition in the area.’
They said they would like to see the committee submit a ‘multi annual plan setting out your plans for the village under the various categories, over the next three or five years. The preparation of the TidyTowns plan will help focus your work programmes and projects each year.’
In terms of Built Environment and Streetscape the judges said that ‘ the watermill is a real gem in your village. The five storey building is very impressive and the red painted doors, windows and shutters add colour here.
‘Bridge House B&B is presented to a very high standard. Toomey Engineering is quite visible from the roadside. The stone cottage dating from 1860 looks well with good planting to the fore. There is a well maintained residential property opposite Foulksmills Stores. The Stores themselves are tidily presented.
‘ The old garage building would benefit from painting. The Oak Tree Bar (aptly named) sits across from the Oak Tree junction. Its presentation was very neat with painted tables and chairs to the front complimented with colourful window boxes and planters.
‘White’s Bar is also an appealing pub, traditional in style and in keeping with your rural location.’
The judges wondered if the community had lobbied to get the overhead cables under-grounded which they said ‘would greatly add to your streetscape.’
In the category of Landscaping and Open Spaces the judges said: ‘ The park, situated along the banks of the Corach River, and the adjoining mill are very aesthetically pleasing.
‘We noticed that the planter pots at Toomey Engineering are broken and need replaced shortly.’
In terms of Wildlife, Habitats and Natural Amenities the judges suggesting implementing a habitat survey, planning native trees and a pollinator plan.
When it came to Sustainable Waste and Resource Management the judges felt that while the committee had good plans there was a lack of details about these in the application. They also suggested investigating the possibility of a Stop Food Waste awareness event or a Grow Your Own initiative.
In the Tidiness and Litter Control category the judges said the bring banks were clean and tidy with litter control being of a good standard.
They suggested discouraging the use of campfires in the park.
In the Residential Streets and Housing Areas category the judges found the ‘residential properties are by and large well presented and maintained.’
The final category was Approach Roads, Streets and Lanes and the judges noted that the ‘ tree lined approach roads bounding agricultural fields combined with stone walls in places make for a memorable and pleasing approach to the village. The large welcome stone near the Mill and the landscaped area here looks well.’
In conclusion t he judges found Foulksmills ‘a delight to visit’ noting it is ‘a lovely village with great scope to do well in the competition. Moving forward your adjudicator feels that you need to raise the bar this coming year, particularly on two categories; namely,