Power of social media kept Annagassen neat and tidy
The power of social media played a critical role in helping the members of Annagassan Tidy Towns deliver a response to the challenges posed by the Covid-19 restrictions and ensured a different but very effective work programme was delivered. Bernie Leneghan, from the Tidy Towns committee understood the challenges only too well as she is also Supervisor of the local Community Employment Scheme and it fell to her to deliver a solution that would see the lovely coastal village presented to the usual high standard. Bernie explained “as soon as it became clear that the Community Employment Scheme would not be able to operate,for an unknown period of time, we posted on our Facebook page asking local residents if they would be willing to assist with
grass cutting and the response was overwhelmingly positive with individual residents effectively adopting public areas close to their homes”.
Litter management was carried out by volunteers and while the committee is relieved that the Community Employment Scheme workers, having been badly missed, are back in action they are also greatly heartened by the support given by local residents during what was a critical time for Tidy Towns.
Having nurtured plants from plugs, the volunteers are delighted that they are able to produce the usual sparkling display of hanging baskets and container planting to provide cheerful impact in the village and they are also delighted to see projects delivered in previous years being so popular with people as they exercise close to home. One such project is the picnic facility provided on the southern end of the village which offers the potential for socially distanced get togethers for small groups and which has been very popular in recent months. A new fingerpost sign has been put in place for this amenity with further signs for The Harbour and
Dillonstown Church. Wildflowers have also been planted between the stone features along the verge at The Saltings while the design of inserts for the recently installed Information Panels is currently being finalised with a view to having them in place in the coming weeks to add to the amenities of the village.
So Covid-19 may have delayed some work in Annagassan but it certainly didn’t deter the Tidy Towns Committee, with excellent support from local residents, from presenting the village to the usual high standard despite the cancellation of the 2020 National
Tidy Towns Competition.
Pictures: Ken Finegan/Newspics