VIRTUALAWARDS FOR LOUTH IN BLOOM RESULTS
IN THE YEAR OF COVID-19, HOUSEHOLDS AND ESTATES ACROSS LOUTH CONTINUED TO ENSURE THE COUNTY BLOOMED. BY OLIVIA RYAN
IT was a year of blooming gardens, colourful estates and exceptional community projects across Louth, despite the Coronavirus pandemic putting a hold to our lives, the very first ‘virtual’ Louth in Bloom awards heard last week.
The initiative, which every year captures the very best of the county’s outdoor environment was launched by Louth County Council during the summer months in a bid to acknowledge and honour the work being carried out during these difficult times that enhances the environment of every town and village throughout the County.
The format of the competition was of course very new to communities and individual participants across County Louth. But with the restrictions which have been in place over the last few months, it was deemed the safest way in which to organise and recognise the marvellous work that people undertake.
Despite the absence of annual competitions such as the National Tidy Towns event, appealed to Louth residents to make the very best of their outdoor environment, and nominate their own local areas for ‘Louth in Bloom 2020.’
Categories in the competition ranged from: Best Gardens, Best Housing Estates, and Biodiversity, Hospitality and Business Premises.
Prizes were awarded for each of the three district areas of Ardee, Drogheda and Dundalk, with an overall county winner in each category.
Speaking as the winners were announced, Joan Martin, Chief Executive of Louth County Council welcomed everyone to what was the first ‘virtual’ awards ceremony.
‘I’m simply delighted to welcomed everyone to County Louth in Bloom. I was very anxious to give an opportunity to all our very busy communities, our villages and Tidy Towns groups and estates, to give them a platform in the year of COVID, when so much has been shut down, to show off and showcase what they are still doing for their communities, and all of their planting and all of their other ideas.’
‘It’s been a very exciting project, and I just want to say whether people win or don’t win, you are all winners, everyone who participates in County Louth in helping their community is a hero and a winner, and I thank you all very much.’
Chair of Louth County Council, Cllr. Dolores Minogue said it had been ‘a very challenging year for all our communities. I take some comfort however in those individuals and communities who have worked so hard to present our county in such a beautiful way.’
She announced the overall County winner: Best Estate (under 50 houses) Harmony Heights, Drogheda.
The Best Estate award (51 to 125 houses) went to St. Oliver’s Park, Carlingford.
The award for Best Estate (more than 125 houses) was presented to Wheaton Hall, Drogheda.
Best Garden award went to John Conachy, 306 Greenacres, Dundalk.
Best Presented Business Premises award was presented to Quinn’s Funeral Home, Dundalk.
Best Presented Hospitality Premises - Rosemount B&B, Dundalk.
The County Louth Biodiversity prize went to The Monasterboice Tourism Group.
The Lifetime Contribution award went to Brendan Matthews, Tierney Street, Ardee.
Cllr. James Byrne, Deputy Mayor of Drogheda, said he wanted to acknowledge and applaud the decision by Louth County Council to go ahead with the awards, albeit in a virtual format.
‘It’s a wonderful opportunity to recognise and thank you, the people of Drogheda, and all the wonderful work you have done in showing your pride of place.’
He added praise for the efforts of all those who took part, saying ‘Don’t underestimate the power of your positive contributions to your neighbours and the wider community at these difficult times.’
The Drogheda winners were: Housing estates with less than 50 houses: 1st place - Harmony Heights, Drogheda, 2nd place - Castlewood, Drogheda 3rd place - Killineer Cottages, Killineer.
Housing estates with 51-125 houses: 1st place - Forest Grange, Drogheda, 2nd place - Bryanstown, Drogheda, 3rd place - Beaubec, Drogheda.
Housing estates with over 125 houses: 1st place - Wheaton Hall, Drogheda, 2nd place - Stameen , 3rd - Oriel Cove, Clogherhead.
Best Garden awards went to; 1st place - Josephine Moran, Georgian Close, Drogheda 2nd place - Maureen O’Reilly, Termonfeckin, 3rd place - Andrew Martin, Matson Lodge, Drogheda.
In the Biodiversity category, the winners were The Monasterboice Tourism group.
The Best presented hospitality premises: The Morning Star pub, Tullyallen.
The winner of the Best presented business premises award was Madden’s Maxol garage, Termonfeckin.
Cllr. John Sheridan, chair of the Ardee and Mid-Louth Municipal District Committee announced the awards for the Mid Louth.
‘Some great work has happened over the last few months, and in some ways a new community spirit has been found. In a lot of new estates, residents who may not have known who different neighbours were have found it got them through the difficult times.’
The awards for the Mid- Louth area went to the following: Estates with houses fewer than 50 houses: 1st place - Seaview, Annagassan , 2nd place - Rathbawn, Dromiskin, 3rd place - Glyde Road, Tallanstown.
Winners in estates with between 51 and 125 houses were: 1st - Church View, Dromiskin and 2nd place - Ferdia Park, Ardee.
The overall winner of the category featuring estates with over 125 houses was Sliabh Breagh, Ardee.
In the Best garden cateogry the winners were: 1st place - Eilish Gosling, LouthHall, Tallanstown, 2nd place - Ann O’Rourke, Cappocksgreen, Ardee, 3rd place - Jim Reynolds, Seaview, Annagassan.
The Best Dioversity award went to Kevin and Geraldine Lynch, Stabannon.
The Best Presented Hospitality premises award went to Sheridan’s B&B, Tallanstown.
The Best presented Business premises award went to The Glyde Inn, Annagassan.
Cllr. Emma Coffey, chair of the Dundalk Municipal District Committee announced the winners and runners up in the Dundalk area.
‘In these strange times, we have adapted to ensure that everybody throughout the county is recognised for their hard work. I know that this is an annual event that takes place, but I do want to acknowledge that given the difficulties we’ve had this year that there has been an extra emphasis on how well our towns and villages and estates and local areas look. So much hard work has taken place.’
‘Well done to everyone who has applied and competed in this competition.’
In the ‘Estates with less than 50 houses’ category, the winners were: 1st place - Carroll Meade, Dundalk, 2nd place - Belfry Gardens, Dundalk, 3rd place - Woodview Park, Dundalk.
Awards in the category for estates with between 51 and 125 houses in the Dundalk town area were: 1st place - St. Oliver’s Park, Carlingford, 2nd place - Willow Grove, 3rd place - Cooley Park.
The awards for Best Estates with over 125 houses went to: 1st place - Manydown Close, Dundalk, 2nd place - Ard Easmuinn, Dundalk, 3rd place - Glenwood, Dundalk.
The Best Garden awards went to: 1st place - John and Geraldine Conachy, 306 Greenacres, Dundalk , 2nd place - Eugene O’Shaughnessy, St. Alphonsus Road, Dundalk, 3rd place - Elizabeth O’Grady, Old Grange, Carlingford.
Cllr. Coffey added that gardens, particular, ‘ have played such an important role in helping us stay connected with our families, and give us a bit of head space, so it’s lovely to see the hard work by the three prize winners recognised.’
The Best Dioversity project award went to The Famine Graveyard, Dundalk.
The Best Presented Hospitality premises prize went to Rosemount B&B, Dublin Road, Dundalk.
The Best Presented Business Premises award went to Quinn’s Funeral home, Dundalk.
She added ‘warmest congratulations to all who took part in the competition this year. Strange times, and a very different awards ceremony for this year, but I do hope we will all be back in the Town Hall in person again next year.’
IT’S BEEN A VERY EXCITING PROJECT, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY WHETHER PEOPLE WIN OR DON’T WIN, YOU ARE ALL WINNERS