Tidy Towns 2013

Work is continuing this year in Tidy Towns with a mostly new and enthusiastic group eager to get out and be more involved with our community.

Tidy towns

Although we will not enter the competition this year, we will carry on with flower planting and projects. The FAS crew are still doing us proud while many volunteers are preparing for flower sowing, usual clean upsand are planning for future events. Recently in conjunction with National spring cleaning day the National school children were out to help in the drive to keep the village litter free. Littering is becoming more and more socially unacceptable and so litter levels have declined but we still have a few who do not realise this and so our litter patrols will continue. Have a look at our Gallery page for more information and pictures. Pictured above are some of the Tidy Towns gang with FAS stafff and other volunteers who provided extra help on the day of the village clean up.


National Spring CleanNICE FLOWERS

Ballynacally Tidy Towns were out in support of National Spring Clean April 2013 in conjunction with An Taisce who are Ireland's largest and most popular anti-litter initiative, aiming to raise awareness on the problem of litter nationally. We also planted tree's injunction with Global Action Ireland initiative to plant 1,000,000 trees across Ireland in 24 hours. Ballynacally Tidy Towns were helped out by Ballynacally N.S parents & children & our local Fás workers.... We will be receiving a NSC certificate . "Check out the link here" and view our slideshow of pictures from the actual spring clean in and around the village which also shows some tree planting.

 

flowers

Future plans
  • New hanging baskets
  • New stone permanent flower beds.
  • Continue with the Tidy Towns competition, this years theme being to maximise community involvement

 

Tidy Towns handprin

Landscaping
Ballynacally tidy towns community volunteerism

No new flower beds were added last year. Focus was placed on the quality of the flowers used. A new layout at the recycle Bank beside the Community Centre has been augmented with decorative floral arrangements. Also flower beds at the Forge Cross have been redesigned with a flower tower design.


Wildlife & Natural Amenities

In recent years a major focus was on implementing measures to both educate the general community with regard to the wildlife found locally and also implement measures to develop wildlife habitats. A new Wildlife Display Board has been erected at a new amenity area at the village entrance. Also butterfly bushes and sunflowers have been provided to sustain local wildlife. Lavender window boxes have been places at the cottages on the Fair Green.

 
Flowers & Hanging Basketsflowers

The flowers for Tidy Towns are managed by a team dedicated to choosing colour schemes, managing the re potting of the plugs in the tunnel in March/April, to managing the various plants in the tunnel and glasshouse until they are ready for placing in their designated flower beds, hanging baskets or window boxes for sowing in early June. Thanks to Gerard Moran for the offering the use of his poly tunnel

Litter Control

Litter is managed by a number of litter patrol teams assigned a specific area to check on regular areas. This year with the help of the FAS (now DSP) team we will again manage litter problems and hopefully we can continue to educate people who consider littering.

 

2013 in the Village

O'Grady's cottage ballynacallyIn the midst of the many fund raising events taking place, you may have noticed of an evening, groups of people carrying out various duties such as the watering of flowers, painting, weeding etc. These are our new Tidy Towns crew who are responsible for all the flowers that are making our Village look so well. Amongst other things they have also repainted the row of cottages in the fair green which now look very fresh & well presented. Various areas have been power washed prior to painting and have you noticed the front of the white cottage (O'Grady's) on the main road adjacent to the fair green? click here to view.

Not forgetting the FAS team who cut grass and remove litter, a full time job. They also engage in other works as directed by the Tidy Towns committee and we are thankful for their help. The ethos of Tidy Towns is not striving to win competitions, (although thats a bonus & helps with focus) nor is it about a set team of people working within the village. It is the combined efforts of many groups, young and old, householders, the DSP team, those who plant, water, care for the shrubs and flowers, those who paint, collect litter, plan, tidy and clean. These people are spread across the village and further afield. Most of all, Tidy Towns is about community and the door is always open to people who would like to get involved and are happy to help out, many hands make light work. Have a look at our Tidy Towns page for more info and some of the work in action can be seen in our galleries. Maybe we will see you in our galleries next year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Committee Members

Our current core committee outside of the great help we receive during the year are.... Marcella Daly, Yvonne Harrison, Marion Kelly, Ann McMahon, Patricia Meaney, Fiona Moloney, Dorothea Mullins, Mossey O'Brien, Francis O'Shea, Carmel Sheehan, Edel Tighe. (Mike McMahon web design)

 

Tidy Towns Competition

2014, meetings held and fund raising done to date. Plugs planted and hanging baskets sponsored.....

2013 No entry due to time constraints after late AGM and new committee's focus on the hall. However Clare in Bloom was entered and the team did very well.

2011/12 GOLD medal in the National Tidy Towns Competition

2008/9/10 Silver Medal National Tidy Towns Competition

2008/9 Winner in Clare in Bloom Competition

Tidy towns medals with thanks to the fas crew and local people

3 Silver and 2 gold medals, the reward for many years of dedicated work to our village from local villagers who kept their gardens/premises and surrounding areas in beautiful condition. Also the many DSP staff who worked hard on various projects, including on going litter picking, grass and lawn cutting etc. And to the many volunteers who planted and watered flowers, trimmed hedges etc, the committee would like to thank them all.

Ireland's Best Kept Town

Ballynacally was nominated for the Tidiest Village Award in the Ireland's Best Kept Town awards which were announced at an awards ceremony in Belfast on June 22 2010.

This was an all Ireland competition run in partnership between the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, The Northern Ireland Amenity Council in association with the Department of Environment (N.I.).

 

Tidy Towns reports

2012 2011 2010 2009
2008 2007 2006 2005  
2004 2003 2002 2001  
2000 1999      
  Full details of 2012 competitionBallynacally tidy towns community volunteerism

 

community in ballynacally pulling together

 

 

 

Engineers week

The aim of the week is to celebrate the engineering profession, to grow awareness of engineers in the community, and to showcase engineering as an exciting and diverse career option for students. However you choose to get involved, all activities – whether large-scale or small – make a valuable contribution to the nationwide campaign.

National Tidy Towns recognises engineering week, More info here

WEEE Ireland

WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) is anything that has a plug or a battery and is at the end of its useful life.

WEEE Ireland organises and promotes public collection events of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and waste batteries. Any household item with a plug or battery will be accepted at these collection events – from large items such as fridges, dishwashers and tumble-dryers, to small household items such as remote controls, electric toothbrushes and everything in between. All waste batteries will be accepted free of charge, including AA and AAA batteries, torch batteries, watch batteries, car batteries and electric fence batteries.

Tidy Towns endorse recycling.... More info here