Castleisland Tidy Towns group members declared themselves more than pleased with their results this year especially as there was no physical judging.
All the judging and marks allocations was done virtually. And the marks allocated have been a great source of satisfaction for the hardworking group.
The categories and the criteria on which the points were allocated remained the very same since 2018 and the group has gained 14 points since 2018. They’ve gone from 309 in 2018 to 315 in 2019. 2020 was skipped for obvious reasons and this year, 2021, the marks have gone up to 322 and that’s an across the board increase.
A Selection of Adjudicator’s Comments
The following is a selection of comments from the adjudicator’s comments:
“There are good links with Kerry County Council, FÁS and local business interests and you make good use of newspapers, parish newsletter, radio and social media for communications.
It is great that you have strong relationships with the three primary and three secondary schools in your area and the students avail of working with you during their transition year.”
Before and After Pictures
“Many thanks for including the before and after pictures of the several buildings which you painted. We liked the way they were decorated and the mural on the gable wall, which captures your several traditions, at the entrance to the town is particularly attractive.
We also admired the street furniture which was renewed and the painting of poles by young people was admirable.
The newly washed signs look very sharp and the outdoor dining areas look appealing, especially with the floral displays; they have changed the appearance of the town.”
A Garden Competition
“The resident’s groups are very helpful in taking care of their estates by cleaning and litter picking as well as painting their properties and are often joined by local school groups. They also help with your other work in the playground, town park etc.
Have you considered a garden competition to help increase the standard of planting in private gardens?
You pay attention to the essential issues of enhancing the approach to Castleisland.
Signs are washed and grass cutting on roundabouts follows the low mowing regime system to encourage wildflowers with just a margin mown for effect.”
Achievements Since 2019
“The Tidy Towns entry form was sent in on line and included many photos of what we had achieved since 2019,” said Mary Walsh on behalf of the group and she sent the following end of season report:
“A very special word of thanks our newest recruit who typed up our entry form and put the whole presentation together for us so professionally.
The judges accessed our Facebook page to further check up on what we were doing. We were delighted to receive seven extra marks bringing us up to 322 marks, the highest in our category which includes: Ballybunion, Caherciveen, and Dingle.
Came up Trumps
We also came up trumps again with a youth award for Sustainable Development Goals.
All of this would not have been achieved were it not for all our volunteers – the individuals who adopt a tub and those who adopt a road and the residents in the various areas of the town who plant flower boxes and tubs.
We are indebted to all in Kerry County Council and especially in the local office for all their support and encouragement.
Council Staff Ready and Willing
The council workers in the town are always ready and willing to do anything we ask and they do a great job in keeping the town looking well.
We would also like to thank our four local councillors for allocating money towards projects in the town.
We also wish to acknowledge receipt of €1,500 from the Community Support Fund run by Kerry County Council. This money went towards the purchase of a lawnmower and leaf blower.
The community here in Castleisland will appreciate the amount of time and work that goes into grass cutting and maintenance on the river walk and in St. Stephen’s graveyard and the general maintenance around the town.
Community Support Fund
This is why the Community Support Fund is so important to an organisation such as Tidy Towns.
Our CE workers deserve a special mention for carrying out much of this maintenance – watering baskets and tubs, grass cutting, weeding and keeping the pathways on the River Walk clear are some of the jobs they do.
The second level schools in Castleisland deserve special mention for the work they do. Last year the pupils of St Patrick’s painted the poles on the Main Street, Castleisland Community College carried out several projects that contributed towards them winning the Youth Award and St. Joseph’ Presentation carried out several litter picks.
Importance of Young People
Our young people are very important to Tidy Towns and we hope to include the primary schools in the coming year.
The business community in the town are also very important to Castleisland achieving success in the Tidy Towns competition and we are delighted to see the many improvements taking place at the moment resulting from a recent grant.
Castleisland Chamber Alliance is another great help to us. We have a small but very hardworking committee without whom Castleisland Tidy Towns might not exist.
We are always looking for more volunteers who will take on a tub or two, organise a working group in their own neighbourhood or identify a project that they might work on our behalf.”
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