The results of this year’s Galway City Tidy Towns and Garden Competition have been announced. The overall winner of the Front Garden Competition was Eddie Bennet, Dr. Mannix Road. First prize in the Front Garden - City Council Estate category was awarded to Pat and Maureen Henry, 33 Fana Burca. The best first time entrant was Fr. Michael Bailey, Monksfield Salthill. The winners of the Best Window Boxes/Floral Display category were Michael Duffy, 10 The Baily and Margaret Cummins, 167 Corrib Park. Pat McPhilbin, 41 Emmet Avenue, Mervue won the Best Lawns category.
Burrenview Heights was awarded Best Residential Area, 20-50 houses. Oaklands was awarded Best Residential Area, 50-150 houses and Highfield Park was named as the Best Residential Area with 150 houses or more. The Residential estate with best maintenance of public open spaces was Glenina Heights. The winner in the City Council Estate category was Corrib Park and Spires Garden was awarded Best Flower/Shrub Beds in a Residential Area. The Community Group category winner was Sliding Rock, St. Joseph’s Community Centre, Shantalla.
St. James Church, Bushypark won the Best Church category. Peter and Kathleen Burke, 22 Grattan Park were awarded Best Registered Guest House. Winners in the Public and Commercial Buildings category included Barnacles Hostel, Galway Salmon Fisheries, The Quadrangle, NUIG and Village Fireplaces, Castlegar. Galway Educate Together NS were awarded best school garden.
On announcing the results, Sharon Carroll, Environment Education Officer, Galway City Council commended all entrants for their efforts in enhancing their local area.
"Many people don’t realise the amount of work carried out, on a voluntary basis, throughout Galway City to maintain and enhance the appearance of residential areas and estates. It is important that, through initiatives such as the Tidy Towns and Garden Competition, this work can be acknowledged and rewarded."
Continued support and interest in this local competition, which aims to encourage and promote householders and businesses to take a greater pride and interest in their own gardens, is vital for the further development and enhancement of the appearance of Galway City. Galway City Council and the Galway Tidy Towns and Garden Competition Committee would like to thank all those that supported the 2009 competition, in particular the competition sponsors (Galway City Council, Maddens Nurseries, McGaugh’s Gardening Complex, Dangan Nurseries, Galway Crystal and McCambridges of Shop Street) and everyone that entered the competition.
For further information, please contact:
Dr. Sharon Carroll, Environmental Education Officer, Galway City Council
on (091) 536564 or e-mail sharon.carroll@galwaycity.ie.