Awards 2019
Cathedral View took best Estate 2019
2019 Monaghan Tidy Towns Annual Awards Winners and Appreciation night for volunteers
Special guest Eanna Ní Lamhna extolls biodiversity promotion in Monaghan Town
Monaghan TidyTowns fourteenth Annual Awards in the Westenra Hotel last week saw presentations to a wide range of businesses and individuals from across the town, all of whom have been making an important contribution to the TidyTowns effort. Monaghan Tidy Towns’ Emer Brennan said, “So many different groups, businesses and individuals made a vital contribution to help the town look its best again this year. Monaghan Town scores very highly under the “Built Environment”, “Streetscape” and “Biodiversity” categories in the National Tidy Towns adjudication every year and visiting adjudicators frequently point to the high standard of presentation of businesses and shops across the town. We are very grateful to everyone who has done their bit to keep the town looking good. These awards have been one of the foundation stones for our continued improvement in our Tidy Towns scores over the past decade.”
“For over ten years now our awards have been part-sponsored by Monaghan County Council which has been so supportive of the Tidy Towns effort. Again we are delighted to thank a major sponsor in Flemings Department Store without whom this event could not have taken place. We are also continuing our practice of recognising those who make a special effort in volunteering to help out the Tidy Towns cause in Monaghan and thanking all of our volunteers in local residents committees and other groups.
Tidy Towns Community Heroes
The Tidy Towns Awards took time to appreciate a number of Tidy Towns Heroes for their considerable contribution to the town’s ongoing progress. The committee is particularly proud of Alice Creagh and Gerry Murdock. Monaghan Men’s Shed and Monaghan Allotments, particularly Michael O Hare, have been an enormous support particularly through their work for our now annual Biodiversity Town Days. Justine Erskine has continued to support Tidy Towns by looking after the Greenway. Solas is another local community group which has been invaluable to Tidy Towns and Joe Connolly and Noel Mc Carron are true “Litter Vigilantes” working away keeping the town clean and tidy.
Many thanks were expressed to Monaghan County Council Environment Section for sponsorship of the community involvement appreciation awards. Thanks also to all the community groups and individuals who continue to help in so many ways every year. This year was our first year to have CE workers and we are thankful for the great work they are doing.
Special Guest Speaker
Special guest Eanna Ní Lamhna, well known for her radio and TV appearances and spokesperson for the Tree Council, explained the vital importance of the biodiversity promotion work being done by the Tidy Towns Committee. Monaghan Town won the first National Pollinator Award in 2016 and is working on promoting the town as a “Biodiversity Town”. She explained the benefits of a “low mow” policy and how both the council and the community should appreciate the benefits of trees, not only for their role in soaking up carbon but also in improving air quality in the town.
The award winners for 2019 were
The School Award
This went to St. Marys Boys NS who attained a Green Schools Flag for biodiversity in 2019 and engaged with MTT over the year. Their work was presented in this year’s application helping gain points in the biodiversity category.
Best Estate
Cathedral Walk residents were quick to act on recommendations from the adjudicators report. Always tidy and well presented this estate is one you hope the national judges will visit.
Community Spirit Award – Estates
Cluain Lorcain
The headline estate for community activity over the years, Cluain Lorcain residents initiated the Junior TidtTowns initiative and has been re-invigourated in recent years with a great spirit and can do attitude and a pleasure to visit.
Best Newcomer Estate:
Beechgrove
The controversy over 60 poplar trees spawned a new and extremely active residents association, self-reliant, multi-cultural, with a biodiversity survey already complete Beechgrove looks like the estate to catch in the future.
Biodiversity Award
Dominic Meehan
This award replaces the garden award this year as the work of Dominic Meehan both at home and at the Market House and the Museum was seen as a tremendous example of pollinator friendly planting for both containers and flower beds, Dominic has been leading the way in Bee Friendly gardening which is exactly what national judges now want to see.
Best Shop Front:
Angel Blossoms
This shop won the newcomer award last year and have now cemented their position as one of the most attractive shop fronts in the town with their pastel colours, super window displays and flower displays on the street.
Best Pub:
Terrys Bar, Market St.
The judges admired the colour combinations of the building and the window boxes and Terrys this year held off the other pubs in the town
Best Large Business Front:
Francie Mc Quaid Tyres
This year the business category has been split in two with big and small judged separately. Mc Quaid Tyres won out for their clean tidy and very organised presentation coupled with excellent floral displays.
Best Small Business Front
In-Health Chiropractic
Colour, landscaping and presentation was seen as first class at In Health Chiropractic on the Mall Road leading the way in an area which has become an attractive business district of the town
Best New Shop Front
Madison
This time last year a vacant premises on Glaslough Street was sad and forlorn, however the proprietors of Madison boutique renovated and uplifted the building into a classic modern shop front.
Best Hotel
Hillgrove Hotel
This category, though small with only three hotels is always a tough and competitive one. This year the renovations at the Hillgrove with a new paint job and particularly the new landscaping to the front were impossible to beat.
Best B&B
Ashleigh House
B&Bs are always a tough category but Ashleigh House has become almost unassailable at this stage – freshly painted every year with fabulous floral displays on every window this B&B lifts all of Dublin Street and is a super example of how a little care and attention to detail can lift the whole town.
Best Restaurant or Take Away.
Dinkins
Several restaurants compete strongly here but Dinkins choice of colour supplemented with excellent floral displays blends perfectly with its surroundings.
Best Floral Display
The Hive
Kerrie Wallace’s clear pride and attention to detail with window boxes and flowers beat off the competition for a second year running.
Window Display
Rocks’
Another tough category but Rocks’ consistency in always eye-catching window displays all year round won out.
Best Service Station
Sam’s Bridge / Maxol Moreish
Just when there’s a chance another service station might catch up – Vincent and staff raise the bar yet again, a complete makeover of the premises since last year, sponsorship of Junior Tidy Towns activities and the sight of the boss himself out picking litter every day makes Sam’s Bridge a great asset to the TidyTowns effort.
Sustainability Award
Monaghan Community Allotments
An overdue award to the group who put sustainability and biodiversity into the allotment culture, hosts of our biodiversity town days and big supporters of the TT effort.
Community garden award
Solas
The community at Solas love their garden, years ago they rescued an insect hotel and made it their own and one of the best examples in the town.
Commitment award
Alice Creagh and Gerry Murdock
Volunteers of the Year for the county last year, day in day out, all year long the TT effort in this town could not achieve as much as we have without this pair;
supervising our CE workers, community service, preparing for biodiversity days and other events, litter picking, planting, you name it they will do it!
Monaghan Tidy Towns Heroes
Our “Heroes” have made a significant contribution to Tidy Towns work and the upkeep of the town throughout the year.
Special guest Eanna Ní Lamhna extolls biodiversity promotion in Monaghan Town
Monaghan TidyTowns fourteenth Annual Awards in the Westenra Hotel last week saw presentations to a wide range of businesses and individuals from across the town, all of whom have been making an important contribution to the TidyTowns effort. Monaghan Tidy Towns’ Emer Brennan said, “So many different groups, businesses and individuals made a vital contribution to help the town look its best again this year. Monaghan Town scores very highly under the “Built Environment”, “Streetscape” and “Biodiversity” categories in the National Tidy Towns adjudication every year and visiting adjudicators frequently point to the high standard of presentation of businesses and shops across the town. We are very grateful to everyone who has done their bit to keep the town looking good. These awards have been one of the foundation stones for our continued improvement in our Tidy Towns scores over the past decade.”
“For over ten years now our awards have been part-sponsored by Monaghan County Council which has been so supportive of the Tidy Towns effort. Again we are delighted to thank a major sponsor in Flemings Department Store without whom this event could not have taken place. We are also continuing our practice of recognising those who make a special effort in volunteering to help out the Tidy Towns cause in Monaghan and thanking all of our volunteers in local residents committees and other groups.
Tidy Towns Community Heroes
The Tidy Towns Awards took time to appreciate a number of Tidy Towns Heroes for their considerable contribution to the town’s ongoing progress. The committee is particularly proud of Alice Creagh and Gerry Murdock. Monaghan Men’s Shed and Monaghan Allotments, particularly Michael O Hare, have been an enormous support particularly through their work for our now annual Biodiversity Town Days. Justine Erskine has continued to support Tidy Towns by looking after the Greenway. Solas is another local community group which has been invaluable to Tidy Towns and Joe Connolly and Noel Mc Carron are true “Litter Vigilantes” working away keeping the town clean and tidy.
Many thanks were expressed to Monaghan County Council Environment Section for sponsorship of the community involvement appreciation awards. Thanks also to all the community groups and individuals who continue to help in so many ways every year. This year was our first year to have CE workers and we are thankful for the great work they are doing.
Special Guest Speaker
Special guest Eanna Ní Lamhna, well known for her radio and TV appearances and spokesperson for the Tree Council, explained the vital importance of the biodiversity promotion work being done by the Tidy Towns Committee. Monaghan Town won the first National Pollinator Award in 2016 and is working on promoting the town as a “Biodiversity Town”. She explained the benefits of a “low mow” policy and how both the council and the community should appreciate the benefits of trees, not only for their role in soaking up carbon but also in improving air quality in the town.
The award winners for 2019 were
The School Award
This went to St. Marys Boys NS who attained a Green Schools Flag for biodiversity in 2019 and engaged with MTT over the year. Their work was presented in this year’s application helping gain points in the biodiversity category.
Best Estate
Cathedral Walk residents were quick to act on recommendations from the adjudicators report. Always tidy and well presented this estate is one you hope the national judges will visit.
Community Spirit Award – Estates
Cluain Lorcain
The headline estate for community activity over the years, Cluain Lorcain residents initiated the Junior TidtTowns initiative and has been re-invigourated in recent years with a great spirit and can do attitude and a pleasure to visit.
Best Newcomer Estate:
Beechgrove
The controversy over 60 poplar trees spawned a new and extremely active residents association, self-reliant, multi-cultural, with a biodiversity survey already complete Beechgrove looks like the estate to catch in the future.
Biodiversity Award
Dominic Meehan
This award replaces the garden award this year as the work of Dominic Meehan both at home and at the Market House and the Museum was seen as a tremendous example of pollinator friendly planting for both containers and flower beds, Dominic has been leading the way in Bee Friendly gardening which is exactly what national judges now want to see.
Best Shop Front:
Angel Blossoms
This shop won the newcomer award last year and have now cemented their position as one of the most attractive shop fronts in the town with their pastel colours, super window displays and flower displays on the street.
Best Pub:
Terrys Bar, Market St.
The judges admired the colour combinations of the building and the window boxes and Terrys this year held off the other pubs in the town
Best Large Business Front:
Francie Mc Quaid Tyres
This year the business category has been split in two with big and small judged separately. Mc Quaid Tyres won out for their clean tidy and very organised presentation coupled with excellent floral displays.
Best Small Business Front
In-Health Chiropractic
Colour, landscaping and presentation was seen as first class at In Health Chiropractic on the Mall Road leading the way in an area which has become an attractive business district of the town
Best New Shop Front
Madison
This time last year a vacant premises on Glaslough Street was sad and forlorn, however the proprietors of Madison boutique renovated and uplifted the building into a classic modern shop front.
Best Hotel
Hillgrove Hotel
This category, though small with only three hotels is always a tough and competitive one. This year the renovations at the Hillgrove with a new paint job and particularly the new landscaping to the front were impossible to beat.
Best B&B
Ashleigh House
B&Bs are always a tough category but Ashleigh House has become almost unassailable at this stage – freshly painted every year with fabulous floral displays on every window this B&B lifts all of Dublin Street and is a super example of how a little care and attention to detail can lift the whole town.
Best Restaurant or Take Away.
Dinkins
Several restaurants compete strongly here but Dinkins choice of colour supplemented with excellent floral displays blends perfectly with its surroundings.
Best Floral Display
The Hive
Kerrie Wallace’s clear pride and attention to detail with window boxes and flowers beat off the competition for a second year running.
Window Display
Rocks’
Another tough category but Rocks’ consistency in always eye-catching window displays all year round won out.
Best Service Station
Sam’s Bridge / Maxol Moreish
Just when there’s a chance another service station might catch up – Vincent and staff raise the bar yet again, a complete makeover of the premises since last year, sponsorship of Junior Tidy Towns activities and the sight of the boss himself out picking litter every day makes Sam’s Bridge a great asset to the TidyTowns effort.
Sustainability Award
Monaghan Community Allotments
An overdue award to the group who put sustainability and biodiversity into the allotment culture, hosts of our biodiversity town days and big supporters of the TT effort.
Community garden award
Solas
The community at Solas love their garden, years ago they rescued an insect hotel and made it their own and one of the best examples in the town.
Commitment award
Alice Creagh and Gerry Murdock
Volunteers of the Year for the county last year, day in day out, all year long the TT effort in this town could not achieve as much as we have without this pair;
supervising our CE workers, community service, preparing for biodiversity days and other events, litter picking, planting, you name it they will do it!
Monaghan Tidy Towns Heroes
Our “Heroes” have made a significant contribution to Tidy Towns work and the upkeep of the town throughout the year.
- Monaghan Men’s Shed
- National Learning Network
- Rehab and Justin Erskine,
- Joe Connolly
- Noel Mc Carron