Wicklow County Council held its annual Sustainable Development Awards, Tidy Main Streets & Tidy Estates Awards ceremony, on Saturday, 7th March in The Brockagh Centre, Laragh. Tidy Towns groups, Residents' Associations, schools, local & farming champions, and businesses were recognised and thanked for their pro-active role in the restoration of our biodiverse environment and building more sustainable and resilient communities in Co Wicklow. The quality of the work completed and the exceptional levels of volunteering were evident, with 72 awards handed out to schools, groups, businesses and individuals throughout Wicklow.
Opening the annual awards ceremony, Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Cllr. Melanie Corrigan, gave an insight into how this vital work comes about and the importance of engagement. She emphasised that: “Success in the competition today requires the building of networks with a wide range of partners including local businesses, schools, clubs and our own local municipal district teams and other state agencies. In addition, community and Tidy Towns’ groups and schools work to engage those who could become marginalised in our communities including those with special needs and those who have sought sanctuary in our county.”
Wicklow’s Sustainable Development Awards focuses on various themes such as Biodiversity, Climate Action, Waste Reduction, Built Heritage, Water Protection and Energy. In addition, three categories specifically recognised the outstanding work undertaken by Wicklow’s primary and secondary schools. The award for Biodiversity, Wildlife & Natural Amenities went to ReWild Wicklow for their deep understanding and appreciation of Biodiversity demonstrated through their restoration work on upland woodland areas using native trees grown from local seed. Roundwood Tidy Towns won the Built Environment category for their commemorative events at Derralossary Graveyard, while the Five Loaves Bookshop in Bray, nominated by Bray Tidy Towns, received the Business Award.
Greystones Tidy Towns won the Climate Action Award for their ongoing excellent work in this category, includes initiatives like ‘solar meitheals’ and tree planting. A new participant, Jack’s Mill Forest Garden, was awarded the Communal Gardening Award for their well-planned community garden. Thanks to the Community Climate Action Fund, there were excellent entries in the Energy Award category, with the prize awarded to Donard Community Enterprises for their thoughtful energy upgrade to their community hall, which provided numerous benefits to the locality.
Four Wicklow farmers were recognised as ‘Farming Champions’, nominated by Wicklow Uplands Council and Coolboy Tidy Towns for their work in biodiversity protection, water quality initiatives and sustainable practices on the farm. Director of Services Theresa O’Brien reinforced the importance of supporting and collaborating with our farmers and recognising their work stating:
“The aim of the Sustainable Development Awards is to showcase best practices in environmental protection and sustainable development in harmony with our environment, working in partnership with us and other state agencies across County Wicklow. Having four of our Wicklow farmers here accepting the Farming Champion award is part of why we are here this morning”.
In recognition of the excellent work schools carry out, Cathaoirleach Clr Melanie Corrigan commented that “Our schools continue to be an inspiration to us, not only learning but implementing actions and practices inside and outside the school building but importantly bringing those sustainable practices home and to our communities”.
Bray Golf Club won the Sustainable Tourism Award having been nominated by Bray Tidy Towns for their efforts to protect and enhance biodiversity on their grounds. Meanwhile, Hollywood Tidy Towns secured the Trees Award with their ongoing, well-planned tree planting schemes. Staying westside, Blessington Tidy Towns continues their outstanding projects and initiatives and secured the Waste Minimization Award. Glenwood Residents Association (Swan River Group) won the Water Protection Award for their work restoring river habitat and improving and enhancing this Bray tributary in a sensitive manner.
Theresa O’Brien, Director of Services for the Climate, Environment Recreation and Amenity, expressed the significant impact of volunteers saying:
“The volunteers of County Wicklow have made remarkable contributions to protecting Wicklow’s natural and built environment. The range of projects and campaigns they undertake benefits everyone.Some of the phrases used by community and Tidy Town groups describing their Youth and Local champions included ‘being deeply rooted in community spirit’, having ‘dedication to our local environment’ and contributed enormously to the development of connections with local special needs community groups’.
In her closing speech, Theresa O’Brien, applauded all of Wicklow schools and community saying “she would like to take this opportunity to give recognition to the groups and our schools who were not present at the ceremony. We are all benefiting from the work that each and everyone of us are doing. Every single positive action helps making Wicklow stronger and more sustainable.”
List of Award Winners
Biodiversity Wildlife & Natural Amenities Award
- 1st ReWild Wicklow
- 2nd Roundwood & District Community Council/ Tidy Towns
- 3rd Blessington Tidy Towns
- Highly commended Greystones Tidy Towns
- Highly commended Laragh/Glendalough Tidy Towns
Built Environment Award
Business Award
- 1st Five Loaves Charity Booktique, Bray
- 2nd Little Big Bikes, Wicklow Town
Climate Action Award
- 1st Greystones Tidy Towns
- 2nd Blessington Tidy Towns
Coast Care Award
- 1st Bray Tidy Towns
- 2nd Greystones Tidy Towns
- 3rd Arklow Coast Care
Communal Gardening Award
- 1st Jack’s Mill Forest Gardens
- 2nd Pride In Carnew
- 3rd Enniskerry Tidy Towns
Energy Award
- 1st Donard Community Enterprises
- 2nd Wicklow Tidy Towns SEC
- 3rd Bray Tidy Towns/Bray Family Resource Centre
Sustainable Food Award
- 1st The Happy Pear, Greystones
Landscaping Award
- 1st Enniskerry Tidy Towns
- 2nd Blessington Tidy Towns
- 3rd Newtownmountkennedy Tidy Towns
Local Champion Award
- Pauline Duffy, Bray
- Michael Clarke, Greystones
- Anita Moroney, Blessington
- Pat Kenny, Newtownmountkennedy
- Pat Doyle, Coolboy
Farming Champion
- Lisa Hatton, Coolboy
- Pat Dunne, Glenmalure
- Orla McLean, Aughrim
- Mary C. Murphy, Wicklow Uplands
Schools Awareness Award
- 1st Grange Con National School
- 2nd St Mary’s Coolafancy
- 3rd St Michael & St Peter’s Junior School, Arklow
Schools Biodiversity Award
- 1st Scoil Mhuire Realt na Mara, Brittas Bay
- 2nd St Joseph’s National School, Arklow
- 3rd Wicklow Educate Together NS, Wicklow Town
School Climate Change Award
- 1st Kilcoole National School, Kilcoole
- 2nd Greystones Community National School, Greystones
Sustainable Tourism Award
Trees Award
- 1st Hollywood Tidy Towns
- 2nd Greystones Tidy Towns
- 3rd Enniskerry Tidy Towns
- Highly commended Coolboy Tidy Towns
Waste Minimisation Award
- 1st Blessington Tidy Towns
- 2nd Greystones Tidy Towns
- 3rd Blessington Allotments Campaign
- HC Knockananna Tidy Towns
Water Protection of Resources Award
- 1st Glenwood Residents Association/Swan River Group
- 2nd Joint Greystones & Delgany Tidy Towns
- 3rd Baltinglass Tidy Towns
National Tidy Towns County Results
County Champion
Endeavour Award
MAIN STREET
Small Towns
- 1st Grange Con Tidy Towns
- 2nd Coolboy Tidy Towns
- 3rd Shillelagh Tidy Towns
- HC Hollywood Tidy Towns
Medium Towns
- 1st Newtownmountkennedy Tidy Towns
- 2nd Tinahely Tidy Towns
- 3rd Pride In Carnew
- HC Avoca Tidy Towns
Large Towns
- 1st Bray Tidy Towns
- 2nd Blessington Tidy Towns
- 3rd Baltinglass Tidy Towns
TIDY ESTATES
- 1st Elgin Woods, Bray
- 2nd Monastery Grove & Berryfield Residents Association, Enniskerry
- 3rd Dragoon Hill, Hollywood
- HC Redford Park & St Crispins, Greystones
- HC Church Terrace, Chapel View, & Market Close, Dunlavin