Louth Looking Good Awards 2023

History was made at the Louth Looking Good awards which were held in the Fairways Hotel on Thursday 16th November. There were gasps of surprise and shouts of joy from the large gathering when the overall winner in the Towns and Villages section was announced by MC on the night, Mary Murtagh. This category has been dominated for the past number of years by the impressive Blackrock and previously it was Tallanstown, past winner of the National Tidy Town award, that was in the ascendancy. But, this year, Dromiskin emerged victorious pipping their trailblazing Mid-Louth neighbours in to second and third place respectively thus bringing the Tommy Reilly perpetual trophy to the village for the first time ever. How apt it was to see Tommy’s son, Liam, local councillor and secretary of Dromiskin Tidy Towns receive the impressive trophy from Chairperson Louth County Council, Ms Paula Butterly.

This award was the icing on the cake on what was a memorable night for our Tidy Towns group. In addition to the overall award, Dromiskin were winners of the Best Waste Minimisation Project, the Biodiversity Award, the Age Friendly Award, the Tree Award and were third in the Best Seasonal Display category. Adding further to the celebrations was the announcement of Church View, Dromiskin, as winner of Best Overall Housing Estate in County Louth. This was a fitting accolade for Eileen Mulligan and her team of enthusiastic volunteers who have transformed their estate in to one of the jewels of the crown in the community. Daniel’s Take-Away was a local winner in the Shop Front awards.

Chairperson Paula Butterly and CEO Louth County Council, Joan Martin, thanked and praised Louth Tidy Towns Together for organising this impressive event. They also expressed their gratitude to the volunteers from around the county for their selfless commitment to their local communities and for promoting best environmental practices. Sean Mc Cormack, Monasterboice Tidy Towns, was the winner of Environmentalist of the Year.

The delighted Dromiskin contingent raised a glass to celebrate their achievements. Great credit goes to all who contributed in any way to what has been an historic year - a first time silver medal in the National Tidy Towns competition followed by being crowned as best in the county in the LLG awards. Onwards and upwards to 2024!! 

Check out the slideshow above for more pictures

House and Garden Awards 2023

The excellent St. Joseph’s GFC was the venue for the 2023 Dromiskin Tidy Towns annual Houses and Garden Awards. The club was warmly thanked for making their facilities available as the winners of this popular community event were announced. Niall Lambert, manager Ardee Credit Union, sponsor of the awards, was present to make the presentations along with members of Dromiskin Tidy Towns. The appreciation of all present was expressed for the Credit Union’s continued support in the community and Mr Lambert in turn assured the attendance of their ongoing commitment to encouraging and supporting local community groups. The participants in this year’s competition were praised for the efforts made in presenting their properties to the highest possible standard. Their efforts played no small part in helping Dromiskin Tidy Towns secure a Silver Medal in this year’s National Tidy Towns’ competition. Secretary Liam Reilly then ended the suspense and announced the winners in the various categories. These were as follows:   

Best Roadside Garden (Large): 

1.  Sinead Torley Chapel Road 2. Peter Mulligan Main Street 3. Kevin Mackin Drumleck Road

Best Roadside Garden (Small): 

      1. Michelle Rogers Commons Road 2. 12 Commons Grove, Commons Road

      3. Byrne Family Chapel Cross

Best Estate Garden: 

1. 26 Church View 2. 50 Commons Grove 3. 39 Church View 3. 23 The Hamlet

Getting Dromiskin Buzzing Award

1. Peter Mc Cartney, Dromeenagh Road 2. St John of God Community House 

Best Floral Display Housing Estate

1. 29 Church View 2. 15 Church View 3. 14 Rath na Gloine 3. 16 St Ronan’s Villas

Best Roadside Floral Display

1. Downey Family Commons Road 2. Mc Gailey’s Chapel Cross 2. St. Teresa’s Docking Street 3. Ernesto and Una Silclir 3. Catherine Bannon/Martina Morrow, Chapel Cross

Check out the slideshow above for more pictures

National Tidy Towns Award Ceremony

Friday 6 October, in the Hogan Suite, Croke Park, was the date and location for the 2023 SuperValu National Tidy Towns Awards. Five members of Dromiskin Tidy Towns were in attendance at an event hosted by broadcaster Mary Kennedy and with Nationwide’s Anne Cassin also recording the proceedings for RTE. The competition has been running since 1958 and SuperValu began its generous sponsorship in 1990. This year’s awards mark 33 years of ongoing support from the Irish retailer. There are over 1,000 Tidy Town committees in Ireland comprising in excess of 30,000 volunteers carrying out invaluable work in their communities. There were 886 entries in the 2023 competition and the prizes for overall winners were presented by Heather Humphries, Minister for Rural and Community Development and Ian Allen, Managing Director of SuperValu.

Dromiskin Tidy Towns received their first medal in 2021 - a bronze. This was retained in 2022. Accordingly there was jubilation and whoops of joy when the large screen indicated that this year, for the first time ever, we had been awarded a silver medal with a total of 361 points. This was an increase of 12 points on last year’s total and is a fitting reward for many years of commitment and endeavour from dedicated Tidy Town volunteers. From a low base, we have improved incrementally year on year to the point where Dromiskin is now placed third in County Louth behind Tallanstown and top of the class, Blackrock. Dundalk, Drogheda and Dundalk hold gold medals, with Ardee and Dromiskin both achieving silver status. Carlingford and Tallanstown maintain their bronze awards. Louth with an overall haul of 7 medals continues to punch above its weight.

Ireland’s Tidiest Small Village was Geashill in County Offaly. Tidiest Small Town was Abbeyleix, County Laois, who narrowly pipped Blackrock to achieve this honour. Tidiest Large Town was Killarney in County Kerry and the Tidiest Large Urban Centre was Ballincollig in County Cork. Overall winner, and Ireland’s tidiest town for 2023, was Abbeyleix sparking wild celebrations in the O Moore County. Ian Allen, from sponsors SuperValu lauded the efforts of all Tidy Town participants and stressed that continuous local actions at Tidy Towns level can end up having a global impact. Minister Humphries, to loud applause, assured all present of her Department’s continued support for the Tidy Towns’ organisation and confirmed increased funding for 2024.

This silver medal award is a huge boost for everyone concerned and provides impetus and encouragement for 2024. Many thanks to all those who offered congratulations - your continued support is much appreciated. On that note new volunteers are always welcome in our quest to make Dromiskin environmentally sustainable and promote best practice in waste management, energy conservation and biodiversity.

The full adjudicators’ 2023 report on Dromiskin can be read in the Reports section of this website and can also be accessed on Facebook.

Check out the slideshow above for more pictures