The results of the Tidy Towns Ireland Competition were released yesterday in Dublin, and Millstreet Tidy Towns continued on their upward curve, gaining six point this year (on top of 5 points last year), and seeing the return of a Bronze Medal. Great credit is due to all that put in lots of effort this year and in the past:
“Millstreet Tidy Town Association would like to take this opportunity to thank all those involved. Without a strong community spirit and a stalwart of volunteers this result would not be possible. Tidy Town is just one simple way that we can showcase how wonderful a place Millstreet is. We can hold our heads high safe in the knowledge that all the hard work that people are putting into to keeping this town a beautiful place to live is paying off. So hats off and big congratulations to all.” – from millstreettidytown.ie
Below is the Adjudication Report and more:
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Tidy Towns Competition 2016
Adjudication Report
Centre: Millstreet ____ County: Cork ____ Categoty: D ____ Ref: 480 ____ Mark: 308 ____ Date: 17/06/2016
| Max | 2015 | 2016 | |
| Community Involvement & Planning | 60 | 43 | 44 |
| Built Environment and Streetscape | 50 | 40 | 41 |
| Landscaping and Open Spaces | 50 | 42 | 43 |
| Wildlife, Habitats and Natural Amenities | 50 | 32 | 33 |
| Sustainable Waste and Resource Management | 50 | 14 | 15 |
| Tidiness and Litter Control | 90 | 64 | 65 |
| Residential Streets & Housing Areas | 50 | 33 | 33 |
| Approach Roads, Streets & Lanes | 50 | 34 | 34 |
| TOTAL MARK | 450 | 302 | 308 |
Community Involvement & Planning / Rannpháirtíocht an Phobail & Pleanáil:
Millstreet comes to this year’s Tidy Town’s Competition with three decades experience. You are very welcome and we commend you for your neatly-assembled application. It is good to see that you have a well worked out plan and that you have now reached phase three of it. We always encourage this approach, using a three (or five) year plan, allowing you to phase the projects in light of the available resources of manpower and funding. We note that Millstreet is entered in the category of small towns, with a population stated at 2,750. You have been very successful in obtaining funding and sponsorship; this has included half the price of flowers, two dozen reservoir pole baskets, the cost of a biodiversity plan and insurance for your wildlife walks. We note that your committee has 18 members, with 25 other people volunteering during the summer months. You also benefit from assistance given by local community organisations such as Macra na Feirme. Well done to all those involved. Thank you for your town map. It is well set out and contains a colour-coded site/project key. It is also (very thoughtfully) waterproof. We found it very useful, especially during those sudden summer showers!
Built Environment and Streetscape / An Timpeallacht Thógtha agus Sráid-dreacha:
Millstreet scores high in this category and it is easy to see why. This was our first visit since the era of the Eurovision event. It gave us an opportunity to see what a great understanding you have of good town planning. The town centre benefits from the cluster of well-arranged and sensibly-placed services and amenities. We formed the opinion that the cluster of amenity/recreation facilities in and around the Town Park give Millstreet a strong civic core. It is a great community resource. The GAA clubhouse was well presented, combining its green and cream colours. The green arena is well maintained. The community school was pristine, as was Scoil Mhuire. Other properties we commended included the long frontage of Herlihy’s supermarket, Tarrant’s funeral home with its dignified solemnity, the Garden of Eve florists, An Siopa Deas (a bhí go deas), the Post Office, the Clara Inn, Hickie’s old-style front, the Wallis Arms, the Credit Union and O’Hanlon’s tyres with its neat forecourt.
Built Environment and Streetscape / An Timpeallacht Thógtha agus Sráid-dreacha:
Millstreet scores high in this category and it is easy to see why. This was our first visit since the era of the Eurovision event. It gave us an opportunity to see what a great understanding you have of good town planning. The town centre benefits from the cluster of well-arranged and sensibly-placed services and amenities. We formed the opinion that the cluster of amenity/recreation facilities in and around the Town Park give Millstreet a strong civic core. It is a great community resource. The GAA clubhouse was well presented, combining its green and cream colours. The green arena is well maintained. The community school was pristine, as was Scoil Mhuire. Other properties we commended included the long frontage of Herlihy’s supermarket, Tarrant’s funeral home with its dignified solemnity, the Garden of Eve florists, An Siopa Deas (a bhí go deas), the Post Office, the Clara Inn, Hickie’s old-style front, the Wallis Arms, the Credit Union and O’Hanlon’s tyres with its neat forecourt.
Landscaping and Open Spaces / Tírdhreachú agus Spásanna Oscailte
Your landscaping at the Town Park was admired. The adjacent playground was neat and tidy, and put to good use when we saw it. That collection of public amenities serves you well. We liked the trees at the town perimeter and in the centre. Some cutting back is desirable at the central identification panel. We admired the millrace mural. The red valerian sprouting below it needs to be removed. The new planters in the central area looked very well. At the church the landscaped bed requires attention. The bridge at the River Finnow is beautiful. We saw some gunnera there and it needs to be tackled as it can become a problem quite quickly.
Wildlife, Habitats and Natural Amenities / Fiadhúlra, Gnáthóga agus Taitneamhachtaí Nádúrtha:
Millstreet is fortunate to have a document like your Biodiversity Action Plan. It contains a detailed inventory of the foremost sites, describing their significance and recommending positive outcomes. This can be tied in with your
phased plan, all the time raising local awareness of the rich diversity of local wildlife that can contribute so much to brightening up our daily lives. The hedgerow biodiversity study is a commendable initiative and your woodland
habitat study draws in the transition year students. Hopefully, this early engagement with the environment will provide a foundation for lifelong involvement. Your wildlife garden is coming along well. The grass had been cut before our visit. That set us wondering about the best length to maintain it in order to support biodiversity. We saw the field of beautiful yellow irises before the Grotto which brightened up our visit.
Sustainable Waste and Resource Management / Bainistiú Acmhainní agus Dramhaíola Inbhuanaithe:
Your recycling centre is well situated. It is convenient, very extensive and well laid out. We commend your sensible initiatives such as the collection of used batteries, recycling rainwater for flushing toilets and for power-washing, and the conversion of timber pallets into bird boxes. It is good to see how you have got all three schools involved in your projects. We believe this is a category where you can make more progress over the new few years.
Tidiness and Litter Control / Slachtmhaireacht agus Rialú Bruscair:
We were very impressed with the state of the town. Before our visit we had seen your photo album and learned about the several projects you have completed to give Millstreet a neater and tidier appearance. It is clear that work
has been successful for the results are now there for all to see. Well done.
It was great to see the refurbishment on Church Road. The panel celebrating your part in the Eurovision caught our eye. We commend the renewal of the flag panel there. It is now part of your heritage. The mural at the school
looked bright and cheerful. The avenue leading up to the hospital is impressive and is also well-maintained. The beech hedge is really attractive, adding beauty to its surroundings. Main Street was litter-free and our visit to the local public toilets confirmed the cleanliness of the central area. Well done.
Residential Streets & Housing Areas / Sráideanna Cónaithe & Ceantair Tithíochta:
The colour scheme is bringing rewards to all parts of the town. Drishane Castle impressed us on account of its imposing frontage. St. Joseph’s Gardens, beside the parish centre, is a quiet oasis. It is a really neat development looking out onto a spacious green space. We admired the poly-tunnel and the associated beds, all adding to the appearance of healthy cultivation. Down the Green Glens
road we admired the appearance of Corkery’s, and the architecture of Liss Ard marks it our as a landmark. Gilbore House had a striking black and white colour scheme. Mount Leader estate contains bright bungalows with pleasant gardens. The picnic area on the opposite side was admired. Firgide House, at the hospital road, has a bright hedgerow to the front. Ard an Aonaigh looked well.
Approach Roads, Streets & Lanes / Bóithre Isteach, Sráideanna & Lánaí:
The colour scheme is bringing rewards to all parts of the town.
Drishane Castle impressed us on account of its imposing frontage. St. Joseph’s Gardens, beside the parish centre, is a quiet oasis. It is a really neat development looking out onto a spacious green space. We admired the poly-tunnel and the associated beds, all adding to the appearance of healthy cultivation. Down the Green Glens road we admired the appearance of Corkery’s, and the architecture of Liss Ard marks it our as a landmark. Gilbore House had a striking black and white colour scheme. Mount Leader estate contains bright bungalows with pleasant gardens. The picnic area on the opposite side was admired. Firgide House, at the hospital road, has a bright hedgerow to the front. Ard an Aonaigh looked well.
Approach Roads, Streets & Lanes / Bóithre Isteach, Sráideanna & Lánaí:
The road signs in front of the grotto were well maintained. We commend the high standard of the central car park. It is well-surfaced and there was no litter. It is adjoined by public toilets that are also well-maintained. The water feature beside the car park is eye-catching. The information panel for the Clara Walk deserves attention. We found the road signs on the Killarney road were neat and tidy. The town sign there has a complementary planter. We saw
the old pump is now painted yellow.
Concluding Remarks:
We were very impressed with Millstreet and all of the completed projects this year. We look forward to a return visit. Well done to all concerned.
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From the Tidy Towns Result Book, the national winners Skerries, Co.Dublin had 327 points, while here are the results for Cork North:
CATEGORY A
Coolagown 323
Kiskeam 311
Sallybrook 294
Berrings 280
Knockraha 277
Boherbue 265
CATEGORY B
Castletownroche 313
Kilworth 309
Castlelyons – Bridesbridge 304
Kildorrery 304
Banteer 300
Milford 298
Glanworth 261
Lismire 254
Newtownshandrum 242
Dromahane 239
Glenville 224
Newtwopothouse 200
CATEGORY C
Newmarket 279
Kanturk 255
CATEGORY D
Millstreet 308
Fermoy 287
Mitchelstown 282
Charleville 262
CATEGORY G
Mallow 275
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