We’re in a celebratory mood these days at Gorey Tidy Towns.
For the first time in the history of our involvement in the national SuperValu Tidy Towns competition, we reached the standard where we were awarded bronze at the national awards ceremony in the Helix in DCU recently.
The accolade comes with a very welcome cheque for €400 which will be useful in helping us maintain our bronze standard.
The adjudicator’s report provided some very interesting feedback, comments, and suggestions, and we will take these on board as we work towards next year’s judging.
We gained marks in every category of the competition, increasing our score from 306 to 316. The higher we go in the competition, the harder it is to pick up extra marks, so we have our work cut out for us to continue our upward climb.
The judge remarked on the low number of volunteers who are involved in our efforts. We’re always ready to welcome new help and ideas with open arms.
They also said ‘it is evident that the activities of Gorey Tidy Towns over the years has increased the sense of Community Pride and has enhanced its reputation as a must visit shopping town with a clean and tidy appearance.’ That’s good to know!
The Gorey 400 celebrations, including our Gorey 400 projects involving the Market Square graveyard restoration, the flower bed at the Monument, the mural at the Civic Square, and Gorey 400 Trees were much admired.
How’s this for praise for our town:
‘The main thoroughfare running through the centre of Gorey Town extending along Main Street, Esmonde Street, Charlotte Row and McCurtain Street was a hive of activity on a sunny day in July. The Town is fortunate in having many fine shops and business premises and an enviable customer footfall, particularly during the summer holiday period.
‘The general quality of the shop fronts along this main thoroughfare and along the side streets is superb …. The pollarded London Plane trees are an important feature of the main street and add character and a sense of scale along the Town’s main shopping precinct. The wonderfully presented and colourful shopfronts with interesting window displays, are too numerous to mention individually.’
That’s just dipping our toe into the report. It’s available to view on www.tidytowns.ie if you want to read some more.
PIC: Gorey Tidy Towns volunteers with Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District Chairman Cllr Malcolm Byrne, and district manager Michael Drea at The Helix.