THE West Limerick village of Athea is smelling of roses after being crowned overall winner of the Limerick In Bloom competition for the second year in a row.
Forty five community groups throughout County Limerick were honoured for their participation in the annual competition, now in its seventh year, at an awards ceremony in the Woodlands House Hotel in Adare last Thursday.
Limerick City and County Council, in conjunction with sponsor JP McManus Foundation, hosted this year’s competition, which entices small local-based groups to enhance the visual impact of their towns and villages by means of flower, tree and shrub planting.
Along with being named overall winner, Athea Tidy Towns Committee picked up first prize in its category while St Ita’s Voluntary Housing Association in Abbeyfeale, Ardpatrick Tidy Towns, Hospital Tidy Towns and Slugaire Residents Association in Dooradoyle were named winners of their respective categories.
Cathaoirleach of Limerick City and County Council, Cllr Kevin Sheahan, congratulated all Limerick In Bloom participants for making the competition “a real celebration of community spirit, teamwork and awareness of the natural environment.”
“While Limerick City and County Council is responsible for the delivery of a range of public services, it also has a responsibility to assist residents associations, businesses and voluntary groups to enhancing their local communities,” said Cllr Sheahan.
“Limerick In Bloom is one such vehicle for achieving this and we are delighted to officially recognise those communities and groups that have committed themselves to improving the visual appearance of their localities,” he added.
Gerry Boland of the JP McManus Foundation also praised the competition and its participants for making an invaluable contribution to the overall appearance of their local communities.
“We are delighted to recognise and endorse the efforts of local communities in working towards the improvement of the beauty and natural environment of Limerick as a whole,” said Mr Boland.
