This article is from page 26 of the 2007-08-28 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 26 JPG
AS the announcement of the results loom closer, hopes are high that Kil- rush will fare well in this year’s na- tional Tidy Towns competition.
The local committee has put in a huge effort, to ensure its high stand- ing in the competition will continue this year.
The town has received silver med- als for the past two years, and bronze medals in 2003 and 2004. Last year, Kilrush received 282 points. This was the second highest score in the county and was just six points short of Ennis, which obtained the highest score in Clare.
This score was a huge improve- ment on the figure for 2005, when the
west Clare town scooped 267 points. On that occasion, Ennis finished in pole position, with 279 points, with Mountshannon in second place, with pA)
Kilrush’s points have increased steadily in recent years. It earned 260 points in 2004 and in 2003, it received 256 points.
According to the chairman of the Tidy Towns committee in Kilrush, Murt Collins, a huge effort has gone in to ensure the steady progress con- tinues this year.
“We have organised two major clean-ups, in conjunction with Super Valu and the town council. Everyone got together and we picked out dif- ferent areas to focus on. The FAS team has given us great help, through
the town council,” he said.
“One area we focused on is from Shannon Heights down as far as the old creamery, along with Moore Street and O’Dea’s road,” said Mr Collins.
There are 12 active members on the Tidy Towns committee, while a number of other residents in the town also help out, on a weekly basis.
This year, committee focused mainly on keeping the town tidy, while flowers were planted through- out the town on a regular basis.
“Tam very hopeful we will do well. A lot of places in the town are com- ing along well. Some of the streets are being dug up for broadband, but we hope the judges take that into ac- count,” said Mr Collins.
“There is a problem of dumping, at the recycling centre, but there are plans to put cameras in there,’ he added.
There is an incentive for individual businesses and residents to keep their own areas tidy as the committee presents prizes in 14 different cat- egories, later in the year.
The committee incurred costs of up to €10,000 and this was raised locally, while the town council also provided some funding.
“We went to the businesses for sponsorship and they helped us. We also held church gate collections and sold tickets,’ said Mr Collins.