This article is from page 2 of the 2006-04-04 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 2 JPG
FIVE months after being named the tidiest town in Ireland, Ennis was given the Presidential seal of approval on Saturday.
Flanked by the Ennis Brass Band and members of the Civil Defence, President Mary McAleese addressed the rain sodden crowd assembled outside the entrance of the Ennis Tourist Office.
She said they could feel justifiably proud of the massive community effort that had secured the town its fist ever Tidy Town’s crown.
Ennis scored 279 marks out of a possible 300 in the competition to take top prize last year, in addition to winning the title of Ireland’s Tidiest Large Town.
“Only 32 towns can lay claim to the title of Ireland’s Tidiest Town since this competition was started way back almost 50 years ago in 1958, and now Ennis has joined this elite group.
“It is a huge achievement and a hard-earned one as anyone who ever competed in Tidy Towns will tell you.
“There are no short-cuts, no easy wins.
“Patience and persistence and a community effort worthy of a mobilised army are essential and Ennis has shown these qualities in abundance”.
President McAleese was welcomed on her arrival at the Ennis Tourist Office by a host of Clare’s political and community leaders, including Mayor of Ennis, Councillor Frankie Neylon (Ind) and Donal Griffin, Chairman of Ennis Tidy Town’s Committee.
After meeting with councillors and senior staff of Ennis Town Council, Mrs McAleese unveiled a plaque at Place St Paul De Fenouilent museum plaza in Ennis to celebrate the Tidy Towns win.
Noel Crowley, treasurer of Ennis Tidy towns Committee said that the location of the President’s address held special historical significance to the town of Ennis.
“This was indeed an historic occasion for the people of Ennis and County Clare and was just a metres distance from the scenes and public meetings associated with both Daniel O’Connell and the 1828 election and de Valera and the 1917 elections.”
The man who masterminded Ennis’s triumph, Donal Griffin, praised the contributions of the town’s community organisations and businesses. Welcoming President McAleese, Mr Griffin reflected on the immense feeling of pride that engulfed the county in the wake of Ennis’s success.
“September was the culmination of 11 years’ work from many in the town and by many people and organisations.
“People who took responsibility for their environment and their town, people who wanted to make a difference and who took the first step to get involved.”