Community spirit was rewarded at the annual prize giving ceremony for the Gorey Town Council 2013 Environmental Awards presented in Gorey Library.

Addressing the gathering, Cllr. Darren Keegan, Chairman of the Council’s Environmental Committee, paid tribute to the Tidy Towns’ effort. “We have a great Tidy Towns committee and it is very important that they are supported in their work.”

He said that Tidy Towns’ have a vital role to play, but the efforts that individuals put into maintaining their own garden, shop front or green area is equally important.

“We were delighted with the increased number of entries this year and to have new entrants to the competition,” stated Cllr. Keegan, who added; “We had a number of categories and some people excelled in more than one category.”

Liz Kenny, Chairperson of Gorey Tidy Town’s, said that they were a voluntary group with 14 members and she complimented Cllr. Robbie Ireton for coming to the monthly meetings. “We meet every Saturday morning,” she said.

She outlined some of the work carried out by the Tidy Towns’, but stated that she would like to see signage in Irish as well as English.

One negative to emerge from the competition was the “very limited response from the estates,” but the plan is to work harder in this area next year.

The competition was judged by Wayne Russell and Wexford County Council Environmental Section sponsored the first prizes in each category.

Each first prize winner received a voucher from St. Aidan’s and certificates were presented for first, second, and third.

Cllr. Keegan thanked his fellow members on the Gorey Town Council Environmental Committee and to the Town Council who funded the programme.

RESULTS OF GOREY GARDEN COMPETITION 2013;

Best Front Garden/Residents; 1^st, Martin Doran, 8 Hazelwood; 2^nd, P.B. Traynor, 11 Doire Fea, Clonattin; Joint 3^rd, Martin Dunbar, Railway Road, and Jim Doyle, Tomgar, Gorey Hill Upper.

Best Back Garden; 1^st, P.B. Traynor, 11 Doire Fea, Clonattin; 2^nd, William and Margaret Ruth, 21 Twin Oaks, Clonattin; 3^rd, Jim Doyle, Tomgar, Gorey Hill Upper.

Best Allotment/Vegetable Garden; 1^st, P.B. Traynor, 11 Doire Fea, Clonattin; 2^nd, Jim Doyle, Tomgar, Gorey Hill Upper.

Best School Project; 1^st, Gorey Educate Together NS, Kilahue, Gorey; 2^nd, Co. Wexford VEC BTEI, Civic Square, The Avenue.

Best Community Place; 1^st, St. Columba’s Old Folks Club, Sean O’Byrne Park; 2^nd, Ramsfort Avenue.

Best Commercial Place; 1^st, Cosy Cottage Café, 42 Esmonde St.; 2^nd, Amber Springs Hotel, Knockmullen.

Tallest Sunflower; 1^st, Grant Masterson, 4 The Gallops, Ramsgate Village, (227 cm); 2^nd, Cosy Cottage Café, 42 Esmonde St., (143 cm).

Best Shop Front; 1^st, Partridges, 93-94 Main St, Gorey.

Best Community Residents; 1^st, 1^st, St. Joseph’s – St. Michael’s Road.

Full details in this week’s edition of THE GOREY ECHO.