Donal Hickey: Here's how Ballyphehane won a Tidy Towns prize in their first year
Ballyphehane Tidy Towns ballyphehanetidytown.ie
The term, ‘dirty old town’, is now redundant as far as hundreds of towns and villages are concerned. Founded in 1958 with the simple aims of making places nicer to live in and instilling local pride, the Tidy Towns competition attracts an entry of 900 towns and villages involving thousands of volunteers.
The achievements of some volunteers are legendary — such as the late Fr Michael Murphy (affectionately known as Fr Tidy) who led by example and inspired three Kerry towns, Sneem, Kenmare, and Killarney, to win the overall prize.
🍂 Leaf Mulching Project: Calling All Ballyphehane Residents! 🍂
— Ballyphehane Tidy Towns (@BallyphehaneT) October 9, 2023
Have you been tidying up your garden or the road near your house & have a pile of fallen leaves? 🍃 Don't let them go to waste, drop them to us#Ballyphehane #LeafMulching #GreenInitiative #LoveYourHane #tidytowns pic.twitter.com/C2JCYOTFsm
Entering for the first time, this year, members of Ballyphehane Tidy Towns, Cork, were pleasantly surprised to win a special €2,000 award in the village and small towns category.
Set up in 2021, the group started by focusing on Pearse Square, which had been the scene of anti-social activity, putting in tree planters and 400 clay tiles made by local young people.
“The square is now far more attractive and people are utilising the space a lot more,’’ said Natalie O’Regan, of Ballyphehane Tidy Towns.
In addition to adult activists, 175 youth hub volunteers are involved. Local transition year students litter-pick two days a week as part of their school programme and the plan is to extend the scheme to second-year students from Coláiste Chríost Rí.
“Having young people involved means they become very aware of their local environment and won’t litter themselves,’’ said Ms O’Regan.
“Overall, this is a big community effort in Ballyphehane. Local businesses and other organisations are giving great support. Everyone now notices there’s far less littering, while tree-planting and ‘greening’ work generally brings about fantastic improvements."
Members of Ballyduff in Bloom, in north Kerry, have declared themselves ‘over the moon’ after winning a €2,250 climate action award.
Founded a decade ago to enhance the visual appearance of the village, the 15-strong tidy towns group enlists the support of local businesses, Men’s Shed, schools, farmers, and others when needed.
“We also get great inspiration and expert advice from the sustainability body, Transition Kerry, and anyone we’ve approached for help has been most cooperative. A real community effort," said spokeswoman, Mary Behan.
“Our marks were up by 18 (to 278) since last year and we’re thrilled to see such an improvement. Hopefully, our prizemoney will help us do even better next year."
They planted an orchard on church-owned land, a woodland hedge and created a woodland classroom with the local national school with which they also engaged in a bio-blitz.
They’ve put in pollen-rich plants around Ballyduff and won praise from the Tidy Towns adjudicators for their roses, hydrangea, and lavender. Other activities include even more planting, wildlife ponds, and erecting swift boxes.
