Clean sweep for Swords

MEMBERS of the Swords Tidy Towns Committee were celebrating again recently after being announced as the overall winner at the annual Fingal Cleaner Communities Awards.

Swords Tidy Towns was awarded the top prize for their work in improving the appearance of the St Colmcille’s Well area.

It follows their fantastic success in the National Tidy Towns competition when they finished with 305 points in their category and won the SuperValu Diversity Award.

In the Cleaner Communities Awards, there were 76 entries across 15 different categories, ranging from Best Front Garden to the Best Example of Business Waste Management Initiative.  

Environmental Education Officer Martha Gouldsbury said: “Cleaner Communities has over the years enhanced the local authorities’ relationship with residents and businesses of the county. 

“It is primarily a litter-awareness competition to enhance the appearance of residential and business areas around the county similar to, but separate from National Tidy Towns Competition. The competition is open to residents, businesses and community groups from anywhere in Fingal and we were really delighted with the new interest in this year’s competition.”

The Skerries Tidy Town Committee also won an award for Best Presented Town, while Rush was granted the award for Best            Presented Community Centre.

The Clean Up Corduff team won Best Example of Community Environmental Initiative while St Ciaran’s Primary School in Hartstown were awarded for Best Biodiversity Project.

Mayor of Fingal Cllr Mary McCamley and Fingal County Council chief executive Paul Reid joined the winners on the night to celebrate their achievements. 

Mayor McCamley congratulated the winners. 

“The Cleaner Communities Competition fosters great community spirit and we owe a great deal of gratitude to these people involved,” she said. 

Mr Reid also praised the efforts of all the Tidy Towns committees.

“The exceptional standard this year is a continuing testament to the pride Fingal residents and businesses have for the environment in which we work and live,” he said.