Tidy Towns group is branching out

DUBLIN Airport has announced its support of Swords Tidy Towns’ Inclusivity Garden through its community fund.

The garden, which celebrates inclusiveness in the community, is located close to the Malahide Roundabout entrance to Swords village.

In 2017, Swords Tidy Towns won a National Diversity Award that recognises the way the committee includes all members of the community on an inter-generational and intercultural basis in the work it does.

In order to build on this good work, the committee applied for Round 3 of Dublin Airport’s Community Fund for its ‘What Swords Means to the Community’ project.

Swords Tidy Towns has volunteers from 12 different nationalities and of all ages. The aim of the project is to promote respect, diversity, pride, peace, inclusiveness, and collaboration both within Swords Tidy Towns and the wider community.

Dublin Airport Community Liaison Manager Maura Cassidy said: “What is wonderful about this project is that everyone in the community has the opportunity to appreciate the great work done by the Swords Tidy Towns committee as they are passing through the village.

“It is particularly pleasing that this project was supported by the Brackenstown Scout Troop, a previous recipient of our community fund. 

“Brackenstown Scouts also helped with planting, and representatives from Fingal County Council helped to clear and dig out the area.”

Swords Tidy Towns chairperson Ken Duffy said his group is constantly working to make Swords a better place for everyone.

“We are delighted that the hard work of our many volunteers is recognised by Dublin Airport through the community fund,” said Mr Duffy.

“A conscious effort was made by our gardening team to use pollinator plants in this project to support out insect population as well as providing a beautiful welcome to Swords for this driving by.”

A total of €2,000 was invested in plants for the garden and the entire community came together for one full day of planting in order to complete the project.

Volunteers from Swords Tidy Towns, staff and members of Fingal County Council and Mayor of Fingal Cllr Eoghan O'Brien attended the launch.