By Dan Walsh
Blackwater were the County Wexford winners followed by Wexford and Duncormick, gold medals for Blackwater and Wexford, a silver medal for Enniscorthy, bronze medals for New Ross and Gorey and Bree secured an Endeavour Award at the Supervalu Tidy Towns Awards announced at a ceremony in Croke Park, Dublin, today.
Blackwater have been County winners for the past three years and once again topped the marks amongst the 31 entries from Co. Wexford while it must be acknowledged that the four major towns scored impressively and were worthy medal winners.
“It was this adjudicator’s first visit to Blackwater and first impressions were indeed very encouraging. At the well-presented Church and community building, including playground and bring centre, facilities were nicely grouped and conveniently located. The village itself retains a significant number of thatched houses, and indeed buildings which were formerly thatched. In addition, there are a good number of commercial buildings which retain a unique, vernacular scale and character, some having pitched roofs and others with barrel-vaulted roofs. It would be a well worthwhile undertaking, in this village of architectural importance, to contact Wexford County Council for assistance in preparing a strategic framework plan with a view to protecting, developing and conserving this unique heritage. Easter Cottage, The Blackwater Coffee Company and developments at The Blackwater Community Hub exemplify this agenda and set a high standard for others to emulate. The architectural conservation plan could also embrace the comments of the first round adjudicator relating to hedgerow and tree planting. All were visited and much admired.”
The awards ceremony was addressed by Heather Humphreys TD, Minister for Rural and Community Development who said that the awards are a “huge event for community groups up and down the country”.
SuperValu Tidy Towns Awards 2023 marks for WEXFORD. Category A; Foulksmills (346), Duncormick (359), County Wexford 3rd. Ballyduff (353), Askamore (310).
Category B; Kilmuckridge (340), Bridgetown (289), Carrig-on-Bannow (286), Ballycullane (284), Oylegate (278), Blackwater (373), County Wexford 1st and Gold Medal, Bree (358), Endeavour Award, Clonroche (356), Kilanerin (345), Monageer (327), Ballymurn (321), Hollyfort (310), Killanne (308), Coolgreany (307), Marshalstown (299), Wellingtonbridge (280), Courtnacuddy (283), Campile (240), Ballindaggin (210).
Category C; Rosslare Strand (353), Rosslare Harbour (352), Bunclody (308), Ferns (345).
Category E; New Ross (346), Bronze Medal.
Category F; Enniscorthy (356), Silver Medal, Gorey (353). Bronze Medal.
Category G; Wexford (363), County Wexford 2nd and Gold Medal.
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