The Athlone Tidy Towns committee have formally announced the proud accolade recipients pertaining to the estate and gardens awards for 2020.
Annually, a formal awards event takes place to acknowledge the relevant recipients but due to the persistent presence of Covid-19, it is not possible to host such a ceremony this year.
However, the appointed independent adjudicators inspected all the entrants for this year’s competition noting that the standard of the estates and gardens was exceptional, affording due congratulations all the entrants for their endeavours.
The awards, which have been sponsored in part by Athlone-Moate Municipal District, will be issued to the following winners in the form of vouchers for the local garden centres.
Small Gardens
1st - Iris Burke, Cypress Gardens
2nd - Marie Louise Tumulty, Coosan Heath
3rd - Maura Burke, Willow Green
The following also were commended on their garden entry - Martin Quinn and B. Cialkowska both from Old Willow Road and Johnny Joyce, Parnell Square.
Medium Gardens
1st - Anthony Lennon, Garrycastle
2nd - John and Mary Ruane, Valleycourt
3rd - Alice Gorman, Valleycourt
The following were also commended on their garden entry - Brian and Mary Keenan , Patrick and Liz Byrne and Liam and Lisa Hanlon.
•Best Garden for Bio-Diversity - Marie Gibson
Small Estate
1st - Talbot Avenue
2nd - Highfield Court
Large Estate
1st - Hillcourt
2nd - Bloomfield Drive
3rd - Valleycourt
The following were also commended on their estate entry - Ashdale/Woodland Grove, Cloughganboy and Willow Park.
•The Overall best kept estate went to Hillcourt and the Best estate for Biodiversity went to Highfield Court.
Reflecting upon the occasion, Athlone Tidy Towns PRO, Gerry Johnson, noted that the organisation was planning an extensive programme for 2021 and to the launch of a three year operational plan.
“We will be an entrant for the All-Ireland Best Kept Large Town competition in addition to the National Tidy Towns Competition, where we are aiming to achieve the Gold Medal award.
“All the above entrants will play a part in presenting Athlone in good light and help the town to do well in these national competitions. Our Chairman, John Butler, would like the thank all who entered the competition and to congratulate all the winners,” ,Mr Johnson remarked.
