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entente florale 2017
What a wonderful day in Glaslough for the ENTENTE FLORALE Jury adjudication. What an honour it was for Glaslough residents to have been one of just two villages in Ireland to be chosen to represent the Country. The children from Glaslough gave a welcoming rendition of Beautiful Glaslough backed by Packie Mc Ghee.
Chairperson of Glaslough Tidy Towns and the Entente Florale Steering Committee opened the proceeding by welcoming the jury to Glaslough. Gareth then invited the Mayor of Monaghan County Council and Caoithaorleach Paudge Connolly to raise the Entente Florale flag with Chairperson of the jury Martin Wagner.
Commencing with a PowerPoint presentation in the Oakland Centre hosted by Shirley Clerkin Heritage Officer and Louise Duffy Tidy Towns volunteer and CE supervisor the jury examined all the plans both current and future for the village. The sun even managed to pop out for a while as the jury were taken around the village.
They visited the Allotments where Martin Wood, a plot holder gave them some information about the allotments. Jackie Gormley Chairperson of GDA spoke to them about the Oakland Centre and playground where Donal Mc Elwaine spoke to the jury about the imminent upgrade and councils involvement in the playground. Denis Flannery Horticultural expert then spoke to them about the Butterfly and Biodiversity gardens and explained the educational importance and Biodiversity value especially in terms of facilitating pollination.
Louise Duffy then gave the jury a detailed overview of the construction of the Coach Garden and how Diane and Ron Kendrick provided the tidy towns with this disussed area to develope a green open space for the community and visitors to enjoy. After boarding the bus the jury visited the Railway Sinal Cabin and then on out past Glennan Graveyard and Chapel. On the way the jury also heard about the drumlins, Drumbanagher fort, the landscape and hedgerows etc. They then visited Glennan Presbyterian Church where they were given a brief history and tour of the grounds and Church by David Aiken Driving on to the Glaslough Villa grounds. They were delighted to see all the children out at the summer camp and to hear about the clubs achievements.
Indeed the jury were furnished with information about all 12 of the local community groups including both schools. The trip took in Hoeys Tree Trail and enabled the jury to view the agricultural landscape. Arriving at St Mary's school corner the delegation paused for a photo at the newly constructed welcome feature for Entente Florale with Mayor of County Monaghan Cathy Bennett, Municiple district members and the Entente Florale steering committee. Mark Macklin principal of St Marys then took the delegation around the school where the children spoke about all their Green flags, their biodiversity garden, trees, hedgerows, spinney, Can Train and mill, raised beds, water harvesting, insect hotel, pond etc. The jury were overwhelmed with the effort, interest and knowledge the children displayed. Nial O Connor environmental awareness officer from Monaghan County Council then spoke about the environmental education and support to the school. After departing St Mary's the delegation headed back into the Village green housing estate where Sammy Leslie gave the jury a brief overview of the development. Walking from here the jury headed down the main street where they viewed the streetscape, architecture the diamond, rookery, signage, seating, kiosk and much more. As the moved down the Barrack Hill they remarked on the Pillar House building and planting schemes and especially the heritage planting at the rear.
They were then treated to some icecream from Jeremy at Ambledown Cottages as they passed by. After viewing Lisbanagher houses and planting on the high banks the bus then proceeded to the Horse Pond where they heard briefly about the project to restore it and its significance in olden times. The jury were impressed at the new planting along the Caledon road and remarked at the flower displays at the graveyard and lynch gate. Also as the passed by Culbanagher and Ardbanagher estates they were delighted to see the effort made by residents to welcome them with the entente Florale colours!. The last few stops on the tour included the Integrated Constructed Wetlands were local engineer Dan Doody and Cathal Flynn and Mark Johnston from MCC explained about the wetlands. Gretta Mc Carron from LASCO also gave samples of the water quality in the area. Finally the delegation were treated to a short walk around the wetlands and estate taking in the boat house, champion trees, lake and much more. After deliberating for an hour the jury delivered very positive and constructive feedback to the committee. After which they were treated to a quick guinness at the Coach House Old Bar and some of the jury got to pull a few pints!.
The day concluded with a banquet laid on by local Executive Chief Don Mc Ghee assisted by CE members and local volunteers. Ciaran Teague tidy towns volunteer took great pride in welcoming the jury and invited guests and ensured that everyone got attended to at the banquette. All the guests in attendance included everyone who helped with Entente Florale and tidy towns in preparing for the competition. This included CE, Tus, Rural social scheme, Gateway, Men shed workers, also Dennis Flannery town gardener, the outdoor and administrative staff from Monaghan municipal district and our elected members. Speeches after the banquette were provided by Mayor Cathy Bennett, Caoithaorleach Paudge Connolly, Acting CEO of MCC John Murray, Cairperson of the jury Martin Wagner and Chairperson of Tidy Towns Gareth Corrigan. The jury were then presented with gifts by Mayor of Glaslough Anne Mc Ghee and children from Glaslough Junior Tidy Towns who also provided the music on the day.
We have been absolutely delighted and heartened by all this support and without which Glaslough Tidy Towns, GDA and the Entente Florale steering committee couldn't have had such a successful day and participation in the competition !!. A massive thank you to everyone and especially to the Paudge Connolly and all the elected members of Monaghan Council for their support and assistance. Also to Donal Mc Elwain, Municipal District Coordinator and Carol Lambe Community and Enterprise Officer who have done so much through this competition. What an experience this was!! Lastly but certainly not least we cannot forget all the support through messages, shares and likes on Facebook and social media. We have had so many messages over the past while it has been remarkable! We are truely so thankful and we just want to acknowledge this and say THANK YOU to everyone.
How proud we are to be from such a beautiful corner of Ireland in such a wonderful community of Beautiful Glaslough !!!
Finally Glaslough thanks all the Jury from accross Europe and to Eamon and Christy the Irish mentors through out the competition.
Chairperson of Glaslough Tidy Towns and the Entente Florale Steering Committee opened the proceeding by welcoming the jury to Glaslough. Gareth then invited the Mayor of Monaghan County Council and Caoithaorleach Paudge Connolly to raise the Entente Florale flag with Chairperson of the jury Martin Wagner.
Commencing with a PowerPoint presentation in the Oakland Centre hosted by Shirley Clerkin Heritage Officer and Louise Duffy Tidy Towns volunteer and CE supervisor the jury examined all the plans both current and future for the village. The sun even managed to pop out for a while as the jury were taken around the village.
They visited the Allotments where Martin Wood, a plot holder gave them some information about the allotments. Jackie Gormley Chairperson of GDA spoke to them about the Oakland Centre and playground where Donal Mc Elwaine spoke to the jury about the imminent upgrade and councils involvement in the playground. Denis Flannery Horticultural expert then spoke to them about the Butterfly and Biodiversity gardens and explained the educational importance and Biodiversity value especially in terms of facilitating pollination.
Louise Duffy then gave the jury a detailed overview of the construction of the Coach Garden and how Diane and Ron Kendrick provided the tidy towns with this disussed area to develope a green open space for the community and visitors to enjoy. After boarding the bus the jury visited the Railway Sinal Cabin and then on out past Glennan Graveyard and Chapel. On the way the jury also heard about the drumlins, Drumbanagher fort, the landscape and hedgerows etc. They then visited Glennan Presbyterian Church where they were given a brief history and tour of the grounds and Church by David Aiken Driving on to the Glaslough Villa grounds. They were delighted to see all the children out at the summer camp and to hear about the clubs achievements.
Indeed the jury were furnished with information about all 12 of the local community groups including both schools. The trip took in Hoeys Tree Trail and enabled the jury to view the agricultural landscape. Arriving at St Mary's school corner the delegation paused for a photo at the newly constructed welcome feature for Entente Florale with Mayor of County Monaghan Cathy Bennett, Municiple district members and the Entente Florale steering committee. Mark Macklin principal of St Marys then took the delegation around the school where the children spoke about all their Green flags, their biodiversity garden, trees, hedgerows, spinney, Can Train and mill, raised beds, water harvesting, insect hotel, pond etc. The jury were overwhelmed with the effort, interest and knowledge the children displayed. Nial O Connor environmental awareness officer from Monaghan County Council then spoke about the environmental education and support to the school. After departing St Mary's the delegation headed back into the Village green housing estate where Sammy Leslie gave the jury a brief overview of the development. Walking from here the jury headed down the main street where they viewed the streetscape, architecture the diamond, rookery, signage, seating, kiosk and much more. As the moved down the Barrack Hill they remarked on the Pillar House building and planting schemes and especially the heritage planting at the rear.
They were then treated to some icecream from Jeremy at Ambledown Cottages as they passed by. After viewing Lisbanagher houses and planting on the high banks the bus then proceeded to the Horse Pond where they heard briefly about the project to restore it and its significance in olden times. The jury were impressed at the new planting along the Caledon road and remarked at the flower displays at the graveyard and lynch gate. Also as the passed by Culbanagher and Ardbanagher estates they were delighted to see the effort made by residents to welcome them with the entente Florale colours!. The last few stops on the tour included the Integrated Constructed Wetlands were local engineer Dan Doody and Cathal Flynn and Mark Johnston from MCC explained about the wetlands. Gretta Mc Carron from LASCO also gave samples of the water quality in the area. Finally the delegation were treated to a short walk around the wetlands and estate taking in the boat house, champion trees, lake and much more. After deliberating for an hour the jury delivered very positive and constructive feedback to the committee. After which they were treated to a quick guinness at the Coach House Old Bar and some of the jury got to pull a few pints!.
The day concluded with a banquet laid on by local Executive Chief Don Mc Ghee assisted by CE members and local volunteers. Ciaran Teague tidy towns volunteer took great pride in welcoming the jury and invited guests and ensured that everyone got attended to at the banquette. All the guests in attendance included everyone who helped with Entente Florale and tidy towns in preparing for the competition. This included CE, Tus, Rural social scheme, Gateway, Men shed workers, also Dennis Flannery town gardener, the outdoor and administrative staff from Monaghan municipal district and our elected members. Speeches after the banquette were provided by Mayor Cathy Bennett, Caoithaorleach Paudge Connolly, Acting CEO of MCC John Murray, Cairperson of the jury Martin Wagner and Chairperson of Tidy Towns Gareth Corrigan. The jury were then presented with gifts by Mayor of Glaslough Anne Mc Ghee and children from Glaslough Junior Tidy Towns who also provided the music on the day.
We have been absolutely delighted and heartened by all this support and without which Glaslough Tidy Towns, GDA and the Entente Florale steering committee couldn't have had such a successful day and participation in the competition !!. A massive thank you to everyone and especially to the Paudge Connolly and all the elected members of Monaghan Council for their support and assistance. Also to Donal Mc Elwain, Municipal District Coordinator and Carol Lambe Community and Enterprise Officer who have done so much through this competition. What an experience this was!! Lastly but certainly not least we cannot forget all the support through messages, shares and likes on Facebook and social media. We have had so many messages over the past while it has been remarkable! We are truely so thankful and we just want to acknowledge this and say THANK YOU to everyone.
How proud we are to be from such a beautiful corner of Ireland in such a wonderful community of Beautiful Glaslough !!!
Finally Glaslough thanks all the Jury from accross Europe and to Eamon and Christy the Irish mentors through out the competition.
