Cobh & Great Island Tidy Districts Awards Ceremony

Photo shows Terry O’Regan, the judge for the competition, Lana Murphy representing the sponsors of the competition Cobh Credit Union, Anthony O’Donovan one of the volunteers who maintain the cemetery and Mayor of Cobh Sinead Sheppard.

On Monday night we had an enjoyable and uplifting Cobh & Great Island Tidy Districts awards ceremony when the efforts of the 83 entrants in this year’s competition were outlined by our judge Terry O’Regan. Terry commented on his great difficulty in arriving at an overall winner – but everyone who entered is a winner and is helping Cobh towards our collective goal – to have COBH named as Ireland’s Tidiest town.

Thanks to Cobh Credit Union, Cobh Town Council and Debbie Walsh & Cobh Heritage Centre for their sponsorship and support of the Tidy Districts Competition.Thanks to Mayor Sinead Sheppard for her encouraging words.Thanks to our judge Terry O’Regan for his enthusiastic and enlightening presentation of his adjudication. Last year at these awards we asked the question – Can Cobh win the National Tidy Towns competition? The answer then was yes and the answer is still of course, Yes we can. This year’s Tidy Towns adjudicator agrees when he says “Cobh did you proud to-day. Cobh can fulfil on your most ambitious aspirations” and it is no secret that our aspiration is to win the National Tidy Towns competition. However this will not be an easy task as the same judge stated that “Cobh is a major undertaking.”

Some context would be helpful here. This year’s winner, Abbeyshrule has a population of 150 people and a Tidy Towns committee of 26 – based on population, Cobh would have over 2000 volunteers to match that commitment. Our marks increased from 286 in 2011 to 292 this year – an increase of 2% and the winner of this year’s Tidy Towns Award had a score of 312. So how do we continue our upwards march towards a gold medal and ultimately the top prize?

2000 volunteers showing up on a Saturday morning is not the answer – but 2000 or more volunteers each doing a little bit is; 2000 people who instill a sense of pride in our town in their friends, in their relations and in our young people, 2000 people who use the litter bins or bring their litter home, 2000 people who will not pass a piece of litter without picking it up, 2000 people who decide that yes I will sweep outside my house or shop every time that it needs it, 2000 people who always bin their butts or clean up after their dog, 2000 people who actually decide to repaint that wall that they always intended to paint or who decide to plant a hanging basket or flower box and look after it all summer. It is the old adage of many hands make light work. Imagine the work that 4000 hands can accomplish? If this works we can stop imagining as Cobh will become Ireland’s Tidiest Town.

Cobh & Great Island Tidy Districts 2012
Overall Winners 2012:

1stPlace Old Church Cemetery.

2nd Place Assumption Place & Ringmeen Estate.

3rd Place Whitepoint