Carrick on Shannon Busy Preparing for Entente Florale Judging!
Carrick on Shannon has been nominated as one of only two Irish entries in the prestigious European Entente Florale Competition. The Entente Florale or International Floral Decoration Competition as it was once officially named was founded in 1975, initially as an Anglo-French competition. Entrants now come from nations across Europe. In 2008 there were 12 participating countries, including: the Republic of Ireland; the United Kingdom; France; the Netherlands; Belgium; Germany; Austria; Italy; Slovenia; Croatia; the Czech Republic; and Hungary.
Carrick on Shannon was nominated by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government due to its achievements in the National Tidy Towns Competition.
The overall aim of the competition is the improvement in quality of life of residents in urban and rural communities across the participating countries. The competition, which is organised by the “Association Europeenne du Fleurissement et du Paysage (A.E.F.P), aims to promote:
- the greening of towns and villages;
- flowers, shrubs, green spaces and parks;
- development which is environmentally and ecologically sensitive;
- education and communication initiatives which promote environmental awareness.
Leitrim County Council with the assistance of Carrick on Shannon Tidy Towns has set out an ambitious work programme for the competition which will be judged in mid-July. Leitrim County Council will be carrying out improvement works in a number of locations in the town including the quays, river amenity area, Town Park and Dublin road approach to the town. Carrick on Shannon Tidy Towns Committee have been very busy working with various groups in the town, including Carrick on Shannon Chamber of Commerce, MRD Marketing/Market Yard, business community and residents of the town as well as community and cultural groups in order to promote the opportunity for Carrick on Shannon to achieve its best in this competition.
There will be 12 judges, with backgrounds in horticulture, landscape architecture and village planning, judging the town on Friday July 16th next. We would encourage anybody who would like to help Carrick on Shannon win Gold in the Entente Florale Competition to help out by for example:
- ensuring buildings are looking well;
- collecting and disposing of litter;
- planting window boxes;
- tidying and maintaining amenity areas;
- creating floral displays.
To assist people in preparing Floral displays, Woodies DIY, one of Carrick on Shannon’s Entente Florale sponsors, will be organising two workshops in their store in Carrick on Shannon on June 13th and July 4th.
Further information on the Carrick on Shannon, Entente Florale Competition and how you get involved are available from Mary Farrelly in the Tidy Towns at 071 9650816 or Nollaig Whyte, Community & Enterprise Department of Leitrim County Council at 071 9650496.