Volunteer efforts set to be honoured at upcoming Tralee Tidy Towns awards
The event will highlight the contributions of individuals and communities maintaining their homes, gardens, estates, and green areas.
This year, several award categories will be available for residential estates: Large, Medium, and Small Estates, along with an Estate Biodiversity Award and an Estate Feature Area Award. Garden-related awards will include Large and Small Gardens, a Garden Biodiversity Award, a Plant Bed/Container/Flower Basket Award, a Favourite Plant Award, and a Favourite Spot in My Garden Award.
Businesses and public buildings can also apply in one of six categories: Best Hotel, Shop, Bar/Public House, Café/Restaurant, Service Station, and Public Buildings.
Tralee Tidy Towns Chair, Brendan O'Brien, had the following to say at the launch:
'Tralee is looking well and there's a lot of work going into the town – we want to recognise this and increase the growing sense of pride in Tralee. This awards event is a great way to do that. As a means of including more people in the awards event this year, we have categories like 'favourite spot in the garden' and a great idea by the organising committee is a 'favourite plant' award – so those who don't own a garden but are growing plants can be recognised.'
'We have to say a huge thank you to our sponsors for supporting this event, what we hope will be an even better event in 2025 – to Cara Credit Union, Garvey's Supervalu Tralee, The Rose Hotel and Kerry County Council, we just could not put this event on without this support.
"We're launching this event this week and I'm asking the estates, the gardens and the businesses to enter and it might inspire that extra bit of effort or draw more volunteers in to the overall Tidy Towns effort in Tralee. We know this will build community and help Tralee progress in the Tidy Towns competition but ultimately it will help to make Tralee a better place to live in, work in and visit,' he continued.
To take part, entrants should send their name, contact details, and chosen category to tidytownstralee@gmail.com or send a private message to the Tralee Tidy Towns Facebook page.
Application forms will be available via email, on social media, and in hard copy from the Kerry County Council Tralee Municipal District Office on Princes Quay. The closing date for entries is July 18. The awards ceremony will be held in October at the Rose Hotel.
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