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Twenty-seven towns and villages throughout county Limerick
are busily preparing for the judging stage of the inaugural
�Limerick in Bloom� competition.
Limerick County Council, in conjunction with Shannon Development,
launched the competition earlier this year as a motivational
mechanism for the many small locally-based groups throughout
the county to enhance the visual impact of their settlements
by means of flower, tree and shrub planting.
Councillor Kevin Sheahan, Cathaoirleach of Limerick County
Council, commented - �This competition offers communities
the opportunity to showcase the positive contribution that
local groups make to the overall enhancement of their localities.
It also further develops the tourism potential of county Limerick.
I wish each participating community the best of luck in the
final stages of the competition.�
Commenting on the competition, Councillor Francis Foley,
Chair of the Community & Cultural SPC, said - �The concept
of promoting community involvement in the improvement and
enhancement of the local environment has been developed and
strengthened over the years by Limerick County Council. This
has further been enhanced through the considerable involvement
of community groups, tidy towns committees, residents associations
and local businesses in the first Limerick in Bloom Competition.�
Adjudication takes place on July 15-17th and will consider
such factors as colour, size, variety, location and appropriateness
of the various planting schemes along with the management
of litter. The judging panel includes Mr. Luke Griffin, who
is the Vice-Chairman of International Entente Florale and
a former Chairman of the International Entente Florale Jury.
Categories are based on population size with a first, second
and third prize in each category of €1100, €550
and €300 respectively. Category 1 caters for towns
and villages with a population in excess of 700, Category
2 is for population centres of between 300 and 700 people
and Category 3 features villages with a population
less than 300.
Meanwhile, Limerick County Council confirmed that it has
received over 70 applications for its Priming Grants Project.
According to Josephine Cotter Coughlan, Director of Services,
Community and Enterprise, Limerick County Council - �The purpose
of the scheme, announced in February, is to allow Limerick
County Council to contribute financially to local groups that
carry out environmental work. Grant aid of up to a maximum
of €500 must be used for the purpose of purchasing trees,
shrubs, brushes, shovels, street furniture and other incidental
items that are required to carry out the maintenance and improvement
works.�
Further information is available from the Community and Enterprise
section of Limerick County Council - Tel: 061 496454.
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