REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MCALEESE AT ENNIS TIDY TOWNS EVENT ‘CELEBRATION DAY’ SATURDAY, 1ST APRIL, 2006
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MCALEESE AT ENNIS TIDY TOWNS EVENT ‘CELEBRATION DAY’ SATURDAY, 1ST APRIL, 2006
Tá an-áthas orm bheith anseo libh agus muid ag céiliúradh an ócáid mhór, ócáid an-speisialta seo. Comhghairdeas libh go léir.
Congratulations to Ennis - Ireland's Tidiest Town!
It’s good to be here to celebrate with Ennis on this very special occasion. Only 32 towns can lay claim to the title of Ireland’s Tidiest Town since this competition was started way back almost 50 years ago in 1958, and now Ennis has joined this elite group. It is a huge achievement and a hard-earned one as anyone whoever competed in Tidy Towns will tell you. There are no short-cuts, no easy wins. Patience and persistence and a community effort worthy of a mobilised army are essential and Ennis has shown those qualities in abundance. That is why today you celebrate a victory which vindicates all that hard slog and brings huge pride to Ennis and to Clare.
Ennis is surrounded by some of the most magnificent scenes in Ireland, indeed on earth - the Burren, the incomparable Cliffs of Moher and the Atlantic coast with its Blue Flag beaches, the Clare Lakelands and Lough Derg. And humankind and history have left a wonderful architectural legacy here in the narrow winding mediaeval streets that still today trace the contours of the original 13th century town, Inis Cluain Ramh Fhada, the "Long Rowing Meadow Island" or Ennis as we know it. Ennis has so many layers to its rich civic life. With The Fleadh Nua, celebrating its 33rd anniversary in Ennis this May and the impressive Glór Irish Music Centre, Ennis confirms itself as the heartland of traditional music. And tradition sits comfortably with technology for of course this town is recognised nationally and internationally as Ireland’s Information Age Town.
None of those things alone or in combination though could ever guarantee a win in the Tidy Towns and of course economic success and population growth have brought their own challenges. But looking back on these past years we can see just how much work has been invested here. It first paid off in 1997 with a Gold Medal in the prestigious European Entente Florale competition. That victory gave the town the momentum it needed, and the awards began to come thick and fast. In 2000, Ennis ‘walked away’ with the once-off Green Towns competition to mark the millennium, and with standards continuously rising year on year, it wasn't long before another Gold Medal in Entente Florale and the title of Ireland's Tidiest Large Town for 2002 were won. It took just another three years before the town achieved a magnificent score of 279 out of 300 to become Ireland’s Tidiest Town, 2005!
This victory was all the more special because many people felt that a town as big as Ennis stood little chance of winning the overall national award. Now thanks to your example any town in Ireland, urban or rural, big or small, can aspire to the same heights and take the overall title in future years.
These achievements would not have been possible without the substantial support of the entire community of Ennis, and residents, schools, local businesses and public agencies and emigrant community who should all be proud of their role in this success. However, it always needs certain people with a strong sense of place, with vision, and an aspiration to be the best to encourage and coordinate these efforts. Today, we must acknowledge the role of Donal Griffin and Margaret Neylon and their colleagues on the Ennis Tidy Towns Committee who have provided this leadership over the years and who have made this day of celebration possible. We must also recognise the tremendous practical support that the committee received from Clare County Council, Ennis Town Council and Shannon Development in their endeavours.
The commemorative plaque that is unveiled here today is the ‘Oscar’ in the cabinet of Ennis. A new generation have added their own proud chapter to the story of this town. They have lifted a lot of hearts. Congratulations to one and all and enjoy this day so richly deserved.
Comhghairdeas libh arís agus go raibh maith agaibh.