http://www.tidytowns.ie/u_reports/2016/2016%20County%20Galway%20Claregalway%201988.pdf
Welcome to the SuperValu National Tidy Towns Competition 2016; Claregalway is an interesting village to adjudicate where the past is very much present in the environment. The Abbey and graveyard are both very well presented and interpreted together with the castle. Thank you for your completed entry form with artistic map courtesy of Colaiste Bhaile Chlair. The Tidy Towns Plan summary submitted is succinct and useful for adudication but a copy of the full plan would be appreciated next year. The long term goal for Claregalway is laudable and the committee of twelve with volunteers as necessary seem well poised to achieve this goal. 40 Public buildings within the village are presented to a standard of excellence; both the church and its grounds were admired as were schools.
The majority of shopfronts enjoy a good presentation too and the hotels are a handsome feature of the village also. In relation to Claregalway’s long term goal of making the village a great place for everyone in which to live and visit log onto universaldesign.ie for inspiration, ideas,guidelines etc on designing buildings and spaces with universal access.
Congratulations on the refurbishment of the ‘Castle’ it is undoubtedly a great attraction for all. The proposed Heritage Trail will also be invaluable in presenting all that Claregalway has to offer. It was good to note the absence of unsightly overhead wirescape and Claregalway’s attractive streetscape. 39 Public art sculpture is impressive and complements other attractive elements of Claregalway. The ‘Castle’ grounds and associated facilities are excellent. Colourful flower displays and shrubberies at 9 arches and elsewhere around the village complement their environs wonderfully. Where possible choose native species to facilitate biodiversity and be cognizant of the need for seasonal interest. Again you are reffered to the web site universaldesign.ie. 30 Congratulations on the Riverwalk development and the bird survey of its environs, no doubt the list will feature on interpretative panels. The flora survey is equally to be congratulated upon also as is the setting aside of unused land for both to flourish. Consider organising a pollination project for next year’s competition, log onto biodiversity.ie/pollinators. It is good to note the proposed Playgound and outdoor development and we wish you every success in bringing these to completion, given. The graveyard is being nicely managed but the roadside boundary wall could be improved.; the GAA playing fields and club house together with car park enjoy a good presentation. 60 17 25 34 Tidy Towns Competition 2016 Adjudication Report Centre: County: Category: Ref: Mark: Date(s): 279 Maximum Mark Community Involvement & Planning Built Environment and Streetscape Landscaping and Open Spaces Wildlife, Habitats and Natural Amenities Sustainable Waste and Resource Management Tidiness and Litter Control Residential Streets & Housing Areas Approach Roads, Streets & Lanes 60 50 50 50 50 90 50 50 33 37 38 26 17 51 24 34 260 Mark Awarded 2015 TOTAL MARK 450 279 Community Involvement & Planning / Rannpháirtíocht an Phobail & Pleanáil: Built Environment and Streetscape / An Timpeallacht Thógtha agus Sráid-dreach
No doubt the committee will be as successful in acquiring the recycling facilities for Claregalway as they have been in the past with other projects. Commendations are due to the teachers and pupils of the schools for their Green Flag success! Your ‘Tidy Days’ encouragement regarding waste prevention sounds interesting; as you are aware performance in this category is about waste prevention and not just recycling etc. the efficient use of resources is also assessed. The Tidy Towns Handbook is an excellent resource in this respect as is the EPA’s new web site livegreen.ie Residential developments within Claregalway enjoy good overall maintenance. The ‘An Mhainister’ estate had a good overall presentation but some of its green areas could have been better managed. The committee’s working relationship with residents associations is fruitful. Keep reminding householders to pay attention to their roadside boundary walls and areas immediately outside of these. The southern entrance (N18) to Claregalway featured an excellent standard of presentation for green areas, name plates, road signage, road surface and footpaths. The large ‘Welcome’ stone on the Tuam entrance and well surfaced road and footpath together with attractive landscaping created and equally good first impression of Claregalway. Sustainable Waste and Resource Management / Bainistiú Acmhainní agus Dramhaíola Inbhuanaithe: Tidiness and Litter Control / Slachtmhaireacht agus Rialú Bruscair: Residential Streets & Housing Areas / Sráideanna Cónaithe & Ceantair Tithíochta: Approach Roads, Streets & Lanes / Bóithre Isteach, Sráideanna & Lánaí: Concluding Remarks: On adjudicating Claregalway your adjudicator has decided to return for pleasure, a short holiday or weekend break would be nice in your most interesting village.
It was a pleasure to note the litter free condition of Claregalway during adjudication; your success in the Cleaner Community Awards is well deserved. It is a wonderful achievement to be able to report that by the end of May 2016 there was no need for a skip compared to 2010 when five skips were needed. The ‘Tidy Days’ project held every six to eight weeks for approximately two hours is seriously impressive! 27,000 vehicles per day through a village is a lot of through traffic to put it mildly and the committee are to be congratulated on their strategies to manage the resultant problem of litter etc.
