GLASLOUGH SECURE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITIES IN BLOOM ACCOLADE IN CANADA

The North Monaghan village of Glaslough added to its distinguished roll of honour by securing the International Communities in Bloom Award in Canada last weekend. The two-time National Tidy Towns title winners won their International Challenge category in the prestigious competition, ahead of entrants from the USA, Canada, Italy and Slovenia. They received a Five Blooms Silver Award and a special commendation for their contribution to heritage conservation. The triumphant Glaslough delegation, which was accompanied by Cathaoirleach of Monaghan Co Council Seán Conlon, and Cathaoirleach of the Monaghan Municipal District Raymond Aughey and members of the Municipal District executive and staff, arrived home to Dublin Airport on Tuesday where they were congratulated by Cavan/Monaghan TD and Government Minister Heather Humphreys.

Tomorrow, Friday, sees the announcement of the 2002 National Tidy Towns Awards by Minister Humphreys and the village will be hoping for more cause for celebration. Glaslough’s national Tidy Towns win in 2019 certified them as eligible for the 2021/22 awards programme of Communities in Bloom, a Canada-based non-profit organisation whose raison d’être is “fostering civic pride, environmental responsibility, and beautification through community involvement and the challenge of a national programme, with a focus on the promotion of green spaces in community settings”.

The Communities in Boom competition places a strong emphasis on the linkages between participating communities and the municipal local government structure. Quality of life, human health and wellbeing, environmental climate action, economic growth, the enhancement of cultural vibrancy, reconciliation and inclusivity, tourism destination readiness and post-Covid recovery were determining factors in the destination of the awards. International Communities in Bloom judges Susan Ellis and Alex Pearl conducted a two-day adjudication in Glaslough in June this year. Ms Eilis is Chairperson of the organisation and following Sunday’s awards ceremony in Victoria, British Columbia she congratulated Glaslough and the other communities from Canada, the USA, Belgium, Italy and Slovenia…