Pictures/ Andy Spearman: Paula Boyle (second from left) with her Drogheda Tidy Towns award pictured with Cllr. Ejiro O’Hare Stratton, Gerry Leydon Chair of Drogheda Tidy Towns Committee and Cliodhna Cunningham, Manager of the Connect Family Resource Centre in Moneymore.
A Moneymore woman who turned personal loss into a campaign to bring neighbours together has been recognised by Drogheda Tidy Towns for her work in the community.
Paula Doyle, who has lived in Moneymore for 40 years, received the latest Drogheda Tidy Towns community award after helping organise clean-ups, encouraging children to get involved and inspiring more residents to take pride in their estate.
Paula said she began the clean-up effort after the death of her mother, Pat Donaghy, last October.
“I visited her most days but since she passed I didn’t know what to be doing with myself, so I just said here goes and I went round to a few of the neighbours and asked them whether they would come out and help me do this.”
At first only a small number of neighbours joined in, but Paula kept knocking on doors.
She says the majority of families in the area are now playing their part.
‘There’s a lot of very good people in Moneymore’
Paula said the support of Connect Family Resource Centre had also been important, with equipment and a lawnmower provided to help the volunteers.
Connect FRC is based in Moneymore and provides family and community supports across North Drogheda and the surrounding area.
For Paula, the clean-ups are also about challenging perceptions of the area she has called home for four decades.
“Moneymore has had a bad name and it’s had a lot of troubles, but I wouldn’t let anyone say a bad word about it” she said. “There’s a lot of very good people in Moneymore and it’s absolutely a great community, it really is. If anything happens, there’s not one, not two, there’s 102 out to support you.
“I wouldn’t move out of it. Well, I’m too old to move out of it at this stage” she joked.
Getting the children involved
One of Paula’s priorities has been getting younger residents involved in looking after the estate.
“Get the kids involved and they won’t touch it. That’s my motto” Paula said.
The children were not all immediately enthusiastic, but Paula kept encouraging them to join the clean-ups, with toy vouchers among the incentives used to get them involved.
“I know it’s bribery but it’s getting the message across. I mean, it’s working. It is definitely working and they are the future of this estate.”
‘A community connector’
Paula was nominated for the award by Clíodhna Cunningham of Connect Family Resource Centre.
Clíodhna said Paula had gone “above and beyond” in cleaning her street and bringing colour and life to neglected spaces around Moneymore, while encouraging people of all ages to take part.
“Paula is not only a Community Leader but a community connector, who wants to shine a spotlight on the Community Spirit she has experienced her whole adult life as a resident in Moneymore to bring people together but also to extend a hand to those who need some neighbourly support” Clíodhna said.
She recalled a community clean-up organised on 28th July with support from Connect.
“She approached Connect to help out with prizes for the kids to get everyone involved in a Community Clean up on 28th July. Music was playing, everyone came out to help as well as clean their own areas and there was such a sense of fun and comradery on the day! Kids were still calling for days after with rubbish they had collected!!…and the street looked fantastic”
Clíodhna said Paula also organised a community fundraiser bingo over the Bank Holiday which raised more than €3,000 for bereavement supports following a number of suicides in the estate last Christmas.
Paula is also among the residents working with Connect on plans for a new community mural, following three other murals completed in Moneymore during 2026.
“Paula is not doing this alone” Clíodhna said, “but we strongly believe none of this would have happened without her starting it by herself, without looking for any recognition or glory, but simply to bring the community back together and acknowledge and celebrate the fantastic Community Spirit in Moneymore because of people like her looking out for others and making things happen when working together.”
Recognising practical community action
Drogheda Tidy Towns Chairman Gerry Leydon said its regular community awards are intended to recognise individuals and groups who take responsibility for their local surroundings and encourage others to get involved.
“We encourage people to take pride in their local environment and to take the initiative to enhance the appearance of their street or estate by organising or taking part in clean-ups that make a noticeable improvement. The emphasis is on practical action, community spirit, and visible results.”
Drogheda Tidy Towns says the wider success of the town in the national competition relies on residents, volunteers, schools, businesses and community organisations all playing their part.
For Paula, however, the recognition comes back to the place she has called home for 40 years and the people around her who have joined in.
