Five of Louth County Council’s public parks have once again earned the prestigious Green Flag Award, the international standard for excellence in parks and green spaces.
The awards were presented by An Taisce at the National Trust for Ireland at a ceremony in Maynooth Campus on Wednesday, 12 November. This year, 128 Irish parks, gardens, greenways and wildlife sanctuaries received Green Flag status eight more than in 2023.
Louth retains Green Flags for the following council managed parks:
- Aisling Park, Dundalk
- Blackrock Community Park, Blackrock
- Icehouse Hill Park, Dundalk
- St Dominic’s Park, Drogheda
- St Helena’s Park, Dundalk
Two local community-led sites Dromiskin Heritage Park and Ginnety’s Pond Nature Park—also received Green Flag Community Awards, recognising the ongoing commitment of Dromiskin Tidy Towns.
Now in its 30th year and operating across 30 countries, the Green Flag programme assesses each site under eight criteria, such as biodiversity, environmental management, maintenance standards, and visitor experience. All award winners undergo annual inspections to ensure they continue to meet international benchmarks.
Cllr Sean Kelly, Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, welcomed the achievement:
“Retaining these Green Flag Awards is a testament to the dedication of our staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to keep our parks welcoming, sustainable and accessible. These spaces play a key role in community wellbeing, and we’re proud to see Louth among Ireland’s best.”
David Conway, Chief Executive of Louth County Council, also praised the ongoing work involved:
“Securing these awards year after year reflects our strong commitment to environmental stewardship and high-quality public amenities. I want to especially acknowledge the Blackrock Park Committee, Dromiskin Tidy Towns, and our operations and environmental staff, whose hard work ensures our parks consistently meet the highest standards.”
