The first ‘Louth in Bloom’ awards ceremony in three years took place last Monday in Bellingham Castle on Monday evening 24th October 2022 with Council officials delighted to be able to invite those shortlisted for prizes to attend in person this year.
The awards which were described by one attendee as a ‘marvellous celebration’ allowed Louth County Council staff to actively engage with community reps, acknowledge and reward the great work that people undertake to beautify their communities and our county.
Guest speaker at the event was RTE’s Garden Designer, Peter Donegan who has won many gardening awards over the years and entertained all present with tales of his lifelong love of gardening.
The Cathaoirleach/Mayor from each Municipal District Area announced the awards for each of seven categories and congratulated the winners, with prizes then ably presented by Mr. Donegan.
Prizes were awarded in seven categories including housing estates, best gardens, hospitality and business premises, best biodiversity award and a special environmentalist of the year award.
The overall county winners were announced by Louth County Council Cathaoirleach, Conor Keelan, who also announced a special Environmentalist of the year award for Joanne Redpath of Carlingford Tidy Towns.
As well as congratulating the successful entrants, An Cathaoirleach offered congratulations to all entrants for their hard work, saying “It is well known that the physical environment that we live in has an impact on our wellbeing. By your work, your gardens, your floral displays you make a massive impact on your locality and the community in Louth. I can ensure you that you shouldn’t underestimate the impact of your work”.
Council Chief Executive, Joan Martin also announced the winners of Louth County Council’s Litter League competition. Ms Martin congratulated all the prize winners and warmly praised all those who took part in the Litter League as well as those who competed in the Louth in Bloom 2022 competition.
The Chief Executive commented “it is one of the highlights in the council’s calendar”, adding, “I really admire the many people throughout the county who work so hard to maintain and enhance their towns and villages and it is one of the reasons Louth do so well in the National Tidy Towns competition each year”.
Winners List
Borough District of Drogheda
Mayor of Borough District of Drogheda Councillor Michelle Hall announced the following winners:
The Estate prizes were given to out to the following:
- Category A (small ) – 1st Harmony Heights, 2nd Papal Drive, Drogheda, 3rd The Dale, Drogheda.
- Category B (medium) – 1st Forest Grange, 2nd Riverview Mell, 3rd Georgian Close.
- Category C (large) -1st Five Oaks/The View, 2nd Ashfield, 3rd Liscorrie.
Anne Humphries’s old farm house won first place in the Best Garden category for her inspirational and colourful garden in Termonfeckin. Other prize winning garden awards went to Collon House and John and Madeline Doherty, Forest Grange, Drogheda, in the Best Garden Category.
Best Presented Hospitality Award went to the Scholars Townhouse Hotel.
Odd Mollies, won Best Business Premises category and An Tigin, Knockacleva, Collon won the Best Biodiversity Award.
Dundalk Municipal District
Cathaoirleach of Dundalk Municipal District Councillor Kevin Meenan announced the winners as follows:
- Category A- 1st Carroll Meade, Dundalk, 2nd St. Oliver’s Park, Carlingford, 3rd Priorland Grove, Dundalk.
- Category B- 1st Willow Grove, 2nd Suil Na Mara,, 3rd Pearse Park Residents Association, Dundalk.
- Category C-1st Manydown Close, 2nd Lis Na Dara, 3rd Ard Easmuinn.
Eugene O’Shaughnessy won first place in the Best Garden category for his striking and vibrant garden at “Avoca“, St Alphonsus Villas, Dundalk. Other prize winning garden awards went to, John & Ann McMahon, Willowgrove, Dundalk and Thomas & Pauline Lanigan, Beechpark, Blackrock, in the Best Garden Category.
Best Presented Hospitality Award went to Darver Castle, Readypenny, Dundalk with their beautiful floral displays and hanging baskets particularly impressing the judges. Quinn’s Funeral Home on Bridge Street won the Best Business Premises category. The Best Biodiversity project award went to the Pumping Station Fairy Garden, Mc Entee Ave/Pearse Park, Dundalk.
Ardee Municipal District
Cathaoirleach of Ardee Municipal District Councillor Paula Butterly announced the winners as follows:
- Category A- 1st An Rian, Annagassan 2nd Glyde Road, Tallanstown 3rd Rathgory, Ardee
- Category B- 1st Ferdia Park, Ardee 2nd Cappocksgate, Ardee, 3rd Beechwood Drive, Dunleer
- Category C- 1st ,Sliabh Breagh, Ardee.
Margaret and Peadar Thompson, won first place in the Best Garden category for their beautiful garden at, Anfield House, Coole, Ardee. Other prize winning gardens went to Brian & Mary Reynolds, Ardee Road, Tallanstown and, Roderick & Nan Rooney, Old Dawsons Demesne, Ardee in the Best Garden Category.
Best Presented Hospitality Award went to, the Golden Goose, Hunterstown Pub, Collon Road, Ardee and Best Presented Business Premises went to, Larry Hand & Sons, Main Street, Dunleer.
The Best Biodiversity Project went to, Geraldine & Kevin Lynch, Pollbrock, Stabannon.
Overall County Winners
Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council Councillor Conor Keelan announced the Overall Winners as follows:
- Estates: Carroll Mead Dundalk, (Cat A- less than 50 Houses), Forest Grange Drogheda, (Cat B- 51-125 Houses) and Manydown Close, Dundalk (Cat C over 125 houses).
- Best Garden: Ann Humphries, Old Farmhouse, Duffs Farm, Termonfeckin
- Best Business: Larry Hand & Sons, Dunleer
- Best Biodiversity Project: Geraldine & Kevin Lynch, Pollbrock, Stabannon
- Best Hospitality Premises: Darver Castle, Readypenny, Dundalk
Environmentalist of the year Award: Joanne Redpath
This Special prize was awarded to a North Louth woman this year, Ms. Joanne Redpath, Carlingford Tidy towns for her tireless work and service to the Carlingford community over the years.
Litter League Winners
- Blackrock Tidy Towns (Large category)
- Dromiskin Tidy Towns (medium Category)
- Stabannon Tidy Towns (small category)
