Podcasts about tidy towns

From next Saturday, Tidy Town judges will start visiting the 900 or so communities who have entered the competition. They will know not the day nor the hour when an incognito judge will turn up. Dr Christy Boylan is a long standing judge and trainer of judges of the Tidy Towns, at Bloom to share some inside knowledge.

We sent comedian Taran O'Sullivan to volunteer with Tidy Towns as this week's visiting critic

A legendary daughter of County Clare could soon be immortalised in mural form. Kilfenora Tidy Towns is seeking planning permission for the erection of a mural of famed aristocrat Máire Rua O'Brien on the east-facing wall of the Burren Sonas Steiner Kindergarten which was formerly is Máire Rua Craft Shop. If granted approval, the piece will be designed by Liscannor-based artist Marcus O'Connor with funding provided by Corofin Fianna Fáil Councillor Joe Killeen along with Doolin Ferries. Edel Barry of Kilfenora Tidy Towns believes Máire's legacy has been unfairly tarnished over the centuries.

Tidy Towns groups in Clare are expressing gratitude to be rid of an "administrative headache" thanks to a new deal. An agreement between local authorities and Irish Public Bodies Insurance now means Tidy Towns groups won't have to pay for insurance going forward. The move is expected to result in substantial savings for the over 1,000 groups nationwide. Shannon Tidy Towns Chairperson Derek Clune says the cost of insurance has long been a strain on committees.

PJ chats to Tom Butler of Ballincollig Tidy Towns to figure out why people get involved and we even hear a bit of love! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tidy Towns groups will no longer have to pay for their own insurance, once they are registered with their council. This follows a deal between in local authorities and IPB (Irish Public Bodies) Insurance, to create a community insurance scheme. The comprehensive scheme will include cover for public liability and volunteer insurance. Treasa spoke to Brendan O’Brien of Tralee Tidy Towns, Johnny McGuire of Killarney Tidy Towns, and Mary O’Hanlon of Listowel Tidy Towns. Separately, Johnny described his meeting with Pope Francis eleven years ago as wonderful and uplifting.

A huge effort from Shannon Tidy Towns saw a significant number of bags of rubbish collected recently. Not only that, but they also planted an even more impressive number of trees! To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined by Shannon Tidy Towns chair, Derek Clune. Photo (c): Clare FM

A six-week Climate Course will take place in Clare later this month. The course, which will be hosted by the Tidy Towns in Ennis and supported by the Clare County Council Climate and Age Friendly teams, will start on the 25th of March. It is designed and provided free by Jacinta Barrins a retired United Nations Diplomat, where her lifelong career focused on the environment and climate. To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined by Founder and CEO of 60+ Climate Drive, Jacinta Barrins and Councillor Mary Howard.

Dog fouling is an ongoing issue in a number of places around County Clare. Unfortunately for the people of O'Callaghan's Mills and Kilkishen, it seems their areas are no different. Both O'Callaghan's Mills and Kilkishen Community Councils are requesting dog owners to pick up their dog's excrement in the villages and green areas. To find out more about the extent of the problem, Alan Morrissey was joined by O'Callaghan's Mills Fine Gael Councillor, Conor Ryan and O'Callaghan's Mills GAA and Tidy Towns member, Pat O'Brien. Photo (C): Derick Hudson Getty Images via Canva

Lester Kiewit speaks to Johnny Swanepoel, the founder of Wanderers Haven in Amanzimtoti, about the Tidy Towns initiative which seeks to uplift the area and keep beggars off the streets. Swanepoel tries to redirect the homeless off the streets, but says by-laws and unemployment are against them.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are very excited to bring you our first episode featuring the astounding work of our Climate Ambassadors! Daithí talks to Emily Kennedy and Hilda O'Grady about the work they carried out during their time on the Climate Ambassador programme in 2023.            Emily won an outstanding achievement award in 2023 for her work-focused initiatives, which included speaking at the Mary Robinson Climate Conference, connecting her colleagues to nature through facilitating work visits to beehives, and organising swap shops and repair workshops at her workplace in Price Waterhouse Cooper. Emily gives some very credible and actionable steps for achieving gender equality in work.           Hilda also won an outstanding achievement award for her community-focused work, consisting of turbo-charging her Tidy Towns group in Kinvara to focus predominantly on Climate and Biodiversity, planting over 9,000 trees with the Kinvara-Ballinderreen Tree Gang, and working on various other local issues such as facilitating zero waste options at Farmers Market. Hilda provides wise and practical advice for sustaining successful working relationships in a community setting.   Emily's links: Re-Jingled | Dublin | Facebook https://longgardenbees.ie/ Climate Action Venn Diagrams — Ayana Elizabeth Johnson The sustainable Life School   Hilda's links: https://kinvara.ie/kinvara-tidy-towns/ ÉireComposites (eirecomposites.com) http://kbtreegang.com/ Miyawaki method shows dense Irish forest can grow rapidly (rte.ie)

Tidy Towns Adjudication is currently in progress across Ireland, with volunteers actively participating in clean-ups nationwide. Many young men have joined the Ennis Tidy Towns over the last few weeks from Palestine, Jordan, Algeria and Nigeria. For more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by Councillor Mary Howard, and new volunteers, Anas Saleem Mahmoud and David Pjedapo.

Ennis Tidy Towns is gearing up for its Best Kept Garden Competition. With the Best Kept Garden Competition, the County Town – Ireland's Tidiest Town in 2021` – aims to recognise the importance of native biodiversity. To find out more about the competition, Alan Morrissey was joined by Fine Gael Councillor Mary Howard. Photo(c): Facebook, Ennis Tidy Town

It's that time of year again, when local groups across Ireland are busy getting their towns in pristine condition ahead of the Tidy Towns Competition. But, what do the judges look for when they roll into town? Mary Howard is the chair of the Ennis Tidy Towns Committee and joins Seán to discuss.

It's that time of year again, when local groups across Ireland are busy getting their towns in pristine condition ahead of the Tidy Towns Competition. But, what do the judges look for when they roll into town? Mary Howard is the chair of the Ennis Tidy Towns Committee and joins Seán to discuss.

Welcome to todays Shed Wireless - A podcast for shedders. In this episode: Our special guest is Tidy Towns judge, Layla McNeil, On On The Tools, we learn about 3D printers with JayCar On the Pulse – Stuart talks to Dr.John Ward about positive ageing Our Shed in the Spotlight is Dingley Village Mens Shed and their music group. Mac takes a look at some great hits from the 70s and discovers the positive benefits of learning music. The Shed Wireless is produced by the Australian Mens Shed

AVCOM, the premium event production agency, has announced a new €7.5 million deal with Croke Park Meetings & Events. This five-year partnership, secured after a competitive tender process, focuses on hosting, revolutionising, and promoting sustainable events. It is expected to initially generate €1.5 million for AVCOM by the end of 2024, with annual revenue expected to grow year on year in excess of €2 million. In recent years, Ireland has witnessed an increasing demand for sustainable events, with sustainability offerings influencing event attendance, particularly for overseas events. According to insights from AVCOM's 'Experience More: The Future of Events Report 2023', a notable 13% of attendees claim their companies restrict overseas travel for events due to sustainability considerations, while 31% require special permission. Moreover, for local events, companies are actively promoting responsible transportation choices, with 38% advocating for public transport or walking, and encouraging virtual attendance where feasible. As Ireland's leading event production agency, AVCOM was chosen by Croke Park Meetings & Events for its production services, technical expertise, and extensive national and international client base. Over the past nine years, AVCOM has delivered extensive support for both in-person and virtual events at Croke Park Meetings & Events. The company's on-site team collaborates seamlessly with the Croke Park Meetings & Events staff, hosting between one and seven events each day - totalling 300 events last year alone. These events span a diverse range of events including corporate conferences, exhibitions, match days, and concerts. With 100 meeting rooms and eight suites, Croke Park Meetings & Events can accommodate live, hybrid, and virtual gatherings of various sizes. The upcoming addition of the Cusack Stand event space, scheduled to open in May, further enhances this offering. This partnership enhances AVCOM's service offering, allowing it to propose Croke Park Meetings & Events as a venue to its extensive roster of 2,500 businesses. Companies who have already benefited from this collaboration include GAA, PWC, Failte Ireland, AXA Insurance, Tidy Towns, and Pittsburgh Steelers. Olivia Breene, Head of Business Development & Marketing, AVCOM, said: "This news is very welcome, as it not only enhances our client offerings but also adds to our recent string of successful tender wins, including Enterprise Ireland and Trinity College. Collaborating with venues allows us to provide a diverse range of experiences, which, we believe, reinforces our position within the industry. We look forward to extending this success to our partnership with Croke Park and collaborating on delivering exceptional events." Paul Murphy, Managing Director, AVCOM, said: "Croke Park Meetings & Events stands out as one of Ireland's most unique and sustainable venues. The venue's impressive track record for hosting eco-conscious events underscores our shared commitment to sustainability. This partnership elevates our offerings, enabling us to introduce our national and international clients to experience the electrifying ambiance of Croke Park. Together, we're set to accelerate and transform the events landscape in Ireland, paving the way for a brighter, more sustainable future." Marie Smyth, Head of Venue Business, Croke Park, said: "Teaming up with AVCOM for the second time is a testament to the continued partnership and represents a major milestone in our expansion journey. Its position as Ireland's premier event production company and a key advocate for eco-conscious events perfectly matches our own sustainability objectives. AVCOM seamlessly integrates with our team, providing invaluable expertise every step of the way. With their enhanced skills and experiences, we look forward to combining our strengths to deliver value to our clients across the country." See more stories here.

Cllr Kathleen Shanagher, and Roscommon Tidy Towns chair on the poster conundrum

Trim Tidy Towns as part of the town's efforts to reduce plastic, has launched a cloth Nappy Library.This initiative will see parents renting cloth nappies from the library, using them for some time and then returning them washed for use by other parents and babies.Could such a scheme become the norm? How will parents react to it? And is it plausible at all?To talk through the idea of the scheme and its benefits. Sean was joined by Anne McCartney-Cutbill, Owner of Cult Zero in Trim which has been chosen to host the scheme.

Trim Tidy Towns as part of the town's efforts to reduce plastic, has launched a cloth Nappy Library.This initiative will see parents renting cloth nappies from the library, using them for some time and then returning them washed for use by other parents and babies.Could such a scheme become the norm? How will parents react to it? And is it plausible at all?To talk through the idea of the scheme and its benefits. Sean was joined by Anne McCartney-Cutbill, Owner of Cult Zero in Trim which has been chosen to host the scheme.

Shannon Tidy Towns is confident having a designated area for local election posters will create a "level playing field" for candidates. On the local branch's suggestion, Shannon Municipal District has voted by a majority of six to one to create designated sites in the town where posters can be hung for the upcoming Local Elections. The move is aimed at promoting sustainability, reducing visual impact, preventing litter and encouraging equal canvassing opportunities for all candidates. Shannon Tidy Towns Chair, Derek Clune says once the right sight is chosen, new candidates will have the same chance of getting their message out there as already serving councillors.

The present members of Miltown Malbay Tidy Towns will be standing down at the end of the year, as the committee has been in situ for the past four years. On Tuesday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Su Powell, Chairperson of Miltown Malbay Tidy Towns, to discuss why the committee will be standing down and what will happen in the new year. If you would like to get involved, you can email Miltown Malbay Tidy Towns on mmtidytownsgroup@gmail.com Picture (c) Miltown Malbay Tidy Towns via Facebook

Ennis will take to the global stage this weekend in its bid to be named one of the tidiest urban centres in the world. A judging panel for the Communities in Bloom competition will visit the county town between Sunday and Tuesday, where they will assess criteria such as public realm design, environmental initiatives, tree management and floral displays. Ennis has been entered in the medium category, after being named Ireland's tidiest town in 2021, and will face off against Alberta, Canada, and Monfalcone, Italy. Chairperson of Ennis Tidy Towns Cormac McCarthy believes the international recognition will have major economic and tourism benefits.

On Monday's Morning Focus, Pat Flynn was joined by Rachael Tierny, event organiser of the Blue Dolphin Family Fun Day and Ennis native. Before the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020, Kilkee was the location for an annual fun day at Blue Dolphinn. The event is a fundraiser for local charities and is set to make its return for the first time since the 4th of August, 2019. Rachael discussed how the idea for the event came about and highlighted what we can expect to see at the highly anticipated event. The event takes place on Saturday the 22nd of July, outside The Blue Dolphin on the main street. For more information you can visit their facebook at www.facebook.com/BlueDolphinKilkee.

Tidy towns volunteers verbally abused by vandals wrecking their good workYour Mahon Point gift card - why can't you use it at the moment? Will you be able to use itWas Dee Forbes really the only one making deals for Tubridy - pull the other one & lots more Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As both Ballincollig and Carrigaline have Tidy Towns work ruined PJ talks to Tom Butler of Ballincollig Tidy Towns about how it can be dispiriting to people giving their time for free. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Limerick's Going for Gold was launched on Friday in Castleconnell, a special competition for the towns and villages of Limerick giving them a chance to shine outside of the national Tidy Towns competition.Live 95's Sandra Quinn was at the launch in the Castle Oaks Hotel and she spoke to a number of those involved. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Wednesday's Morning Focus, Alan spoke to Derek Clune, Secretary of Shannon Tidy Towns, Victor McSweeney, Owner of The Hazlewood Lodge and Committee Member of Ballyvaughan Tidy Towns and Councillor Mary Howard, Deputy Mayor of Ennis Municipal District to discuss the overall success of the county in the Tidy Towns Competition and the hard work involved. Derek spoke about the positive way the competition has impacted the town of Shannon and the joy the area received from achieving a Bronze Medal in the 5,001 to 10,000 population category. Victor commented on the hard work carried out by the Ballyvaughan Tidy Town Committee and what exactly went in to obtaining a Silver Medal in their category. Mary commented on Ennis' success in the competition, with the banner capital being named Ireland's Tidiest Large Urban Centre for 2022.

We've reaction to the HSE's plans for the future of Our Lady's Hospital in Navan, Clinical Director @ Our Lady's outlined details of their proposals and what it will mean for services at the hospital. Local TD's Damien English and Darren O Rourke gave their thoughts on the proposals and the reaction from people locally. Minister Thomas Byrne spoke to us on the UK's plans to change the NI protocol and the HSE plans for Navan hospital and we heard from the Tidy Towns group in Drogheda who expressed disappointment at Drogheda's poor performace in the recent litter league tables - these stories and more on this morning's show See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On Tuesday's Morning Focus Alan was joined in studio by Fine Gael Councillor and Ennis Tidy Towns Committee Member Mary Howard, to talk about The Best Kept Garden and Community Area competition which has recently launched. Mary talked about how you can get involved and reminded listeners that the deadline for entries is June 30th.

There's been praise for Ennis despite the town's slight drop in the latest anti-litter league rankings. Chairperson of Ennis Tidy Towns, Cormac McCarthy, has been telling Clare FM's Josh Prenderville they're interpreting the result as a good one for the town, despite the slide down the rankings table on this occasion.

Helen O'Donnell, part of the Limerick Tidy Towns committee, speaks to Gillian Devlin about what adjudicators will be looking out for in Limerick in this years Tidy Towns competition. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The President of Ireland has praised young members of Ennis' Tidy Towns group as he unveiled a plaque to celebrate the county towns 2021 competition win today. President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina travelled to his former alma mater of St Flannan's College for the ceremony which was attended by hundreds of people.

Lisa pops in after attending the Tidy Town Awards in Perth. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Articles featured on pages 2, 3, 5, 6 & 8 of The Carlow Nationalist on November 30th 2021.

Articles featured on pages 1 and 2 of The Carlow Nationalist on November 16th 2021.

County Wexford did well in this year's Tidy Towns competition especially Blackwater and Wexford Town who both picked up gold medals. Philomena Murphy and Doug Taylor spoke to Alan Corcoran on the Morning Mix.

Ennis is Ireland's Tidiest Town for 2021. Clare's county town scooped the top prize at this year's Tidy Towns Awards, which were held at the RDS in Dublin. On Monday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Cormac McCarthy, Chairperson of Ennis Tidy towns Committee and Mary Howard, Fine Gael Councillor from Ennis. Photo (c) by Clare FM

With the return of the Supervalu Tidy Towns Competition for 2021 following the event's cancellation last year because of the pandemic, the Kilcullen Tidy Towns effort is celebrating an 11-marks improvement over the 2019 performance. Podcast produced by Brian Byrne.

Ennis County Clare is the winner of Ireland's Super Valu Tidiest Town 2021, beating over 800 towns and villages across Ireland. The fiercely competitive competition since 1958 is back after the pandemic. There were tears of joy, Henry McKean was there in Ennis at the Old Ground Hotel as the news broke. Big winners on the day included: Geashill, Co. Offaly awarded Ireland's Tidiest Village. Abbeyleix, Co. Laois awarded Ireland's Tidiest Small Town. Cobh, Cork South awarded Ireland's Tidiest Large Town. Ennis, Co. Clare awarded Ireland's Tidiest Large Urban Centre.

Heather from Chapman River Friends chats about Carnaby's Black Cockatoos and the Bee Eaters that are visiting for the summer. Lisa from the Gero Clean Up Crew pops in to chat about the Tidy Town awards, changing our way of thinking, community efforts and upcoming clean ups. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tanya from Geraldton Dog Rescue chats about our dog of the week, Molly and also things to keep in mind as the warm weather rolls in. Lisa from the Gero Clean Up Crew gives us an update on Tidy Towns and chats about the great volunteers helping to keep Geraldton beautiful. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lisa from the Gero Clean Up Crew chats about new locations, progress, tidy towns and more. Tommy tells us his story from suffering a stroke at a young age to now riding around Australia raising awareness. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on episode #156 of the Bundoran Weekly podcast, Shane Smyth talks to Gina Witherow of Bundoran Tidy Towns about the work that has been done over the past number of months and some of the group's plans for the next year. Follow the Tidy Towns group at www.facebook.com/bundorantidytowns To get in touch with the podcast email podcast@bundoranweekly.com or tweet @bundoranweekly. Also find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bundoranweeklySubscribe to the Bundoran Weekly wherever you get your podcasts, listen to all episodes on demand via www.bundoranweekly.com or just ask your smart speaker to “Play the Bundoran Weekly”!Subscribe to the MassCast podcast here or by searching MassCast where you get your podcasts.Purchase our theme tune - The Man from Bundoran from the Songs of Erne album - www.modalcitizenrecords.comAll with thanks to aib.ie

Maria from the Mid West Cat Shelter pops in to chat about Johnson and other cats and kittens up for adoption. Lisa from the Gero Clean-up Crew pops in to chat about cleanups, Tidy Towns, being active and what's coming up. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

James Gardiner previews the GNFL finals Lisa from Gero Clean Up Crew, talks Tidy Towns, education and recruitment Senior Sergeant Chris Martin brings in a special guest to talk about a new unit rolling out in Geraldton See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Minister Heather Humphreys joins Pat  to discuss the future of the PUP, what we can expect from the HSE Cyber Attack, her plans to tackle anti-social behaviour, and what is in store for Tidy Towns. Listen and subscribe to The Pat Kenny Show on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.      Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.    You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.  

Articles featured on pages 2, 3 and 4 of The Carlow Nationalist on November 10th 2020.

On CorkToday with Patricia Messinger - We hear how city villages will be now included in the Tidy Towns – this includes area’s such as Blackrock Why funding must be guaranteed for the Mallow to Mitchelstown roadSocial Welfare inspectors are calling to peoples homes during the pandemic and callers have mixed views Why one Cork man has decided to sleep in his back garden this weekOur Movie Review More on the U.S. elections See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The annual Tidy Towns contest will go ahead next year, according to Minister for Community Heather Humphreys who says she is working on a way it will be able to  resume in 2021. After concerns were raised that the competition, which has run for more than 60 years, could be lost forever if cancelled for a second year in a row during the pandemic Gertie and Ken joined Andrea on the show. Lunchtime Live Listen and subscribe to Lunchtime Live on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.      Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

The Tidy Towns competition will go ahead in 2021, after this year's event was cancelled due to Covid-19. Rural and Community Development Minister, Heather Humphreys, confirmed the competition will return next year. Minister Humphreys says next year's contest will take a different format in line with public health guidelines Birdhill has been involved in Tidy Towns since 1991. A wonderful run of successes culminated in taking the overall National Award in 2017 Dennis Flloyd of Birdhill Tidy Towns joins me now, Dennis good morning, are you welcoming this news this morning? *Will also talk about how Covid has affected the operations of local Tidy Towns committees and how these new restrictions could impact on its work.

The COVID-19 pandemic reached the Republic of Ireland on 29 February 2020,[3] and within three weeks had spread to all counties.[4][5] The pandemic affected many aspects of society. On 12 March, the government shut all schools, colleges, childcare facilities and cultural institutions, and advised cancelling large gatherings.[6] St Patrick's Day festivities were called off,[7] and the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, addressed the nation that night. On 24 March, almost all businesses, venues, facilities and amenities were shut; but gatherings of up to four were allowed.[8] Three days later, the government banned all "non-essential" travel and contact with people outside one's home (including family and partners). The elderly and those with certain health conditions were told to cocoon. People were made to keep apart in public. The Garda Síochána were given power to enforce the measures, which were repeatedly extended until 18 May.[9] The lockdown has caused a severe recession and an unprecedented rise in unemployment,[10] with a longer lockdown forecast to cause greater damage.[11] A COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment and a Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme were set up. The Leaving Certificate, Junior Certificate and all Irish language summer courses in the Gaeltacht were cancelled. The All-Ireland Senior Football and Senior Hurling championships were postponed indefinitely, the National Football League left uncompleted. The Dublin Horse Show was cancelled for the first time since 1940. Other yearly events cancelled included the Tidy Towns competition (the first time in its 62-year history), the Rose of Tralee (61 years), the National Ploughing Championships and Listowel Writers' Week. The Health Service Executive (HSE) launched a recruitment campaign, asking both healthcare and non-healthcare professionals to "be on call for Ireland".[12] With the process of government formation not yet complete following the 2020 Irish general election (which took place in early February, shortly before the outbreak reached Ireland), the previous government of the 32nd Dáil remained in post during the initial several months of the pandemic. Dáil Éireann sat with fewer members due to social distancing requirements. The Oireachtas passed an emergency act giving the state power to detain people, restrict travel and keep people in their homes to control the virus's spread.[13] Further emergency legislation passed the following week. By mid-April, the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) reported that the growth rate of the pandemic had been driven "as low as it needs to be",[14] that the curve had flattened and that there would be no peak coming. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/vegansteven/message

With COVID-19 gripping the world, host Darren Sheppard chats with local business owner Kirk White to discuss how the virus is affecting his plans to start his 8th season at Washed Ashore Antiques. They’ll also discuss Kirk’s business model of selling what some might call trash, but to the right buyer, it’s a treasure. Antiques, Newfoundland crafts, and other interesting items, all found in a little antique and coffee bar in Trinity, Bonavista Bay. And they’ll touch on what the Town of CWT is doing with its environmental planning and being one of the newest members of the Stewardship Association of Municipalities after signing its stewardship agreement in 2019.Music by Giorgio Di Campo for FreeSound Music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j8sO7-kbRcMusic by Ricky Valadezhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9Ov1XLAg1c

On today's show, Meath's litter warden Alan Nolan warned of the dangers of illegal bonfires after finding two highly flammable gas cylinders at the base of one structure.Trish Keogh unveiled the remarkable story of her father's World War II diaries. Dolores Grace revealed how running helped her cope with grief.Retirees overeat and drink? We heard more and Prof. Patricia Casey spoke about eco-anxiety. Finally, well done to Blackrock on their Tidy Towns national win. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

I'm always blown away when I see Tidy Towns volunteers up early on a Sunday morning picking up other people's rubbish. In today's show I chat with Tom Butler, who has been Chairperson of Ballincollig Tidy Towns for the last 20 years. Tom talks about the influences in his life, lessons learnt from his scouting days, lessons from his dad, Jim, and what drives him to do what he does each day and the difference the awards have made to towns and villages all over Ireland. Why does Tom do what he does? - it's simple, it's all about Pride. Enjoy the show   This show has been brought to you by Fuzion Communications, a Marketing, PR, Graphic Design and Digital Marketing Agency in Ireland with offices in Dublin and Cork. The show is produced by Greg Canty

We're back in Carrick on Shannon for Faces & Places to visit the Rowing Club's Regatta which takes place on the River Shannon. We visited the event to chat to some of the organisers, participants and the service providers on the day. Today's show was sponsored on behalf of the Tidy Towns committees around the county. We start the episode with a chat with club chairman Eugene Cox prior to the start of his role as master of ceremonies on the day. Breifne chats to participants from Lagan Scullers and Portadown RC as well as the Leitrim Civil Defence who assist the club with the event and cover the emergency situations on and off the water. Tony Keane Jr, talks about his dad's service to the club prior to his passing in the year since the last Regatta and the new trophy his family have dedicated in his honour which will be awarded to the club who secure the most wins during the day's action. Carrick on Shannon starlets Shauna Murtagh and Ella Brogan, who raced for her adopted club Queens University, both took a moment out of their busy schedules on the day to share a few words with us about how their seasons went and what the future might hold for each of the girls. We also chat to club officials John Lowe and Breffni Hyland to get a better feel of how the whole day comes together.

President Higgins visited Listowel, to celebrate the town’s success in the Tidy Towns competition. President and Sabina Higgins attended a ceremony at St John’s Theatre and unveiled a commemorative plaque to mark the naming of Listowel as Ireland’s Tidiest Town. https://president.ie/en/diary/details/president-unveils-a-plaque-to-mark-listowels-achievement-in-winning-the-2018-tidy-town-competition

See http://www.president.ie/en/diary/details/president-unveils-a-plaque-to-mark-birdhill-winning-the-2017-tidiest-town-c The President visited Birdhill in Co. Tipperary, to celebrate its success in the national ‘Tidy Towns’ competition. The President unveiled a plaque to commemorate the win, and pay tribute to the town's volunteers and community groups.

With Bloom in full swing Paraic gave a synopsis of some of the show gardens at this year's event taking place over the bank holiday weekend. Plants featured in this edition included Euryops with advice on how to grow and take cuttings. Paraic made some recommendations to Tidy Towns groups interested in planting herbaceous perennials and looked ahead to June drop on apple and fuit trees as heavy early fruiting is indicating a good harvest. Other topics included controlling caterpillars and greenfly, planting to provide wind & sea barriers, removing suckers from cherry trees and planting hanging baskets. Listeners questions featured problems with onion sets, yellowing dahlias, dehydrated rhubarb and an overabundance of mint.

With Bloom in full swing Paraic gave a synopsis of some of the show gardens at this year's event taking place over the bank holiday weekend. Plants featured in this edition included Euryops with advice on how to grow and take cuttings. Paraic made some recommendations to Tidy Towns groups interested in planting herbaceous perennials and looked ahead to June drop on apple and fuit trees as heavy early fruiting is indicating a good harvest. Other topics included controlling caterpillars and greenfly, planting to provide wind & sea barriers, removing suckers from cherry trees and planting hanging baskets. Listeners questions featured problems with onion sets, yellowing dahlias, dehydrated rhubarb and an overabundance of mint.

President Michael D. Higgins was in Skerries, to pay tribute to the town's active citizens and volunteers. Bhí an tUachtarán sna Sceirí, Co. Bhaile Átha Cliath, chun éacht an bhaile i gComórtas na mBailte Slachtmhara a cheiliúradh. Mhol an tUachtarán daoine a dhéanann obair dheonach ina bpobail. http://www.president.ie/en/diary/details/president-visits-skerries-to-mark-the-achievement-of-winning-the-tidy-towns

On 24 May 2014, President Michael D Higgins unveiled a plaque in the village of Moynalty, Kells, Co. Meath, in recognition of the community's win in the Tidy Towns competition of 2013. See http://www.president.ie/en/diary/details/president-unveils-a-plaque-to-mark-the-towns-achievement-in-winning-the-tid