Remarks at the unveiling of a plaque to mark Abbeyshrule’s selection as the Winner of the Tidy Town’s Competition 2012
22nd June 2013
Tá an-áthas orm a bheith in bhur gcuideachta anseo inniu i Mainistir Shruthla chun an phlaic, a dhéanann comóradh ar bhur mbua le gairid i gcomórtas na mBailte Slachtmhara dhá mhíle agus a dó dhéag, a nochtadh. Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghlacadh le Coiste Mhainistir Shruthla na Sráidbhailte Slachtmhara as an gcuireadh fial agus libh go léir as an bhfáilte chroíúil sin a fhearadh romhaim.
[I am delighted to join you all here today in Abbeyshrule for the unveiling of the plaque to mark your recent success in the 2012 Tidy Towns competition. I would like to thank the Abbeyshrule Tidy Villages Committee for their kind invitation and all of you for that very warm welcome.]
Abbeyshrule is, indeed, a beautiful place; an ancient heritage village endowed with a rich history. It is a place where the past merges seamlessly with the present; a village still defined and shaped by the old stone bridges, the ancient Cistercian Abbey, the historical Whitworth Aqueduct and the River Inney and Royal Canal; but a village confident of its place in a modern Ireland – a village proud of its lively festivals and rallies; its busy airfield and contemporary sculptures.
The Tidy Town competition is now in its fifty fifth year and has, for over half a century, been bringing communities together in a spirit of neighbourly pride in the town in which they live. It is an event and a competition that has, at its very heart, a recognition of the power of communities in effecting transformation and of how a strong sense of community can be a launch pad for change that is not only positive, but also truly sustainable.
Every year, in towns across the country, neighbours, friends and local business owners unite in a concerted effort to enhance the town in which they live and work; to re-imagine their surroundings and realise the potential of their neighbourhood, both as a place to live and raise their children, and as a destination to attract visitors and tourists from abroad.
The Tidy Towns competition shows us, each and every year, just what can be achieved when communities come together with a shared aim and a common goal; it is an inspirational display of an energy and enthusiasm that unites neighbours, reaches across generations, and creates new and positive links and friendships that serve to strengthen the community and encourage a spirit of active participation. Every year we see the power of active citizenship in effecting affirmative change; we see how that spirit can lead to regeneration, renewal, and great reimagination – creating a shared vision and a better environment built on the spirit of co-operation, and collective will and real participation.
As with all successful creations, visitors to Abbeyshrule see the impressive end result; the flowers and plants, the freshly painted walls and railings; the tidy streets and well kept gardens. And, like all successful creations, the brushstrokes are carefully hidden, leading a casual observer to imagine the outcome was easily and effortlessly achieved.
However, anyone who is familiar with taking part in, or judging, the Tidy Towns competition will know that behind the scenes lies an enormous strength of community; considerable commitment and determination; and, of course, many, many hours of hard work and exertion. It cannot always have been easy to find the time or indeed the energy to take part in cleaning up projects, or to source and raise funding, devise communications campaigns, carry out maintenance tasks and, in so many other ways, provide the all important brushstrokes that lie behind the completed picture.
But each day and each week that time was found and, as a community, Abbeyshrule came together, investing their skills, talent and labour into transforming their town into a space and place of which they could be truly proud. Today, we celebrate a version of Abbeyshrule that runs so much deeper than the lovely surroundings that its citizens have created in order to win this accolade. We celebrate a version of Abbeyshrule that is founded on an active, inclusive citizenship; a community prepared to turn the best of their ideas into living realities; and a people who understand the importance of a place that can be shared and enjoyed by all its residents.
It is this spirit that lies at the heart of the Tidy Towns competition; a spirit which has seen it grow and flourish in the fifty five years since its inception. Because the Tidy Towns competition is not simply about presenting a good surface view of a town. It is about effecting long term sustainable change; instilling a pride and a sense of belonging into the residents of the towns that take part each year; encouraging those residents to take ownership of their neighbourhoods and to work together to make them the very best they can be.
I know that a significant part of the competition is its focus on an overall developmental approach, or five year plan, ensuring that when the judges are gone and the initial momentum is over, the participants remain committed to contributing, in practical and creative ways, to the improvement, development and maintenance of their town. This, in many ways, is what makes the Tidy Town competition so important; its ability to effect change in a way that is fundamental and sustainable; change that takes a long term and rounded view of what is required to sustain a healthy and flourishing town and community.
I can truly say that it gives me great pleasure to be involved in this event here today –the culmination of a project which has seen the creation of a shared space in which the entire community can take pride, and which has been developed in a spirit of partnership and kinship and caring. It is indeed uplifting to see so many people here today and to realise how much this achievement means to the entire community of Abbeyshrule and of what can be achieved when people come together, sharing their vision and their time in order to achieve a common goal.
I understand that Abbeyshrule also received a gold medal in the International Entente Florale last year, further recognition of the dedication and commitment of all of those who offered their time, skills and imagination in working towards both of these great achievements – achievements that could not have been attained without the hard work, perseverance and imagination of the Abbeyshrule residents, schools, and local businesses, who should all be very proud of their contributions.
Tá Mainistir Shruthla tar éis cur isteach ar chomórtas na mBailte Slachtmhara le dhá scór agus dhá bhliain anuas agus tá dul chun cinn buan agus seasmhach léirithe agaibh sa tréimhse sin. Tá a fhios agam cé chomh hard atá caighdeáin an chomórtais agus cé chomh deacair is atá sé dul chun cinn ag barr an chomórtais. Tosaíonn gach turas claochlaithe le coiscéim amháin agus ní fhéadfaí gach a bhfuil bainte amach ag Mainistir Shruthla tarlú gan céim i ndiaidh céime a thógáil thar na blianta – gach céim tógtha ar an dul chun cinn roimhe sin, go dtí gur roghnaíodh sibh as os cionn ocht gcéad baile don onóir mhór seo sa bhliain dhá mhíle agus a dó dhéag.
[Abbeyshrule has entered the TidyTowns competition for the past forty two years and your record has been one of sustained and consistent progress. I know how high the competition’s standards are and how difficult it is to progress at the top end of the competition. Every journey of transformation begins with a single step and Abbeyshrule’s achievement in the TidyTowns would not have been possible without a succession of steps over many years – each one building on the progress made the year before until, in 2012, you were chosen from over eight hundred towns for this great honour.]
I congratulate you on that magnificent achievement; an achievement which I am sure is not the final step in your journey of transformation, but rather a turning point as you continue to work together to ensure that Abbeyshrule is a town of which all its residents can be truly proud.
In conclusion, I would like to thank you all, once again, for welcoming me to Abbeyshrule today.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.