Positive community response to start of Tidy Towns group

Tallaght Community Council launched their Tallaght village Tidy Towns group last week in the heart of the village. There has been a great response already from all quarters in the first week with many coming to the two new weekly events in person and others pledging future support.

There will be two weekly Tidy Towns events run throughout the summer, on Wednesdays and Sundays  with an open invitation to anyone interested to drop along to any of the events. All ages and abilities are welcomed – there are tasks for everyone.

A group of volunteers from local business, PM group based in Belgard Square, joined TCC and other residents to complete the first Wednesday Lunchtime Litter-Pick. The litter-pick route started at Café Aon Scéal, proceeded down Main Street, over the Charles O’Toole bridge and and along the Whitestown stream walk in Mountain park back into the village. The most prevalent items of litter removed was cigarette butts and fizzy drink containers.

“A hearty thanks to Cathriona Hannon and her colleagues from PM Group who took part in our Litter-Pick said Tara De Buitléar, volunteer PRO of TCC.

“We all enjoyed the “plalking” – walking and talking while litterpicking. It was enjoyable to meet new people, get a well-deserved walk in at lunchtime and bag some litter.

She added: “It was social as well as making an immediate positive impact in the village – you can do good and feel good at the same time. We have nicknamed it “an hour of power. Any other Tallaght businesses who want to get involved is most welcome to contact us”.

Despite a rainy Bank Holiday weekend, a brave crew of volunteers joined forces again on Sunday morning to tackle more Tidy Town tasks. The stream loop was litter-picked and the village square was weeded, low-hanging branches pruned and the whole area swept.

“Thanks to those who came and got stuck in, with no complaints about the rain. It was lovely – some could stay for a warm cuppa in Café Aon Scéal afterwards,” Liz Kennedy, Volunteer Chair of TCC.

To wrap up the Bank Holiday weekend, the flower beds around the trees were weeded and replanted with pollinators, giving the area around the crossroads of Old Bawn road, Main Street and the Old Blessington road a nice lift.

“It is wonderful to have the project out of the blocks. The first week has been encouraging. We met new people, all interested in helping to improve the public areas in our village. We had volunteers from Bancroft, Old Bawn, St Maelruains, Fettercairn, Citywest and Firhouse – with all ages represented from seven years old to over-70s. You don’t have to live in the village to take part.” Liz continued.

“Some of the village businesses too have shown interests in working together. A tidier, more attractive village benefits everyone. We are happy to talk to anyone interested in getting involved. You can do that with as little as one hour a week to volunteer.”

The program for June for the village Tidy Towns involves a graffiti-busting blitz, a marathon bollard painting exercise (with over 100 iron bollards in the village), big environmental improvements and a heritage mural of a local traditional musical legend.

There will be a big investment in new flower boxes with very rich native trees and pollinator planting activity to be rolled out across the village.

TCC are partnering with AWS in Communities on a number of these large improvements that will be powered by an army of AWS volunteers in the coming weeks. Discussions are also ongoing with several other businesses to add more activities to the 2022 plan. Stay tuned to the TCC social channels for more on the exciting improvements in store.

“ Thanks to the AWS in Communities team who have been very supportive of TCC projects in recent years – from educational, cultural to environmental. Collaboration is a key element of the Tidy Towns programme, so we are delighted with the collaboration shown already in this early stage from the community and businesses. It is very encouraging for the new community-led activity.”

Anyone who has an interest in getting out, getting some fresh air and meeting like-minded people is encouraged to come along on Wednesdays at 12.30pm or Sundays at 11.30am to join in the Tallaght village Tidy Towns group. The meeting place is on the village square, outside Café Aon Scéal.