North Mayo towns commended for Tidy Towns performance
Tidy Towns adjudicators particularly praised Bishop's Field in Ballina during their visit to the town
The return of Ballycastle to the Tidy Towns competition has been hailed by councillors in the Ballina Municipal District.
Members also commended Ballina for picking up a silver medal in the annual competition, sponsored by SuperValu.
Adjudicators said it was "a pleasure to be back in Ballycastle" and awarded the seaside town 335 marks while Ballina improved in almost every category this year and received 366 marks.
Cllr Annie May Reape said the result for Ballina was a fitting tribute to the late Jim Friel, a former Garda Sergeant who was an avid and active member of the Ballina Tidy Towns committee for many years.
“We can only go higher in Ballina. Jim Friel would have been proud to see the town win silver,” she said.
Cllr Michael Loftus said the Tidy Towns group should be invited to the Municipal District offices to discuss the installation of a water feature at the Bishop’s Field, which was one of Jim Friel’s great ambitions.
Cllr Joe Faughnan said the strides made in Ballycastle might encourage other towns and villages to enter.
“It is great to see the community spirit and to have both groups in both towns working so hard.
"There is great work going on in Ballina and Ballycastle and it might encourage our other areas in north Mayo to consider entering,” he said.
