City Museum on long list which impressed Tidy Towns judges

Galway City Tribune – The museum, NUI Galway, Spanish Arch, the Cathedral and the colour and variety of shopfronts impressed adjudicators from the Tidy Towns committee enough to award Galway City a silver medal.

The city scored a total of 318 points (out of a potential 470) for 2019, which was up eight points on last year.

The medal was awarded for an area with a population of more than 25,000 people, with Swords in Co Dublin also securing a silver medal.

The Tidy Towns adjudicator said it was “a delight” to visit the city for the first time.

“Your high degree of planning and implementation are acknowledged and accordingly you have raised your marks again this year. Your involvement stretches to all parts of the city and to all communities. You embrace the spirit of the Tidy Towns movement as a community movement aimed at improving the quality of life for your citizens, and at the same time recognising the commercial necessity to generate new and viable projects,” the adjudicator said.

“Your challenge is immense but your achievements are obvious to this adjudicator and our miles of walking during our adjudication gave us a good insight of the challenge and achievements. The traffic was extremely busy and not a day for city driving but our walking was enjoyed and enabled us to traverse the many lanes and side entrances that form part of the adjudication process. There was an air of enjoyment throughout the city which was favoured by a beautiful sunny day.

“Galway City is endowed with a great amount of wonderful building of all vintage. We were impressed with the great numbers of shopfronts and we list the following as an example: Blue Note, Secret Garden, Crane Bar, Colleran and Sons, The Galway Simon Shop, Kai Restaurant, Róisín Dubh, Cupán Tae, Cobwebs, Seodóireacht Cheilteach an Ghladaigh, Músaem Na Cathrach, Riordans, Tig Cóilí, Treasure Chest, Matt O’Flaherty, Brown Thomas, Lazlo Jewellers, A Hartmann and Sons. No doubt the Civic Trust can be of immense help to you in ensuring the good maintenance of these valuable buildings.

“Public buildings are well presented, but for this adjudicator the Galway City Museum stands out. We enjoyed the presence of Padraic O Conaire, but hope the inscription as Gaeilge could be refurbished as it is no longer legible.

“Our visit to the Cathedral was much enjoyed, together with St Ignatius Jesuit Church which we notice is under repair and improvement. We loved the presentation of NUI with its wonderful mature trees and building façade. Our visit To Galway West End and Nuns Island was much enjoyed and the Nuns Island Theatre was well presented. The Railway Station was well presented and the toilets were inspected.”
This is a preview only. To read the rest of the judge’s citation and for details and photos of the Tidy Towns Garden Competition winners, see this week’s Galway City Tribune. Buy a digital edition of this week’s paper here, or download the app for Android or iPhone.