Green-fingered jailbirds have Galway blooming

Beautifully-planted hanging baskets in the West End of town were produced by inmates in a Dublin prison.
For the first time ever, prisoners have had a hand in beautifying the city thanks to a connection between the prison services and a businessman in the West.
It has led to the placement of 20 hanging baskets outside business premises in the West End area from Dominick Street, Sea Road and Raven’s Terrace.
The baskets and flowers were paid for by the local businesses from funds raised through the running of a silent disco on the streets earlier this year and the baskets were then planted by prisoners in Wheatfield Prison.
Councillor Niall McNelis, Chairman of the Galway City Tidy Towns Committee says he is thrilled with this unique scheme and hopes it might be an annual partnership.
“Every cent raised by the local businesses through their silent disco has been pumped into decorating the shop fronts and streets with colourful floral arrangements.
In Salthill, the City Council matched, one for one, every planted box sponsored by a local businesses. On Wednesday morning, Liam Madden Nurseries delivered the last of those planters giving the seaside resort the “wow factor”.
“Salthill looks particularly beautiful with 50 colourful planted boxes strategically placed along the Prom and on the island. We have also erected flags representing the different counties of Ireland along the Prom making it really colourful,” Cllr McNelis said.
“I am very happy with the way the city is looking at the moment,” he added.

For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.