Pride and passion evident in Emly's bid for prestigious European award
If medals are awarded for enthusiasm and welcome then the West Tipperary village of Emly is a shoe-in for an award in this year's Europe-wide Entente Florale competition.
On a inclement Thursday morning last week, the village pulled out all the stops to give the judges in the prestigious competition one of the best welcomes a visitor to any town could hope for. There was an atmosphere of festival in the village and the judges, who had travelled from 12 different European countries, seemed to be genuinely enjoying their morning.
Emly was the recent recipient of the title of Ireland's Tidiest Town, for which a special visit of President Mary McAleese has been planned for September to mark the achievement. Driving in to the village it is obvious just why the Tidy Towns judges were so impressed with the beautiful village. Every resident was involved in the genuine community effort to beautify the streetscape with flowers, plants, flags, and cheery paint-work.
It was an added honour, then, for the village to be chosen to represent Ireland in the Entente Florale competition, judged by the European Association for Flowers and Landscape.
The people of Emly marked the day by coming out to greet the judges, enjoying the country market and the art exhibition and creating an air of celebration in the village.
As the chairperson of the judging panel, Iska Truxova from the Czech Republic, explained, the compeititon has moved on from the days when it was just about plants and flowers and today is as much about permanent greenery and quality of life.
The main aim of the competition, she said as she walked around Emly, is to create a beautiful place so that the judges will be able to say they would like to live there.
The judges spent the morning in Emly where they took a tour of the area as well as sampling different local meats at the butcher's, enjoying an Irish dancing exhibition and traditional music at the primary school, and even tried their hands at hurling and Gaelic football following an exhibition game at the local GAA grounds! A sample of Irish whiskey and a visit to the country market and art exhibition in the parish hall rounded off the tour, which had shown many facets of life in Emly.
Walking through the village the judges were all welcomed in their own languages as each local business was assigned a country and they decorated their windows. Each judge had their photograph taken outside 'their' window.
Mrs Truxova, who is a landscape architect, explained that many of her judging colleagues share her profession but there is also a tourist consultant, an economist and an ecology and agriculture planner on the panel.
She congratulated Emly on a great first impression and said winning the Tidy Towns competition and being chosen to take part in the Entente Florale was a great achievement. Paying tribute to the local committee, she said they had created a wonderful community spirit and given the judges a warm welcome and an enjoyable day in a village "full of flowers and greenery."
Mrs Truxova commented on the approach to landscaping the village and said the judges had noted how the local committee had taken history and emmigrants into account while also searching for the future. She said they had also noted the small garden projects, especially at the church, and the bigger project of the village itself, where the committee had come up with a creative way of dealing with derelict buildings, which the judges liked very much.
Emly's presentation to the judges had "ticked all the boxes," she added.
Praising Emly's Tidy Towns committee, Mrs Truxova said the village was lucky to have people like them. Without waiting for EU funding they are able to move on, she observed.
Now that the judging has taken place there will be a bit of a wait for Emly before the results of the competition are announced - in Italy on September 24.
Mrs Truxova explained that unlike, say, a sporting event, there will not be a first, second and third award. After their deliberations the judges may decide not to award any gold, if no town or city reached the international requirements, or they may award several of any award. Being chosen for the competition from over 20,000 entries across Europe is already a great achievement, she stressed. Every country can then only put forward one city and one small town or village to be visited by the judges.
Chairperson of Emly's Tidy Towns committee, Sharon Heffernan said that to have the 12 international judges in Emly was a wonderful occasion.
The Entente Florale began as a competition between France and the UK in 1975. In 1996 the European Association for Flowers and Landscape was formed. The overall aim of the association is the social and cultural development and enhancement of the quality of life of urban dwellers, primarily through landscape development and horticulture. The Entente Florale hopes to promote a greener and more pleasant environment in European towns and villages and establish international contacts between participants.
Judges assess candidate towns and villages on: quality of landscape including seasonal and permanent planting, respect for landscape and landscape policies, and promotion of biodiversity; the quality of the natural and built environment including waste and water management, heritage and cleanliness; education and schools including green activities; and the attractiveness and presentation of the town, including tourism and leisure policy, information and communication to locals and the public at large, preparation and presentation of the town for the actual assessment visit.
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Monday 21 May 2012
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