By Claire Corrigan
Last Fridays’s Green Flag Event in Mullingar Town Park proved to be a great success with locals coming out in their droves to take part in the many activities organised by Westmeath County Council.
The weather stayed sunny throughout as the community celebrated the raising of the town’s newly acquired prestigious Green Flag which is awarded in recognition of achieving quality standards for the presentation of parks and recreation facilities.
There was plenty of entertainment during the day with a ‘Doodle Corner’ set up by Mullingar author Dolores Keaveney as well as a dazzling performance by the cast of The Wizard of Oz, in full costume, provided by Mullingar Arts Centre.
DJ Sarge Geraghty was on hand to play music and keep the crowd in high spirits as the people took advantage of the sunny weather and strolled around the park.
The Fire Brigade provided a Rescue Tender which proved a big hit with the children who took pictures with the crew as well as trying their hand at operating a fire hose.
The Council’s Heritage Week exhibition about Westmeath Biodiversity was also on display along with a ‘Spark of Genius’- an exhibition highlighting Westmeath musicians, authors, artists and sculptors.
Executive Engineer at Westmeath County Council, Murty Hanly said that the An Taisce judges had been very impressed with the park during their visit- especially Wood Carver Richie Clarke’s sculpture titled, ‘The Norse and The Gael’ Mr. Clarke was there on the day working on a piece and talking with locals about his work.
Mr. Hanly had applied for the award earlier in the year. “We put together a management plan which we submitted to an Taisce and it had to comply with certain criteria around maintenance and sustainability and conservation.”
“It’s a great achievement and it’s a recognition of the high standard of maintenance that is up to the standard of parks right across the world. For the town it’s great that people know the park is worth visiting. They can expect a certain standard. They can expect a certain standard of cleanliness and safety.”
He said that one of the criteria stipulations is community involvement and organising events in the park. “We felt that this would be an opportunity to join the official launch of the flag along with a community event. As well as that it’s creating more awareness of the flag and what it’s all about. Most important, it’s about getting people into the park and enjoying it.”
During his flag-raising speech, Mayor Cllr. John Shaw praised the work of Park Attendant Joe Boyce and Park Foreman Aidan Gilhooly for the upkeep of the park as well as Mr. Hanly. “This was the brainchild of Murty Hanly who made the application to An Taisce and I think we would all have to agree it is looking magnificent here today. I also want to acknowledge the late George Lambden who was a major force, in driving investment in Mullingar Town Park over many years and I think he would be very proud to see so many people here today and see and the park looking as well as it does. The park has had a lot of investment and myself and other members of Westmeath County Council are really hoping to see us further invest in the park.”
