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Tidy Towns Competition 2012
Adjudication Report
Centre: Newtowncashel Ref: 485
County: Longford Mark: 305
Category: A Date(s): 05/06/2011 20/07/2011
Maximum Mark Mark Awarded 2011 Mark Awarded 2012
Overall Development Approach 50 46 46
The Built Environment 50 38 38
Landscaping 50 41 43
Wildlife and Natural Amenities 50 31 31
Litter Control 50 38 39
Waste Minimisation 20 11 11
Tidiness 30 20 20
Residential Areas 40 28 28
Roads, Streets and Back Areas 50 39 40
General Impression 10 9 9
TOTAL MARK 400 301 305
Overall Development Approach:
The adjudicator welcomes Newtowncashel to the 2012 National TidyTowns competition. We thank you for
your detailed and comprehensive submission, including your 3-
cuttings and parish newsletters. Yet again, the adjudicator is compelled to compliment you on your unique
John Nankeville sketched location map. It truly is a work of art. The village of Newtowncashel has been
noteworthy over the years in this competition, repeatedly a top contender in the County and indeed claiming
the National title back in 1980. As a first time visitor to your village, pride of place immediately springs to mind
and your enthusiasm to the competition is evident. Your 3-
however it is perhaps not the easiest of documents to follow. For your next multi-
out your objectives year on year rather than having the colour coded symbols beside each task. Furthermore
tell us about any community consultation that you conduct while preparing your plan. Adjudicators like to see
evidence of community and local consultation in preparing your TidyTowns plan. Your committee is well
supported by a range of organisations and you appear to liaise effectively with the agencies and bodies that
assist your work and we are pleased that you acknowledge and thank all those who help your cause. You are
fortunate to have the local national school principal on your committee so use this to your advantage and
involve the younger generation in your work programmes when feasible. To further progress in this category
have you considered establishing a Junior TidyTowns committee in the village? We note that you publish
notes on the Newtowncashel website, perhaps expand and update you TidyTowns section of the website.
Setting up a social networking site such as a Facebook page will further help you promote your activities and
communicate with a wider and more varied audience.
The Built Environment:
We visited the village shop and purchased some of the delicious home-
immaculately presented; the essential services sign is a useful idea to visitors. The Blessed Virgin Roman
Catholic Church is an important element of the built heritage of the village and is prominent; the landscaping,
gates and simple boundary walls add to the setting. The red notice board outside the church here was empty;
please remove if not in use. The wheelchair ramp and new entrance gate was noted at the Health Centre.
Fallon’s pub could be improved and the houses to the rear remain unfinished. Your planned screening should
be effective here. We note that you have purchased the old ‘Thomas Ashe’ hall, this is a step in the right
direction and we hope it can be put to a good community use. It is a visible property from a prominent
viewpoint at the Quarry Road junction looking towards the church.
gates and simple boundary walls add to the setting. The red notice board outside the church here was empty;
please remove if not in use. The wheelchair ramp and new entrance gate was noted at the Health Centre.
Fallon’s pub could be improved and the houses to the rear remain unfinished. Your planned screening should
be effective here. We note that you have purchased the old ‘Thomas Ashe’ hall, this is a step in the right
direction and we hope it can be put to a good community use. It is a visible property from a prominent
viewpoint at the Quarry Road junction looking towards the church.
Landscaping and planting in the village is of a high standard and your professional approach and engagement
of a landscape architect is paying off. Your Herber Donn garden in the vicinity of the village shop was
admired. The photomontages of your plans for the Herber Donn fountain garden contained in your plan look
very well and we will look forward to when these will be completed. Curiosity got the better of us and we
followed the directional signs to the picnic area overlooking the lake. Although we realise that this amenity is
outside your village we were surprised to discover a poorly maintained site; grass was high and in need of
cutting and landscaping was not near the high standard seen in the village. Please be assured that you have
not lost marks in relation to this but we thought we would point out this observation. The adjudicator thought
that the sculpture with the pigeons on the way towards the heritage centre could be better displayed; perhaps
neat and trim grass and greater delineation between the grass and the stones would enhance it. On
adjudication day the grass was in need of cutting here. The planting in the stone bed with the Newtowncashel
sign was admired in this vicinity. In the Quarry Sculpture Park the ‘Egg’ sculpture need some attention at its
base. The adjudicator last year praised you on your restraint and commitment to keeping the village simple
and rural in nature. This adjudicator would reiterate this sentiment and feels that perhaps you are close to
acquiring a happy medium in terms of sculptures in the village at present. Perhaps the Butterfly garden could
accommodate a relevant piece but please do not overdo it. We note your comment in relation to comments in
last year’s adjudication report where the location of the stone breaker at the quarry entrance was disputed
during the first and second round adjudications. As reported, this is a matter of personal choice and rest
assured you did not lose any marks in relation to this. This adjudicator feels that the siting of the stone breaker
is appropriate at the quarry entrance, it serves to promote the industrial heritage of your village and it would be
out of place in another location in the village.
Wildlife and Natural Amenities:
We were fortunate to get a break in the drizzle to thoroughly enjoy our visit to the Quarry Park and were happy
to meander through the various areas and explore the many delights. This is a wonderful amenity and the
community is fortunate to have such a great amenity to use as a venue for your community BBQs and the like.
This adjudicator particularly liked the rock carvings and the arboretum. We visited your butterfly garden but
the sign was not in place on adjudication day. Your intention to contract an ecologist to conduct a wildlife
survey is welcomed especially at this level of the competition. Ensure you request comprehensive short,
medium and long-
polytunnel and growing plants is another excellent plan and we look forward to hearing about these projects
next year.
Litter Control:
The Bring Banks were very clean and well maintained. You may be interested to note that other high scoring
centres have erected waste awareness signage at their bring banks. You litter control methods appear to be
working well as litter was not evident on adjudication day.
Tidiness:
The adjudicator has picked up on some easily rectified tidiness issues that you should consider. Weeds at
gable wall on road frontage at the visitors centre should be removed. The dead leaves should be swept away
from the base of the village pump. The grass in the guttering and near the chimney at the Gardai station
should be removed, the roof would also benefit from being washed.
Waste Minimisation:
Unfortunately all your commentary under the waste minimisation category is in relation to recycling.
Essentially this category was introduced a number of years ago during the ‘Race Against Waste Campaign’
and concerns waste minimisation. You may be interested to know that the European Union Revised Waste
Framework Directive is a key legislative document which promotes the waste hierarchy and defines waste
prevention as ‘measures taken before a substance, material or product has become waste that reduce:
• the quantity of waste, including through the re-
products;
• the adverse impacts of the generated waste on the environment and human health; or
• the content of harmful substances in materials and products‘.
Whereas reducing the amounts of waste can be called quantitative waste prevention, reducing the content of
harmful substances in materials and products can be termed qualitative waste prevention. In terms of the
TidyTowns competition the category is looking to see projects that involve quantitative waste prevention.
Hence adjudicators may recommend carrying out a waste audit so that you can determine the amount of
waste currently generated in your community. For example, a TidyTowns group could develop a questionnaire
relating to the frequency of setting out the residual and recyclable bins and fill levels of the same. Then once
the group embarks on any waste minimisation projects the questionnaire can be repeated (and hopefully you
will see a decrease in the waste arisings). Awareness and information campaigns addressing the community
at a local level on priority waste streams such as food waste or textile waste would be a good start. We note
that the adjudication report last year commented on your promotion of best practice in your community
newsletter. The adjudicator reviewed your newsletters provided and did not see any reference to waste
prevention this year. Your planned composting event would be applicable. To further enhance this event
consider joining forces with the local Newtowncashel Guild ICA and doing a cookery demonstration with
typical leftover food. Visit www.stopfoodwaste.ie for further ideas. Your rainwater harvesting tank does
comply with the ethos of this category.
harmful substances in materials and products can be termed qualitative waste prevention. In terms of the
TidyTowns competition the category is looking to see projects that involve quantitative waste prevention.
Hence adjudicators may recommend carrying out a waste audit so that you can determine the amount of
waste currently generated in your community. For example, a TidyTowns group could develop a questionnaire
relating to the frequency of setting out the residual and recyclable bins and fill levels of the same. Then once
the group embarks on any waste minimisation projects the questionnaire can be repeated (and hopefully you
will see a decrease in the waste arisings). Awareness and information campaigns addressing the community
at a local level on priority waste streams such as food waste or textile waste would be a good start. We note
that the adjudication report last year commented on your promotion of best practice in your community
newsletter. The adjudicator reviewed your newsletters provided and did not see any reference to waste
prevention this year. Your planned composting event would be applicable. To further enhance this event
consider joining forces with the local Newtowncashel Guild ICA and doing a cookery demonstration with
typical leftover food. Visit www.stopfoodwaste.ie for further ideas. Your rainwater harvesting tank does
comply with the ethos of this category.
Residential Areas:
Work was underway to the Hopkins old shop and it is heartening to see that this is being sensitively restored.
There are not many residential properties in the village of Newtowncashel, those present are maintained to a
high standard and contribute positively to the appearance of the village.
Roads, Streets and Back Areas:
The road surface throughout the village is very good and we note that significant upgrade works have been
completed this year. The footpath from the village to the school is currently poor and in much need of repairs
but you are in the process of rectifying this. Approaches to the villages from a good distance away are good
and as already mentioned we noted the work ongoing to Hopkins shop.
General Impression:
You greatly value your band of volunteers and it is heart warming to see you formally acknowledge those who
have had a role in Newtowncashel TidyTowns since 1977 in your village. Congratulations are also due to a
member of your committee who was awarded Longford Person of the Year. You have great scope for
improvement in the waste minimisation category and therefore the adjudicator has given you some
explanation in this category and ideas that we hope you can take on board for next year. You are a well
organised and hard working group and your efforts have paid off this year with a considerable increase in
points, particularly at this level in the competition. We note with interest that the local GAA club has been
selected to participate in the Celebrity Bainisteoir series on RTE television and we wish them well with this. It
will be a fantastic platform to showcase your wonderful community spirit and we hope the great pride you take
in your village shines through. We will surely be watching! We thank you for your efforts this year and wish
you the best for the future.
Second Round Adjudication:
Navigation around the village was a most enjoyable experience with the assistance of the high quality map of
the area which is as good as I have ever seen, and hearty congratulations to the artist. There is a great
welcoming feeling on approaching the village from Ballymahon with the splendid sign “fáilte go
Newtowncashel”, it sets a high standard, positioned amongst the beautiful flowers, for the rest of the village,
and pleasing to report that this high standard is maintained and probably surpassed in a few places.
The Catholic Church with a lovely clock and surroundings are supreme, I loved the shrine at the side, and this
setting is a credit to the people of Newtowncashel.
The newly painted Hill Community Centre stands out and great to see a tribute paid to Poet and Patriot John
Keegan Casey in the lovely plaque on the wall of the Hill. The noticeboard “Essential Services” giving details
of such things as the name and phone number of the local doctor, shops, schools etc. is excellent -
The bring bank containing five spotlessly clean bins is well positioned and I enjoyed that setting with the
bench seat alongside and neat flowers in the corner, and I asked myself how could anybody dare to litter this
place. I also admired the clothes bin in the car park at the GAA complex.
Cashel GAA sports complex is a great facility for the residents and sports a well defined car park, viewing
stand, floodlighting, pavilion with good quality stone boundary walls. The school is very well presented, and I
read your reference to the condition of the footpath which definitely needs attention, and it would be great to
have this busy footpath repaired before the children go back to school after the summer holidays.
The road surface at the school road is also in need of repairs. Your road sweeper was put to good use on my
visit leaving clean and fresh surfaces and verges.
The heritage centre building is well maintained and adorned with splendid flowers with a sturdy stone
boundary wall. The entire area is most picturesque with wonderful sculptures notably the latest one of Herbert Donn in the village green, and there is great use of stone around the village. Landscaping is done in a most professional manner with little delights in many areas as we travel around. I
liked the raised beds in particular in the car park in the centre of the village with the backdrop of the splendid
stone wall, and there are other great stone walls in the area which have a forever new appearance.
The business houses are well presented and I wondered if the petrol pumps, that appear to be no longer
required, could be removed altogether. The wheel chair ramp is a welcome addition to the Health Centre and congratulations for the training in the
use of the defibrillator. The first adjudicator has given you a comprehensive report covering the different categories, and I would like
to pay tribute to your efforts to make Newtowncashel a better and safer place to live in. You show what can be
achieved through enthusiasm and leadership. Landscaping is done in a most professional manner with little delights in many areas as we travel around. I
liked the raised beds in particular in the car park in the centre of the village with the backdrop of the splendid
stone wall, and there are other great stone walls in the area which have a forever new appearance.
The business houses are well presented and I wondered if the petrol pumps, that appear to be no longer
required, could be removed altogether. The wheel chair ramp is a welcome addition to the Health Centre and congratulations for the training in the
use of the defibrillator. The first adjudicator has given you a comprehensive report covering the different categories, and I would like
to pay tribute to your efforts to make Newtowncashel a better and safer place to live in. You show what can be
achieved through enthusiasm and leadership.