Purple Flag status recognised

ENNIS’ status as Ireland’s first Purple Flag town was formerly recognised at a ­ceremony in the UK recently.
The town achieved the coveted award in February. ­However last week Ennis and six other newly accredited towns and cities were honoured at a ceremony in Lincoln.
Fourty towns and cities across the UK, now have Purple Flags, with five new centres in the UK as well as Ennis and Dublin recognised for helping people have a great night out.

Purple Flag is a town and city centre award, similar to the Blue Flag for ­beaches, which aims to raise the ­standard and broaden the ­appeal of town and city centres in the evenings and at night.

The scheme is managed by the Association of Town and City Management, working alongside the Purple Flag Advisory Committee.

Purple Flag-accredited towns and cities have proven they are welcoming to everyone, offer safe ways for visitors to travel home after dark and provide a good mix of venues.

Purple Flag towns and cities benefit from more visitors, lower crime and anti-social behaviour and improved perceptions of centres.

Philip Kolvin QC, chairman of the Purple Flag Board, said, “The seven new centres that have been awarded a Purple Flag have demonstrated exemplary methods to manage the night-time experience.

“Also, the expansion of this initiative, which now has 40 Purple Flag holders across the UK, demonstrates the importance of collaborative and partnership working

“Each case shows results that have been achieved through the various operators and agencies working together to share their strengths.”