Shannon Tidy Towns seeks new blood as AGM looms

HAVING been very active since the start of the pandemic, the Shannon Tidy Towns group will hold its AGM at the Hope Cafe at 7.30pm on July 26.

The height of summer has seen the group activity step up further.

“It’s a very busy time of year for every Tidy Towns group. There are litter picks three times a week, the Council won’t do weeding and clearing of roundabouts and islands around the town, so we do that,” said the group’s secretary Derek Clune.

“Our hanging baskets are up, our flower beds are planted, they are watered two or three times a week, that’s another job to keep on top of.

“We have 22 hanging baskets at the entrance to the town so they have to be watered on a regular basis. There’s a lot of flowers in them so they need to be watered at least twice a week.

“Of course we keep the River Walk clean as well, it’s a very popular amenity. I must say that since the restrictions have lifted, it’s not as bad up there, in terms of cans and bottles.

“During Covid there was a lot of partying going on up there, but that has kind of eased off now with the restrictions lifted and the pubs opened.

“It has made it easier up there, but we still go up there once a week, it’s a popular amenity and its used by people from Shannon and outside Shannon,” he added.

Derek said the group is very keen to get new people involved and they are hopeful of getting a good turnout at the AGM.

“It’s very important to get new people in every year, to keep things fresh and to get new ideas. We’re always looking for new people to come on our committee, hopefully we will get a good turnout for our AGM, we will get new people, get fresh ideas and fresh impetus.

“That’s important, you can’t stand still, you need to keep adapting. Tidy Towns now is very different to what it was even five years ago, there are so many aspects to it. Biodiversity and climate change is a big part of it now and what all towns and villages are doing.

“We did tree planting in the first three months of the year, we planted 3,500 trees. We’re going to do a project at the Ballycasey roundabout in August, we’ll be planting a range of pollinator friendly plants. We have got the go ahead and the funding so a contractor will be coming in for that.”

During the worst of the pandemic many had time to help, but aren’t as freely available now.

“Some of the people we had last year have gone back to work, they’re still helping out but they wouldn’t have as much time, so hopefully we’ll get new people to come on board.”