Translink Press Release Ulster In Bloom Winners
4th September 2007:
Edith McAdams and Nuala Turtle of Richhill & District
Community Association look blooming pleased with
their town's performance in this year's Ulster in Bloom.
The results for Northern Ireland’s longest standing community gardening competition, the 29th Translink Ulster in Bloom, have been announced today (Tuesday September 04) at Tullylagan Country House, Cookstown.
With a vast array of magnificent floral displays in cities, towns, villages and bus and rail stations across the country being assessed over the summer by a dedicated team of judges and horticultural experts, Belfast was awarded first place in the ‘Best City’ category for the second year running, again pipping Londonderry for poll position.
Coleraine was a double-winner scooping best ‘Town’ and ‘Roses in Town’ categories, and among other well-deserved winning community projects, Belfast, Coleraine, Broughshane, Scarva and Whitehead have all been nominated to go forward to the national ‘Britain in Bloom’ 2008 competition.
Organised by the Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) and supported by Translink and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB), the event was attended by Mayors, Chairmen and officials of District and Borough Councils, along with members of local development, improvement and garden societies and Translink staff to hear the much-anticipated results.
Addressing the event at Tullylagan, Translink’s Acting Chief Executive, Philip O’Neill said:
“This summer will have tested your determination and commitment to the full. You have struggled hard in the face of severe opposition from the weather.
“But ironically, recent weather has also helped to illustrate the ethos and thinking behind Ulster in Bloom. By coming together in this way, in such adverse conditions, you have shown a collective will toward meeting challenges head on, improving your natural environment; and assisting in improving quality of life for you and your neighbours.
“The experience of working in partnership, of cooperating with people whom you may not have had contact with before, of creating new relationships and building on the old, lasts long in the memory.
“In our ninth consecutive year of supporting Ulster in Bloom, Translink is proud to be associated with this long-standing competition and the positive environmental messages it raises in communities across the province. We remain committed to the event, as do our bus and train station managers who have been busy planting out their stations this summer, and in particular I would like to congratulate ‘Brighter Whitehead’ for their efforts in winning the Community Rail Halt Award, as well as Larne Bus Station, the winners of the coveted Floral Station category.
“I commend all those who have contributed for their year-on-year enthusiasm and extend my congratulations to all of this year’s very worthy winners. We look forward to extending and developing these community relationships even further for next year’s challenge.”
Cllr Sean McPeake, NILGA President, added: “The 121 entries in this year’s competition again stand as tribute to Ulster in Bloom’s popularity down through the years. There are real, tangible benefits to the community in participating and I look forward to increased entries next year. As always, NILGA is delighted to be involved in the organising of this year’s event and I would like to thank all contenders for making this such a vibrant competition. We are also most grateful to Translink for continuing their support of the competition and look forward to working alongside them in the coming months.”
John Mooney, Board member, NITB said: “Ulster in Bloom has gone from strength to strength and is now a household name in towns and villages across Northern Ireland. I would like to congratulate and thank all of the partners involved for making it as successful as it is today. Who would have thought back in 1979 that it would become so popular, or that Northern Ireland would be named as a ‘must see’ destination by the world’s leading travel publication, Lonely Planet? This competition has a central role to play in making Northern Ireland such an attractive destination and significantly adds to the visitor experience.”
-ENDS-
For further information please contact Geoff McGimpsey at Morrow Communications, tel: 028 90
THE RESULTS OF THE 2007 TRANSLINK 'ULSTER IN BLOOM' COMPETITION ARE AS FOLLOWS:
|
CATEGORY |
PLACINGS |
||
|
1ST |
2ND |
3RD | |
| City |
Belfast |
Londonderry |
- |
| Large Town |
Ballymena |
Bangor |
Carrickfergus |
| Town |
Coleraine |
Enniskillen |
Portadown |
| Small Town |
Whitehead |
Richhill |
Moira |
| Large Village |
Broughshane |
Killyleagh |
Hillsborough |
| Small Village |
Scarva |
Bryansford |
Charlestown |
| Most Improved |
Merville Garden Village, Newtownabbey |
| Crystal Award | Down District Council for outstanding effort and enthusiastic contribution to Translink 'Ulster in Bloom' throughout the Council area |
| 'Roses In Towns' Trophy | Awarded to Coleraine Presented by Belfast City Council to the city, town or village, (other than Belfast), who uses roses to the best advantage in public areas. |
| Special Awards |
Awarded to the following for outstanding presentation:- 1. Castlereagh Borough Council (for outstanding floral presentation throughout the area) |
| * Nominations for ‘Britain in Bloom’ – 2008 | 1. Belfast Large City 2. Coleraine Town 3. Broughshane Large Village 4. Scarva Village 5. Whitehead Coastal Place |
RESULTS OF THE TRANSLINK ULSTER IN BLOOM 2007
FLORAL STATION CATEGORY
AS FOLLOWS:-
|
PLACINGS |
|||
|
1ST |
2ND |
3RD | |
| Best Station Award |
Larne Bus Station |
Derry City |
Whitehead Rail Station |
| Community Rail Halt Award (TBC) |
Brighter Whitehead for their efforts at Whitehead station |
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