Community spirit shines as Dromiskin marks major sustainability milestones

Despite the wet weather, spirits remained high on Saturday last, 17 January, as Dromiskin Tidy Towns volunteers were joined by invited guests for a series of community events in the village.

Proceedings began at Centra with the official launch of a Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SuDS) project.

This important project was made possible through funding from the Louth County Council Climate Action Fund 2024, with the support of James Hallinan from Hallinan’s Centra who provided the site on his property, demonstrating real collaboration in improving the sustainability of the community.

Another highlight of the morning was the raising of Dromiskin Heritage Park’s fifth Community Green Flag, performed by Cllr Seán Kelly, Chairman of Louth County Council, ably assisted by members of the Green School Committee of St Peter’s N.S. and Dromiskin Tidy Towns volunteers.

The morning was further marked by the raising of a second Community Green Flag for Ginnety’s Pond Nature Park.

Read also: €4.6 million for Louth for Carlingford Greenway and Active Travel

These achievements once again, makes Dromiskin the only community in Ireland to fly two Community Green Flags simultaneously, recognising excellence in the volunteer management of public parks.

_{Below: Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, Cllr Seán Kelly, unveiling the Dromiskin Sustainable Urban Drainage System, with Martin King, contractor; Kevin Halpenny, Liam Reilly, Dromiskin Tidy Towns; Fiona Lennon, Louth County Council Community Climate Action Officer; Cllr Maeve Yore; and Patrick Mulligan, Chairman Dromiskin Tidy Towns}

Addressing those in attendance, Cllr Kelly remarked that he felt like an honorary citizen of Dromiskin, having visited the village on numerous occasions in his official capacity to celebrate the extensive and ongoing community work being undertaken.

Cllr Kelly noted that Dromiskin Tidy Towns was the only community group in the country to secure funding for a SuDS project under this phase of the Climate Action Fund, praising the exceptional community spirit evident throughout the village.

Fiona Lennon, Community Climate Action Officer with Louth County Council, also offered her congratulations on the successful completion of Dromiskin’s second SuDS project, noting that the first had been funded under the LEADER programme.

She advised that Louth County Council had been allocated €604,000 in the first phase of the Climate Action Fund, which supported 22 projects across the county, including the one being celebrated in Dromiskin.

_{Below: Raising the Dromiskin Heritage Park’s fifth Community Green Flag: Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, Cllr Seán Kelly; Fiona Lennon, Community Action Climate Officer; Patrick Mulligan, Chairman Dromiskin Tidy Towns; Aoibheann Duffy, School Principal; Cllr Maeve Yore; and local schoolchildren}

Ms Lennon emphasised that the Climate Action Fund relies on community groups coming forward to manage and deliver eligible projects and expressed her enthusiasm for continued collaboration with Tidy Towns groups throughout the county.

Kevin Halpenny, a volunteer with Dromiskin Tidy Towns who designed and managed the project, highlighted that effective water management is a fundamental element of climate action.

He noted that poor water management can lead to flooding, erosion, and pollution, all of which can be effectively addressed through well designed projects such as those implemented in the village.

The event concluded on a fitting and uplifting note, reflecting the strong partnership between Dromiskin Tidy Towns and St. Peter’s National School.

Members of the Green Schools Committee recited a poem written to mark what has been an outstanding year for the community in all aspects of the Tidy Towns programme.