Tipp Town and Tipp's tidiest prepare for President's visit
Tipperary is well and truly in the spotlight this weekend.
As well as securing the coveted spot in the All Ireland final at Croke Park against four-in-a-row rivals Kilkenny this Sunday, Saturday will be a major day in the history of the county. President Mary McAleese is set to visit the tidiest town in Ireland, marking the wonderful achievement attained by this pretty, petite and picturesque village, Emly. And following that she will travel onto Tipperary, accompanied by the Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy, to join in commemorating 25th anniversary of the Munitir na Tre Community Alert programme. Great excitement is brewing in the beautiful village of Emly as the Tidy Towns Committee and local residents prepare to welcome President McAleese this Saturday when she will unveil a plaque outside Duhig House, beside St. Ailbes Church, to celebrate the village's victory in the National Tidy Towns Competition 2009.
The celebrations will kick off at 11.30am with entertainment provided by the CJ Kickham Brass and Reed Band in anticiapation of her arrival at 12 noon when she will be greeted by Emly Tidy Towns Committee members, local residents and delegates from South Tipperary County Council and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Everyone in the community is invited to attend Emly's Day of Celebration.
Chairperson of Emly Tidy Towns, Shoron Cunnigham said that the community is extremely proud that President McAleese is visiting their village.
"I am delighted that the people of Emly will be honoured with this Presidential visit. It was through the hard work and dedication of the community that we achieved the National Award last year. The residents, clubs, businesses and school have really pulled together as a community and have made a bigger effort this year. It's with a great sense of pride that we welcome the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese to Emly."
Emly scored an outstanding 305 marks out of a possible 400 to become Ireland's Tidiest Town 2009.Up against 720 entries from towns and villages all over the country, Emly scooped an impressive five awards including: National Award Winner, Irelands Tidiest Village Award, a Gold Medal Award for best in their category, a South East Regional Award and a Best in County Award.
Speaking about the visit, Ned O'Connor South Tipperary County Manager said that President McAleese's visit was a fitting tribute to the village.
"Emly is entitled to be very proud of everything it has achieved. The President's visit is a fitting tribute to the hard work and outstanding commitment which has been demonstrated over many years. I would like to once again congratulate the people of Emly for their achievements to date and to wish Emly the best of luck in the coming weeks when the 2010 National Tidy Towns Competition results will be announced."
In Tipperary Town President McAleese will join in commemorating the 25th Anniversary of the Munitir na Tre Community Alert programme. The President will be joined by the Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy, Muintir na Tre President Martin Quinn and other dignitaries at the event which will take place in the Canon Hayes Recreation Centre, Tipperary Town.
Muintir na Tre President Martin Quinn, is extending an invitation to the local community in Tipperary and surrounding areas to attend the event and if you chose to do so, you are requested to be seated by 1.45 pm. The Community Alert programme was established by Muintir na Tre in 1985 in response to attacks on older people in rural communities in the southern part of Ireland, some of which were fatal. Muintir na Tre groups in the affected areas came together to create a community response to the problem, and together with the assistance and support of the local members of An Garda Sochna was born the Community Alert programme.
The programme is now managed by Muintir na Tre in partnership with An Garda Sochna. It is primarily crime prevention, care and safety programme for rural communities and it encourages the community to pro-actively participate in improving the quality of life and safety of the community in general. The Community Alert programme encourages its units to identify local community needs and provides the support necessary to communities to proactively respond in the area of crime prevention and safety. The work of the programme is governed as set out in the Community Alert Strategy 2007 – 2011. There are now almost 1400 Community Alert Groups throughout the country. The event on Saturday September 4 is the first in a series of events to take place in 2010 to mark the 25th Anniversary of Community Alert.kkkkk
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Weather for Clonmel
Tuesday 07 February 2012
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