Joe O'Brien - Green Party Joe O'Brien - Green Party

Minister Joe O’Brien praises community effort in Fingal in achieving and maintaining Green Flag Status in our public spaces

19th November, 2021

  • Sites retaining Green Flag status include Ardgillan Demesne, Malahide Demesne, Newbridge House and Farm
  • Community Award for The Rock Garden Swords

 

Minister Joe O’Brien has welcomed the news that a total of 103 parks and public green spaces in Ireland have won an International Green Flag Award, the second highest number of awards in the world.  The Minister raised a Green Flag at Malahide Castle as the success was celebrated this week.

 

At the event Minister O’Brien said:

 

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the park staff, and community volunteers, across the country for their hard work; not only in achieving this Green Flag Success for Ireland today, but in maintaining the many parks, gardens, and green spaces across the country for our mutual benefit. It is a great credit that they largely remained open and well managed at this difficult time.

 

“Since 2018 the Department of Rural and Community Development has supported An Taisce with the expansion of the Green Flag Award into our community run spaces. 

 

“I am particularly pleased that here in Fingal we have retained Green Flag status at six sites including Ardgillan Demesne, Newbridge House & Farm and Malahide Demesne. In addition, for the second year in a row The Rock Garden in Swords has received a Community Award.”

 

Three of the award-winning parks were also given an additional Pollinator Plan Award. This award is given to spaces that made an effort to support their local pollinating insects.

 

Since the commencement of the Green Flag Awards in 1996 a peer jury of green space experts have volunteered their time to visit all the sites in the competition to assess them against eight strict criteria including horticultural standards, cleanliness, sustainability and community involvement. Since 2018, community-run green spaces have been eligible for a Green Flag. Public town parks, country parks, gardens, cemeteries, nature parks and green spaces are all eligible for the award.  These Awards are an acknowledgment of the efforts made by local community groups to improve a community green space.

 

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For further information contact johanna.walsh@oireachtas.ie