Communities in Bloom judges tour all Ballincollig has to offer

Judges from the international Communities in Bloom (CiB) competition have said that they were very impressed with what they saw during a tour of Ballincollig recently.

CIB judges Dr Andrea Bosci from Fejér, Hungary, and Anthony O’Neill from North Saanich, British Columbia, Canada spent almost two days visiting a range of sites across Ballincollig.

The tour showcased how Ballincollig has progressed from a small rural village in the 1960 to a thriving urban centre, while still retaining its village feel and character.

The tour was run by Ballincollig Tidy Towns and Cork City Council.

Dr Bosci said that she was amazed by the work of Ballincollig Tidy Towns.

“It’s clear there is a very positive and effective collaboration here between Tidy Towns volunteers and the local authority. Responsibilities are shared well, and there is real mutual respect,” she said.

Particular attention was drawn to Main Street, where the seamless integration of old and new development has preserved the village character while supporting growth.

They also visited the Regional Park where members of Cork City Council’s parks and recreation department pointed out the commitment to biodiversity and sustainability, and to community-led and inclusive initiatives.

Tom Butler, Chairperson of Ballincollig Tidy Towns said the visit provided an opportunity to present the best of the town and the people behind its achievements.

“The judges saw the transformation of Ballincollig from what it was to what it is now as a thriving community. They saw the level of volunteerism, as well as the cooperation between ourselves and Cork City Council.

“The level of volunteer effort was clear for them to see throughout the visit. The cooperation between the City Council’s Parks Department, other City Council staff on the ground, the Tidy Towns volunteers, the business community, and the wider population is what makes this work. This is not just one group - this is Ballincollig as a whole, Everyone plays a vital role, and we are all working together towards the same goal,” he said.

Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Damien Boylan said the partnership between Cork City Council and Ballincollig Tidy Towns was “a real strength, and a key reason why Ballincollig is such a great place to live”.

“The commitment of volunteers, combined with the support and engagement of the city council, creates a shared sense of ownership and pride in the town. That joined-up approach does the obvious - it enhances the physical environment - but it also strengthens people-to-people connections and overall community wellbeing, which is so important today,” he said.

This article was produced with the support of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme funded by Coimisiún na Meán.