Killarney achieve international success at Communities in Bloom 2012, Alberta, Canada

Killarney Town is the winner of the International Challenge
(Large) category of the 2012 Edition of Communities in Bloom. Killarney Tidy Towns Chairperson Yvonne Quill and Treasurer Kathleen Foley travelled 5,000 miles to attend the conference and accept the prestigious award. Killarney also received a 5 Bloom rating and a special mention ­for Volunteer Involvement during the National Awards Ceremonies at the Edmonton Capital Region on October 12th and 13th. 

Following their evaluation of the community, volunteer judges Bob Ivison and Alain Capelle wrote: “Killarney is a small community of some 12,000 people. Killarney has been a great success with the emphasis on floral displays, appreciation of nature and heritage and the taking of responsibility for the maintenance and cleanliness of buildings and pavements. Killarney won the overall award of Ireland’s Tidiest Large Town in 2011. This was only achieved by the vast volunteer input with as many as 300 volunteers that worked every evening for six months, painting, planting and picking up litter. The same energy has been dedicated to major local sports facilities including the Gaelic football stadium and racecourse. It is no coincidence that Killarney gained excellent marks for Tidiness, Environmental Action and Heritage. So is this the place where angels fold their wings and rest?”

Communities in Bloom is a Canadian non-profit organization committed to fostering civic pride,
environmental responsibility and beautification through community involvement
and the challenge of a national program, with focus on the promotion and value
of green spaces in Community Settings. Participants are invited to attend from
all over the world, with past winners from Canada, Britain, Ireland, the Channel
Islands and Asia competing for the prestigious
awards.

Photograph shows Yvonne Quill and Kathleen Foley accepting the flag of hosts, Strathcona County, from Mayor Linda Osinchuk


 

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