Riverstown in County Sligo and Blackrock in County Louth have been awarded gold medals in the prestigious Entente Florale European environmental competition. The two Irish villages competed alongside entries from Hungary, France, Italy, Germany, and Czechia in the international contest.
Established in 1975, Entente Florale Europe aims to promote a greener and more pleasant environment across towns and villages. The competition places a strong emphasis on the partnership between local authorities and communities in delivering improvements, drawing frequent comparisons to the TidyTowns framework. Both Riverstown and Blackrock participated after receiving nominations from the Department of Rural and Community Development.
Did You Know? Entente Florale Europe entries are evaluated across 10 key criteria by an international jury panel consisting of members from each participating country.
Awards Ceremony Hosted in Carlow
More than 160 delegates attended the awards ceremony held at the Visual Centre of Contemporary Art and the George Bernard Shaw Theatre in Carlow town. Carlow was selected to host the event following its performance in the 2024 Entente Florale Europe competition. Minister of State at the Department of Health Jennifer Murnane O’Connor attended the ceremony and noted that the standard was exceptionally high across the participating countries.
Minister O’Connor presented the Green Spaces Special award to Kecskemét and recognized the support provided by Sligo and Louth County Councils to the respective Irish entries. “Ireland’s community effort and involvement, particularly our TidyTowns volunteer movement, is very highly regarded amongst our European counterparts,” Minister O’Connor stated during the event.
Future Outlook and Community Impact
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Entente Florale competition?
It is a European environmental competition established in 1975 that aims to promote a greener and more pleasant environment in towns and villages.
Which Irish locations won awards?
Riverstown in County Sligo and Blackrock in County Louth both secured gold medals in the competition.
Who evaluated the competing entries?
An international jury panel consisting of members from each participating country evaluated the entries across 10 key criteria.
How might these international accolades influence local environmental projects in other towns across the country?
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