Article ADMIREABLE COMMUNITY GROUPS Clarina Tidy Towns By Valerie Tierney

It is rare nowadays that there isnt a community group for every little thing imaginable. From walking groups to childrens groups to the ever present GAA, its safe to say that there is a group to suit everyone. My local area is no different whatsoever. It features the groups listed above, along with a host of others. Many of these groups do fabulous, wide ranging work, from cake sales in aid of charity to sponsored walks, while others well, others just like to meet in the local pub on a Friday night. One group in my area which does exceptional work, that I admire, is the Local Tidy Towns Committee. The Tidy Towns Committee is one of the more recently founded groups in the area of Clarina, as they began only a few years ago. They had a humble beginning, consisting initially of only three friends, who picked up litter as they went on their daily walks around the parish. The idea of forming a Tidy Towns Committee began in earnest when the area received some funding from the National Lottery, and it was decided that the money should go into sprucing up the area. After several meetings, the group, now consisting of seven members, had formed a plan, and went at it with gusto. The first year was slow, as the group spent much time doing unpleasant tasks. Maria McInerney, one of the first members said that the first year was hard. We were spending a lot of time power hosing footpaths and spraying weed killer. There was no point in planting loads of flowers and hoping that itd all look right. But after the first year, the groups hard cleaning work was rewarded, and they were awarded a certificate of commendation by the Tidy Towns judging panel. In my opinion, this achievement is especially admirable, considering the small size of the group, and the long hours they had to put in. Since then, the committee has gone from strength to strength, and have been spurred on by their initial taste of success. They have planted dug and planted flowerbeds, pruned back many trees, and of course, have continued to power hose walkways. The committee has garnered admiration, not just from myself, but from the entire community, due to their tireless work. Now, in their fourth year, the group consists of about fifty members who work tirelessly to create a beautiful environment for everyone in the parish. This year the group have focused primarily on tidying up a formerly abandoned green space in the centre of the village, and have reseeded the area, added flowerbeds, and most importantly, have erected a beautiful monument in the centre of the green to a group of sailors lost off the local coastline in 1923. This monument, a brass fountain, was

commissioned by the group, and designed by local artist, Jim O Farrell. As a result of this work, the Tidy Towns Committee now feel that they are in with a viable chance to win first place this year, and as I write this, the bookmakers have Clarinas odds to win at a favourable and admirable 5-1. Overall, this is a fantastically dynamic and enthusiastic group. They put in many long, hard hours of work, rain or shine, in order to make the parish a more beautiful, pleasant place for all of the resident to live. Due to their tireless dedication, and the sheer effort the fifty member- strong team put in, the Tidy Towns Committee of Clarina deserve my, and everyone elses, admiration and unwavering support.