2022 Green Flag Awards - 100 Shades of Green Ireland’s success continued this year with four new Green Flag Award winners, three new Community Award winners and five new Green Heritage Site Accreditations - raising the total on the emerald isle to a record-breaking number of 104 awards. This includes three new Green Flag Award winners, three new Community Award winners and five new Green Heritage Site Accreditations. Of the 104 Green Flag sites Ireland was awarded today, 85 are formal public Green Flag Park sites and 19 are volunteer run Green Community Sites. This was the 2nd year of the roll-out of Green Heritage Site Accreditation across Ireland. With the support of the NPWS and the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage, 12 Irish Green Flag sites have now been accredited to Green Heritage Accreditation standard. This is an addition of five sites this year to last year’s total of seven. Green Heritage Site Accreditation is awarded to public green spaces of historical and cultural significance. Minister of State with responsibility for Heritage; Malcolm Noonan, commended the Green Heritage Accreditation and offered the following statement of support: “I am delighted that the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department supports and co-funds the Green Heritage Site Accreditation Programme. This scheme, now in its second year, is a welcome and important complement to the existing Green Flag Award. The Green Heritage Accreditation enables a larger pool of sites to participate in the programme and highlights the multifaceted nature of our green spaces. The scheme brings together the human and natural aspect of a place. It celebrates best practice in engagement with multi-layered heritage and reminds us all of our responsibility to appreciate and preserve richness and diversity of the green spaces that surround us, now even more important than ever”. Only awarded for exceeding tough environmental standards in green space management, and excellence of visitor attractions – the Green Flag Award Scheme is the mark of a quality park or green space and is recognised throughout the world. Once again more Green Flag Awards have been secured by Irish Parks and Gardens than by any country, other than the UK where the scheme originated in 1996. Out of 136 awarded in Europe today, 104 were in Ireland. This year participating European countries include Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. Emlyn Cullen - Programme Manager at the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce, who run the Award in Ireland said: “The continued success of the Green Flag Award in Ireland is a great measure of how much the country values parks and green spaces - and how well managed many of them are. I’d like to say well done to everyone who works in the sector here for their ongoing commitment. You make a huge positive impact on your local communities and the natural environment” The Green Flag Community Award extends the Scheme to include community initiatives such as Community Gardens, Community Parks, and Tidy Towns Projects. By providing our community green spaces with access to Green Flag Award best practice we empower community groups to improve their local community and environment. In Ireland the Green Flag Community Award Scheme is supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development. The Minister of State for Community Development and Charities; Joe O’Brien stated that: “The Department of Rural and Community Development has supported An Taisce with the expansion of the Green Flag since 2018 into community run spaces. By doing this we have been able to leverage the Green Flag Award values and standards for the benefit of our communities and their voluntary work. I want to thank all community volunteers, across the country for all the work they have done by maintaining the many parks, gardens, and greens across the country. It is a great credit that they have helped deliver this this Green Flag accreditation across Ireland.” Anne-Marie Toomey from Foulksmills Tidy Towns said: “We are extremely proud to receive a Green Flag Community Award for our beautiful Foulksmills Park. It has been in the heart of our village for over 35 years and is a place for everyone to enjoy. The Award is a recognition of all the hard work and dedication the committee has put in over the years.” “A huge thank you to the community and Wexford County Council who have been on the journey with us and have continued to support us over the years.” The Green Flag Awards are judged every year by a peer jury of green space experts, who volunteer their time to visit applicant sites and assess them against eight strict criteria, including horticultural standards, cleanliness, sustainability, and community involvement. Pollinator Award Three of the 2022 applicants were given a special award for their work supporting pollinating insects. The Pollinator Award is jointly run by An Taisce Environmental Education and the National Biodiversity Data Centre, assessing pollinator-friendly management of parks and community spaces against the recommendations of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan, which is implemented by the Data Centre. This year, the Green Flag Pollinator Award was given to Malahide Demesne and Talbot Botanical Gardens, operated by Fingal County Council. South Dublin County Council’s Tymon Park won in the town park category, and Julianstown Community Gardens were given the top prize in the community category. Castletown House and Parkland, Oldbridge Estate, and Tralee Bay Wetlands were all highly commended for their work. Kate Chandler, the Community and Engagement Officer for the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan, said: “It is encouraging to see another year of strong applications to the Green Flag Pollinator Award. One third of our wild bees in Ireland are under threat due to a loss of food and shelter, and so we’re thrilled to see the range of activities taking place across the country to support them. We had a number of impressive new applications this year, and look forward to working with An Taisce again to encourage more applications in the years to come.” The full list of the 2022 Green Flag Award winning parks within the Republic of Ireland is as follows: 2022 Green Flag Awards: Park Managing organisation Páirc Cois Féile / Abbeyfeale Town Park Abbeyfeale Community Leisure Ltd Cavan Burren Park Cavan County Council Shannon Town Park. Clare County Council John O’Sullivan Park Clare County Council Tim Smythe Park Clare County Council Vandeleur Walled Garden Clare County Council Ballincollig Regional Park Cork City Council Shalom Park Cork City Council Fitzgerald’s Park Cork City Council Douglas Community Park Cork City Council Barrack Hill Town Park Donegal County Council Bushy Park Dublin City Council Herbert Park Dublin City Council Poppintree Park Dublin City Council Albert College Park Dublin City Council Father Collins Park Dublin City Council St. Anne’s Park Dublin City Council Blessington Street Park Dublin City Council Saint Audoen's Park Dublin City Council Saint Patrick's Park Dublin City Council Weaver Park Dublin City Council Markievicz Park Dublin City Council Cabinteely Park Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Blackrock Park Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council People’s Park Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Deerpark Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Shanganagh Park Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Marlay Park Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Deansgrange Cemetery Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Millennium Park Fingal County Council Santry Demesne Fingal County Council Newbridge House and Farm Fingal County Council St. Catherine’s Park Fingal County Council Children’s Millennium Park Galway City Council Quincentennial Park Galway City Council O’Sullivan Park Galway City Council Tralee Bay Wetlands Kerry County Council Tralee Town Park Kerry County Council Childers Park & Woodlands Kerry County Council Liffey Linear Park Newbridge Kildare County Council Peoples Park Portarlington Laois County Council Páirc an Phobail - Portlaoise Laois County Council The Peoples Park Limerick Limerick City and County Council The Mall Longford County Council Blackrock Community Park Louth County Council St Helena Park Louth County Council Saint Dominic’s Park Louth County Council Ice House Hill Park Louth County Council Jackie Clarke Collection Heritage Garden Mayo County Council Glenveagh National Park National Parks and Wildlife Service Ballycroy Visitor Centre - Wild Nephin National Park National Parks and Wildlife Service Killarney House and Gardens National Parks and Wildlife Service University of Galway Campus University of Galway Lloyd Town Park Tullamore Offaly County Council Altamont House and Gardens Office of Public Works The Phoenix Park Office of Public Works St. Stephen's Green Office of Public Works Iveagh Gardens Office of Public Works Grangegorman Military Cemetery Office of Public Works Fota Arboretum & Gardens Office of Public Works Garinish Island Office of Public Works Waterstown Park South Dublin County Council Tymon Park South Dublin County Council Rathfarnham Castle Park South Dublin County Council Sean Walsh Park South Dublin County Council Corkagh Park South Dublin County Council Cahir lnch Field Tipperary County Council Kilbarry Nature Park Waterford City & County Council Waterford Greenway Waterford City & County Council Mullingar Town Park West Meath County Council Pearse Park - New Ross Wexford County Council The New Ross Library Park Wexford County Council Malahide Demesne Fingal County Council Ardgillan Demesne Fingal County Council The Palace Grounds Galway County Council Lough Gur Lakeshore Park and Visitor Centre Limerick City and County Council Turlough Park Mayo County Council Enniscoe Mayo County Council Connemara National Park National Parks and Wildlife Service Maynooth Campus Maynooth University Irish National War Memorial Gardens Office of Public Works Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre Office of Public Works Derrynane Historic Park Office of Public Works Castletown Demesne Office of Public Works 2022 Green Heritage Site Accreditation: Malahide Demesne Fingal County Council The Palace Grounds Galway County Council Lough Gur Lakeshore Park and Visitor Centre Limerick City and County Council Turlough Park Mayo County Council Enniscoe Mayo County Council Connemara National Park National Parks and Wildlife Service Maynooth Campus Maynooth University Irish National War Memorial Gardens Office of Public Works Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre Office of Public Works Derrynane Historic Park Office of Public Works Castletown Demesne Office of Public Works 2022 Green Flag Community Awards: Bagenalstown Town Park Carlow County Council Cloontuskert Community Orchard Cloontuskert Development & Tidy Towns Association Dromiskin Heritage Park Dromiskin Tidy Towns The Rock Garden Fingal County Council Foulksmills Park Foulksmills Tidy Towns Ballyglunin Railway Restoration Project Galway County Council The Headford Community Garden Headford Development Association Zero Waste Community Garden Kildare County Council Ballina Karen Community Garden Mayo County Council Ballyhaunis Community Garden Ballyhaunis Abbey Partnership Our Ladys Island Community Park Our Ladys Island Community Development Company Knockvicar Organic Garden Roscommon County Council Ballaghaderreen Community Garden Roscommon County Council Rosslare Harbour Memorial Park and Gardens Rosslare Harbour/Kilrane Environment Group Headford Community Orchard The Church of Ireland Balla Woodlands and Parks Balla CRD The River Walk Dungloe Donegal County Council Santry Demesne Community Garden Fingal County Council Julianstown Community Garden Meath County Council 2022 Pollinator Plan Award: OVERALL WINNER: Malahide Demesne & Talbot Botanical Gardens - Fingal Co. Co. Category Winners Country Park/ Demesne: Malahide Demesne & Talbot Botanical Gardens – Fingal Co. Co. Community Garden: Julianstown Community Garden Town Park: Tymon Park – South Dublin County Council Highly commended: Oldbridge Estate Tralee Bay Wetlands – Kerry Co. Co. Castletown House & Parklands - OPW If you are interested in finding out further information about the Green Flag Award or other programmes run by An Taisce Environmental Education please e-mail us at [email protected] or phone 085 7074573 Manage Cookie Preferences