News and Events Latest News and Press Releases Irish Green Flag Award site among the World’s top 10 favourite Green Flag Award Parks The results of the annual Global Peoples’ Choice Vote were revealed today! Santry Community Garden, Fingal County Council, North Dublin. Internationally, an open public vote has helped us find the World’s favourite Green Flag Award parks in the annual People’s Choice Awards - and now the results are in! Santry Demesne Community Garden, in North Dublin, was voted to be among the World’s top ten Green Flag sites by a competition that saw more public votes cast than ever before. This was in a year that has seen parks and green spaces serve a vital role for health and wellbeing worldwide, so we're especially proud to announce the top ten international sites! The top voted-for parks from ten countries are: Site Name Managing Organisation Country Santry Demesne Community Garden Fingal County Council Ireland Yildiz Grove İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyesi Turkey Provinciaal Groendomein Rivierenhof Provincie Antwerpen Belgium Jardim do Monte Latito Câmara Municipal de Guimarães Portugal Campus de la Universidad de Navarra Universidad de Navarra Spain Máximapark Gemeente Utrecht als partner in de Parkorganisatie Máximapark Netherlands TECT All Terrain Park Western Bay of Plenty District Council/Tauranga City Council New Zealand Roma Street Parklands Brisbane City Parklands Australia The Presidio of San Francisco The Presidio Trust USA Katariinan Meripuisto City of Kotka Finland Santry Demesne Community Garden, in North Dublin, is located within the old walled garden of Santry Demesne Park. The wider park of Santry Demesne is itself a Green Flag Award Site since 2017! Santry Community Garden successfully applied for the Green Flag Community Award for the first time in 2021. Operated by volunteers it is supported by Fingal County Council - which celebrated a total of 8 Green Flag Award wins in 2021. The Community Awards have been operating as part of the Green Flag Award Scheme within Ireland since 2018, with the support of the Department of Rural and Community Development. The People's Choice is voted on every year by members of the public. Green Flag Parks and Gardens rally votes via social media to encourage people to show their love for their local green spaces. Robert Moss, Republic of Ireland Green Flag Award Manager said: "Santry Community Garden is now well established, having been in operation for over 10 years. It serves many people within the local community who live within apartment complex developments surrounding the wider park. It is partly for this reason that it has attracted so many votes … because it is such an important amenity for these residents. Also of significance is the fact that the 2021 season is now the fourth year in a row for which Ireland has seen one of its parks and gardens voted to be among the best in the World, as part of this public vote." Santry Community Garden, Fingal County Council, North Dublin. Only awarded for exceeding tough environmental standards in green space management, and excellence of visitor attractions – the Green Flag Award for Parks is the mark of a quality park or green space and is recognised throughout the world. An Taisce Environmental Education have been operating this scheme within the Republic of Ireland since 2016. The 2021 awards were available to public town parks, country parks, nature parks, forest parks, historic parks, national parks, gardens, greenways, cemeteries, and public green spaces from across the whole country. The Green Flag Award now operates in 16 countries around the world including: Australia, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States of America, - celebrating over 2,300 Award winning parks and green spaces annually. The Green Flag Awards are judged every year over the summer by a peer jury of green space experts, who volunteer their time to visit applicant sites and assess them against 27 criteria, including horticultural standards, cleanliness, sustainability, and community involvement. In January 2022 the public had their chance to vote for their favourite Green Flag site wherever it may be in the World. Carl McClean, International Development Manager for the Green Flag Award said: "This isn't the first time this year that people have been vocal about their love for parks. The effects of the pandemic have meant that more and more communities are valuing the outdoor spaces that they have local access to, and I hope that this voice is also heard loud and clear by political leaders." If your park is interested in participating in the Green Flag Award Scheme, or you want to find out further information about the Green Flag Award Scheme or other programmes run by An Taisce Environmental Education then please e-mail us at [email protected] or telephone: 087 4623302. ENDS Note to Editors YouTube Video of the Top Ten Winners: https://youtu.be/kqZJAbscUUs YouTube Video of the International Green Flag Award Virtual Ceremony here: https://youtu.be/XfeDDai0qoY The Global Peoples’ Choice Vote does not include UK voted sites. Click here to view the UK specific results: https://www.greenflagaward.org/news/green-flag-award-virtual-awards-2021/ Overview The green Flag Award scheme aims to encourage the provision of good quality public parks and green spaces that are managed in environmentally sustainable ways. The Green Flag Award Scheme encourages high environmental performance and good management. The judging criteria also considers the fact that each park/green space will offer different kinds of facilities, and will be managed and developed to varying opportunities and constraints. Innovation and the way facilities offered are tailored to the needs of the community will also be considered. An Taisce Environmental Education have been operating this scheme within the Republic of Ireland since 2016. The full list of the 2021 Green Flag Award winning parks within the Republic of Ireland is as follows: 2021 Green Flag Awards: Abbeyfeale Community Leisure Ltd Páirc Cois Féile/ Abbeyfeale Park Cavan County Council Cavan Burren Park Clare County Council John O’Sullivan Park Clare County Council Shannon Town Park Clare County Council Tim Smythe Park Clare County Council Vandeleur Walled Gardens Cork City Council Fitzgerald’s Park Cork City Council Shalom Park Donegal County Council Barrack Hill Town Park Dublin City Council Albert College Park Dublin City Council Blessington Street Park Dublin City Council Bushy Park Dublin City Council Father Collins Park Dublin City Council Herbert Park Dublin City Council Markievicz Park Dublin City Council Poppintree Park Dublin City Council Saint Anne's Park Dublin City Council Saint Audoen's Park Dublin City Council Saint Patrick's Park Dublin City Council Weaver Park Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Blackrock Park Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Cabinteely Park Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Deansgrange Cemetery Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Deerpark Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Marlay Park Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council People’s Park Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Shanganagh Park Fingal County Council Ardgillan Demesne Fingal County Council Malahide Demesne Fingal County Council Millennium Park Fingal County Council Newbridge House and Farm Fingal County Council Santry Demesne Fingal County Council Saint Catherine’s Park Galway City Council Children’s Millennium Park Galway City Council Quinncentennial Park Galway County Council The Palace Grounds Kerry County Council Childers Park & Woodlands Kerry County Council Tralee Bay Wetlands Kerry County Council Tralee Town Park Kildare County Council Liffey Linear Park Newbridge Laois County Council Páirc an Phobail Portlaoise Laois County Council Peoples Park Portarlington Limerick Council The Peoples Park Limerick Limerick Council Lough Gur Lakeshore Park and Visitor Centre Longford County Council The Mall Louth County Council Blackrock Community Park Louth County Council Ice House Hill Park Louth County Council Saint Helena Park Louth County Council Saint Dominic’s Park Maynooth University/Saint Patrick’s College Maynooth Campus Mayo County Council Jackie Clarke Collection Heritage Garden Mayo County Council Turlough Park Midland Amenity Park Dún na Sí Amenity & Heritage Park National Parks and Wildlife Service Connemara National Park National Parks and Wildlife Service Glenveagh National Park National Parks and Wildlife Service Killarney House and Gardens National Parks and Wildlife Service Ballycroy Visitor Centre – Wild Nephin National Park National University of Ireland Galway National University of Ireland Galway Campus North Mayo Heritage Centre Enniscoe Offaly County Council Lloyd Town Park Tullamore Office of Public Works Altamont House and Gardens Office of Public Works Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre Office of Public Works Castletown Demesne Office of Public Works Derrynane Historic Park Office of Public Works Fota Arboretum & Gardens Office of Public Works Garinish Island Office of Public Works Grangegorman Military Cemetery Office of Public Works Irish National War Memorial Gardens Office of Public Works The Iveagh Gardens Office of Public Works The Phoenix Park Victorian Walled Garden Office of Public Works Saint Stephen's Green Sport Ireland National Sports Campus Sport Ireland Campus South Dublin County Council Corkagh Park South Dublin County Council Rathfarnham Castle Park South Dublin County Council Sean Walsh Park South Dublin County Council Tymon Park South Dublin County Council Waterstown Park Waterford City and County Council Kilbarry Nature Park Waterford City and County Council Waterford Greenway Waterford Institute of Technology Waterford Institute of Technology Sports Campus Westmeath County Council Mullingar Town Park Wexford County Council Pearse Park - New Ross Wexford County Council The New Ross Library Park Wicklow County Council Glendalough Cemetery 2021 Green Heritage Site Accreditation: Maynooth University/Saint Patrick’s College Maynooth Campus Mayo County Council Turlough Park National Parks and Wildlife Service Connemara National Park National Parks and Wildlife Service Killarney House and Gardens North Mayo Heritage Centre Enniscoe Office of Public Works Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre Office of Public Works Irish National War Memorial Gardens 2021 Green Flag Community Awards: County Carlow Bagenalstown Town Park County Donegal The River Walk Dungloe Fingal (North County Dublin) The Rock Garden Fingal (North County Dublin) Santry Community Garden County Kildare Community Sensory Garden Maynooth County Kildare Zero Waste Community Garden County Kilkenny Thomastown Food Garden County Louth Dromiskin Heritage Park County Mayo Balla Woodlands and Parks County Mayo Ballina Karen Community Garden County Mayo Ballyhaunis Community Garden County Mayo Kilmaine Community Garden County Meath Julianstown Community Garden County Galway Ballyglunin Railway Restoration Project County Galway Headford Community Garden County Galway Headford Community Orchard County Roscommon Ballaghaderreen Community Garden County Roscommon Cloontuskert Community Orchard County Roscommon Knockvicar Organic Garden 2021 Pollinator Plan Award: OVERALL WINNER: Kilbarry Nature Park: Waterford City and County Council Category Winners: Country Park: National Parks and Wildlife Service: Ballycroy Visitor Centre – Wild Nephin National Park Town Park: Kilbarry Nature Park: Waterford City and County Council Community Award: Julianstown Community Garden: County Meath Highly Commended/Special Award: Country Park: Office of Public Works: Castletown House & Parklands Town Park: Maynooth University/Saint Patrick’s College: Maynooth Campus Dublin City Council: Saint Anne’s Park Manage Cookie Preferences