101 Great Green Spaces - An Taisce Announces Green Flag Awards 101 Great Green Spaces The 2023 Green Flag Awards were announced today by An Taisce Environmental Education, recognizing Ireland’s best managed Public Parks and Green Spaces The Green Flag Award for Parks was awarded to 101 parks, gardens, grounds and wildlife sanctuaries around the country. The award benchmarks excellence in the management of green spaces which are open free the public. 150 parks were awarded flags today around Europe, with Ireland leading the way. The Green Flag Award is the international quality benchmark for the public green space sector - now operating in 17 countries around the world. Running for over 25 years, the programme uses eight key criteria headings, with an emphasis on environmental management, for assessments. Both a management framework for each site and an annual condition inspection is conducted through a network of qualified judges. 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 150 awarded in Europe today, 101 were in Ireland. This year participating European countries include Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Turkey Speaking of his park’s award, Maurice O’Connell, Green Flag Project Coordinator, said: “Having Pairc Cois Feile / Abbeyfeale Town Park awarded an International Green Flag is so special to us, and even more so now that we have managed to achieve 5 in a Row. The feeling of a job well done, of being up there with the best in the world, a feeling of pride and especially for all those who have worked and volunteered to ensure that our Park is a great place to work, volunteer, visit, and just relax. Having our Park awarded an International Green Flag is the best approval one can get for the people and the place.” Emlyn Cullen – Programme Manager for An Taisce Environmental Education Unit, who run the Award in Ireland said: “The continued success of the Green Flag Award is due to the love staff members have for their green spaces and the hard work they put in to maintaining them. They do a phenomenal job every day making their parks and gardens beautiful, safe spaces for the public to enjoy.” The Green Heritage Site Accreditation is an extra award given to sites that showcase their unique landscape and built heritage. With the support of the NPWS and the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage, 12 Irish Green Flag sites were accredited to Green Heritage Accreditation standard this year. Minister of State with responsibility for Heritage; Malcolm Noonan, said of the Green Heritage Accreditation: “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 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”. The Green Flag Community Award brings the award to community initiatives such as Community Gardens, Community Parks, and Tidy Towns Projects. By acknowledging the work done by local groups this Community Award helps empower community groups to improve their local area 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.” Innovation Award Two award recipients also received special innovation awards. Lough Gur Lakeshore Park and Visitor Centre in Limerick installed 28 bee lodges to support solidary and native bees. The lodges were funded by Analog Devices showing cross collaboration between industry and parks leading a greater number of people becoming aware of the importance of bees as pollinators. The bee lodges were built by PALLS, as part of the prison education programme showing an inclusive and supportive approach to public park spaces. Julianstown Community Garden in Meath installed 4 raised beds to demonstrate crop rotation which were made by the local Men’s Shed group. The beds will be used to by the local Primary School in their science lessons and are also visited daily by the local creche. The intention is to sow vegetables in the beds and give them to local residents. Pollinator Award Three of the 2023 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 Green Flag Pollinator Awards went to: Overall winner: Tralee Bay Wetlands Eco & Activity Park Country Park/ Demesne: Castletown House & Parklands Community Garden: Ballyglunin Station Town Park: Tralee Bay Wetlands Eco & Activity Park Highly commended: Tymon Park Ballycroy Visitor Centre, Wild Nephin National Park St. Anne's Park Kate Chandler, the Community and Engagement Officer for the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan, said: “We’re so thrilled to see the extensive work taking place for pollinators in this year’s Green Flag Pollinator Award. The winners and highly commended parks are shining examples of how these important green spaces can be managed for the benefit of pollinators and people. We’d like to thank all the applicants for leading the way with their inspiring work and look forward to seeing how it develops in the future.” For further information please make contact using the details below. 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 ENDS Note to Editors: The Green Flag Award is an international benchmarking standard for parks and green spaces. The Green Flag Award scheme operates across Australia, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Mexico, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States of America. 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. Parks and green spaces are judged against eight key criteria. Where certain criteria are not met, applicants can provide justifications that may be taken into account. What's more, if management practice changes are in progress but not yet fully implemented, transitional phases will be acknowledged and viewed positively. The Green Flag Community Award extends the Green Flag Award Scheme to our volunteer run community green space projects. The Green Heritage Site Accreditation is awarded to public green spaces of historical importance, that actively understand, manage, and promote their heritage which makes them unique. 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 taken into account. In November 2021 the Central Statistics Office published a report indicating that “Three-quarters of urban households visit urban green spaces most weeks” and that “Almost €46 million was spent by households on their most recent visit to nature areas for recreational purposes”. The full list of the 2023 Green Flag Award winning parks within the Republic of Ireland is as follows: 2023 Green Flag Awards: Park Managing organisation: Páirc Cois Féile / Abbeyfeale Town Park Abbeyfeale Community Leisure Ltd Balla Woodlands and Parks Balla CRD Cavan Burren Park Cavan County Council John O’Sullivan Park Clare County Council Shannon Town Park. Clare County Council Tim Smythe Park Clare County Council Vandeleur Walled Garden Clare County Council Ballincollig Regional Park Cork City Council Douglas Community Park Cork City Council Fitzgerald’s Park Cork City Council Gerry O'Sullivan Park Cork City Council Shalom Park Cork City Council Barrack Hill Town Park Donegal County Council Albert College Park Dublin City Council Ballyfermot Peoples Park Dublin City Council Blessington Street Park Dublin City Council Eamonn Ceannt Park Dublin City Council Father Collins Park Dublin City Council Griffith Park Dublin City Council Herbert Park Dublin City Council Poppintree Park Dublin City Council St. Anne’s Park Dublin City 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 Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Ardgillan Demesne Fingal County Council Hartstown Park 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 St. Catherine’s Park Fingal County Council Children’s Millennium Park Galway City Council O’Sullivan Park Galway City Council Quincentennial Park Galway City Council Childers Park & Woodlands Kerry County Council Tralee Town Park Kerry County Council Liffey Linear Park Newbridge Kildare 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 Ice House Hill Park Louth County Council Saint Dominic’s Park Louth County Council St Helena Park Louth County Council Ballycroy Visitor Centre - Wild Nephin National Park National Parks and Wildlife Service Glenveagh National Park National Parks and Wildlife Service National University of Ireland Galway National University of Ireland Galway Lloyd Town Park Tullamore Offaly County Council Castletown Demesne Office of Public Works Fota Arboretum & Gardens Office of Public Works Garinish Island Office of Public Works Grangegorman Military Cemetery Office of Public Works Iveagh Gardens Office of Public Works St. Stephen's Green Office of Public Works The Phoenix Park Office of Public Works 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 South Dublin County Council Cahir lnch Field Tipperary County Council Kilbarry Nature Park Waterford City & County Council Waterford Greenway Waterford City & County Council South East Technological University Arena Waterford Institute of Technology Mullingar Town Park West Meath County Council Pearse Park - New Ross Wexford County Council The New Ross Library Park Wexford County Council 2023 Green Flag Award and Heritage Site Accreditation: The Palace Grounds Galway County Council Tralee Bay Wetlands Kerry County Council Enniscoe Mayo County Council Jackie Clarke Collection Heritage Garden Mayo County Council Turlough Park Mayo County Council Connemara National Park National Parks and Wildlife Service Killarney House and Gardens National Parks and Wildlife Service Maynooth Campus National University of Ireland Maynooth. Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre Office of Public Works Derrynane Historic Park Office of Public Works Irish National War Memorial Gardens Office of Public Works Irish National War Memorial Gardens Office of Public Works Lough Gur Lakeshore Park and Visitor Centre Limerick City and County Council 2023 Green Flag Community Awards: Bagenalstown Town Park Carlow County Council The River Walk Dungloe Donegal County Council Dromiskin Heritage Park Dromiskin Tidy Towns Santry Demesne Community Garden Fingal County Council The Rock Garden Fingal County Council Foulksmills Park Foulksmills Tidy Towns Ballyglunin Railway Restoration Project Galway County Council Zero Waste Community Garden Kildare County Council Ballina Karen Community Garden Mayo County Council Ballyhaunis Community Garden Mayo County Council Our Lady’s Island Community Park Our Lady’s Island Community Development Company Ballaghaderreen Community Garden Roscommon County Council Knockvicar Organic Garden Roscommon County Council Rosslare Harbour Memorial Park and Gardens Rosslare Harbour/Kilrane Environment Group Headford Community Orchard The Church of Ireland Julianstown Community Garden Meath County Council Hungry Hall Park Broomfield and District Residents 2023 Pollinator Plan Award: Overall winner: Tralee Bay Wetlands Eco & Activity Park Country Park/ Demesne: Castletown House & Parklands Community Garden: Ballyglunin Station Town Park: Tralee Bay Wetlands Eco & Activity Park Highly commended: Tymon Park Ballycroy Visitor Centre, Wild Nephin National Park St. Anne's Park Manage Cookie Preferences