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