Overall Development Approach
Moyvane is welcome to the 2013 National Tidy Towns Competition. Thank you for your submission, which included the completed application form and a village map with a numbered legend outlining your work programme and points of interest locally. Your efforts to encourage the local community are laudable as is your liaison with the local school and the encouragement of the school to engage with the Green Flag initiative. The October festival would seem to be a good opportunity to spread your message and to thank the various community groups for their efforts on your behalf. We would encourage you to produce a simple 3-5 year plan which would help to give a structured focus to your on-going efforts.
The Built Environment
The Newtownsandes Co-operative building was nicely painted and well-presented. Opposite the soccer pitch has a good stone boundary wall along its frontage but the amenity here would benefit from the addition of a name sign. The Village Grill, All Star Bar and Kearney’s are all nicely presented. The old raised lettering at the Tea, wine and Spirit Merchants is a traditional detail still to be found in your village and is well worth preserving. O’Bronacan’s corner building has a strategic location with a good presentation and, on the opposite corner ‘Right Buy’ and the adjoining residence looks great with some really colourful flower displays. Stacks, Knighs and Post Office all contribute to a bustling atmosphere at the village centre. Kennelly’s (now closed) is a lovely, old vernacular building and has a window display containing some of your proposed plans. This is an excellent usage here. Shine’s old sop and residence has an excellent colour scheme and presentation and like Kennelly’s is a complex worthy of preservation. The Garda Station, Con Brosnan GAA building, the school and church were all presented to a high standard.
Landscaping
Many planted areas were noted throughout the village and the village centre had a fine array of colourfully planted window boxes, tubs and containers. Well done on the permanent sustainable planting of additional oak trees at the nature trail during the National Tree Week and on the enhancement of shrubberies at various locations throughout with the planting of native species.
Wildlife and Natural Amenities
The environs of your village contain some fine habitats for the further development of this agenda. The picnic areas and wheelchair access have been enhanced at both entrances to the nature trail and a number of visitors were availing of these facilities on the day of adjudication. Has your committee made any advancement in relation to wildlife surveys in your area?
Litter Control
Litter control was generally good but there was a small amount of litter at the entrance to Woodgrave. Your regular litter patrols are obviously working well as the village centre was virtually litter-free. Well done to the pupils and teachers on their involvement in regular clean-ups.
Sustainable Waste And Resource Management
You have expanded your efforts in this category and you are to be commended on your liaison with Kerry County Council Environmental Officer and the School Liaison Officer. Hopefully this will have the desired result in due course. The Bring Centre at the Community Hall was neatly presented.
Tidiness
The freshening up of signage was impressive especially at Line Kiln Bridge. The main sign here, though repainted had no information board. Signs at Main Street looked well and have a fresh appearance. We note your approach to owners of problem sites and hope you will have success regarding these. The old Estuary filling station remains an eyesore. The gates, piers, bollards and planting at the old school entrance of Main Street look excellent.
Residential Areas
Ashgrove has a nice grove of silver birch trees and the ‘sheep dog trial’ feature here looked interesting. The grassed areas were well maintained. At Woodgrove, the entrance area was excellently maintained but further back, at Bruach na Gaile, grassed areas were overgrown and in need of mowing. On the Glin Road street housing has a nice scale and opposite the Marine Hall looked very well.
Roads, Streets and Back Areas
The approach road across the attractive bridge on the Knockenure entrance could be made more welcoming by the addition of some planting on top of the stone feature at the village announcement sign. A protest sign here is beginning to disintegrate and should be renewed or removed. At the nature trail a hedgerow planted along the post and rail fence would have a softening effect and visually enhance an area with a lovely drainage feature. Shrubberies on the Glin road look very well. Recent painting at the Listowel entrance gives a most welcoming appearance.
General Impression
Your committee continue to progress your village and recent initiatives have made a substantial contribution to the visual quality of the village.
