DONAGHADEE has blossomed for the third year in a row after taking a top award in the Ulster in Bloom competition.
The floral displays in Donaghadee, created and maintained by local volunteers, have once again secured a win for the town which took the Town Award in the Translink’s Ulster in Bloom awards.
In an event hosted recently at Lisburn Civic Centre, the popular annual horticultural competition, celebrated the year-round work of green-fingered gardening enthusiasts across the country and officially recognised the most beautiful plant and floral displays and environmental impact achieved in local cities, towns and villages.
Neighbouring village Groomsport also celebrated success at the renowned awards, taking second place in the Large Village category.
North Down MLA Alex Easton congratulated all those involved with securing the win for Donaghadee, paying tribute to the local businesses and community for their ‘team effort’.
“We now await the results of Britain in bloom and fingers crossed we can go one better,” he said.
Ards and North Down councillors Gillian McCollum and Hannah Irwin also added their congratulations on the recent success.
Ms McCollum said she was delighted to see that Donaghadee has again won the Town Award in the Ulster in Bloom competition, for the third year in a row
“This is a testament to the hard-work and dedication of all the Dee Bloomers who have helped to create and maintain the glorious floral displays throughout the town,” she said.
Ms Irwin added: “It is great to see the whole community in Donaghadee come together to support this great effort, and for this work to have paid off yet again.
“We want to wish the whole community the best of luck ahead of the Britain in Bloom final at the end of the month – hopefully we will see yet more success for our town.”
Speaking at the results event, Translink Chairman Dr Michael Wardlow said: “Translink prides itself in helping ensure everyone is better connected and the annual Ulster in Bloom awards are a fantastic example of what can be achieved when communities come together and put community spirit into action.
“The awards also showcase the work and commitment of our Translink staff in stations and halts across Northern Ireland in bringing biodiversity, plants and flowers to these spaces.
“On behalf of Translink, I’d like to congratulate all our Ulster in Bloom winners and participants, their hard work and the hours spent planning, planting and pruning help greatly improve the local environment in our cities, towns and villages.”
The Translink Ulster in Bloom Competition is co-ordinated by the Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA).
Hazel Legge, Vice President, NILGA, said: “These well-deserved awards demonstrate the value which the 11 councils and our Ulster in Bloom community groups give to caring for and improving our local spaces, whether they’re large or small, rural or urban.
“The participants and winners from the 2023 Translink Ulster in Bloom campaign have yet again demonstrated the positive impact which can be achieved for both the wider environment and the local community through hard work and dedication.
“On behalf of NILGA, congratulations to everyone and thank you for your ongoing support and enthusiasm.”
