‘A very pleasant town to visit’

The Tidy Towns Adjudicator made some very positive concluding remarks in the 2023 report on Templemore.

Templemore has participated in the national competition for the past 33 years and the efforts of those in the community who continue to persevere in trying to improve the appearance of our town were complimented.

The total mark achievable is 550 and the overall winner, Abbeyleix, was awarded 376 points. Templemore is on 319 whilst our near neighbours Thurles is on 320 and Roscrea is on 349.

A gain of seven points on the previous year was earned and attributed to efforts in planning and community involvement, streetscapes, green spaces, litter control and tidiness, residential streets and housing areas. Nature, biodiversity and sustainability is very much the way forward for all of us now and our community needs to start addressing this situation with a sense of urgency.

In the Streetscape category, the erection of nine cast iron name signs on some of the historic lanes of the town was praised by the adjudicator, who was also impressed by “the nice shop fronts in the town square” including Murphy's (Pub), Murphy's (Pharmacy), One19 Cafe, O'Doherty's, Liz's Cafe and T Kennedy's. Lidl premises also looked well and the bottle banks were in perfect order. The Fire station, Library and the Garda station were also highlighted.

A suggestion was made re the boxing club building - “being all wall frontage to the street - it would be a great place for a mural, maybe wrapping around the corner. The junction box art is a great idea and that badger is very lifelike”.

Green Spaces and Landscaping: “This category is all about maintenance and we'd prefer to see well-maintained, planted, landscaped areas rather than new ones being created and not tended. There is a nice bed of roses adjacent to the Garda College on an already pleasant street. Your Town Park is really splendid and such a great asset to Templemore. The new garden to the south of the park is just beautiful. Well done to those who planned and built it. The children's playground and adult exercise machines were all in good condition on adjudication day.”

Nature & Biodiversity: “You have some exciting stuff in this category and have engaged a company to survey the woodland area with a view to making this a nature reserve and it is assumed that this will be a feasibility study. You are currently maintaining two wildflower areas on the Roscrea road and at the railway station.

“Your Town Park is such a gem.”

Sustainability: Doing more with less: “You are supporting the Templemore Sustainable Development Committee's ongoing work arising from an Energy Masterplan. There are workshops planned for the community which will include sustainable heating solutions, cycleways through the town and increase planting in Templemore.”

Tidiness & Litter Control: “Well done on your participation in the National Spring Clean in conjunction with the Lions Club and in cooperation with Tipperary County Council. We'd advise that you undertake an audit of the 'furniture' in the park - the bins, benches, signs, etc. Some of these items are in need of repair or replacement.

“Battered or faded signage can not only look poor but also can encourage anti-social behaviour. The broken sign at the park entrance really needs to be replaced. At the Town Hall, weed control should be better, it does, unfortunately, give an impression of neglect.”

Residential streets and Housing areas: “There was a high standard of maintenance from private householders with front gardens well-kept. Consultation with the local authority re dereliction is ongoing.”

Approach Roads, Streets and Lanes: “The approach from Thurles is quite a pleasant one, with many trees. It was noted that some pavements aren't great in places... Your new street signs are lovely.”