Thank you for a most comprehensive and informative submission outlining your administrative activity plans for 3-5 years and detailed account of your work programme. The photographic illustrations, indexed to the text is a brilliant overview of what is happening in Kilrush and enables adjudication to be thorough and accurate. You are among a small number of centres compiling such a well laid-out submission. Happily your planning aspirations are fairly well matched with practical application and the town has lived up to standards of recent years and indeed made some further progress. Getting a second adjudication is indicative of participating in the high league of Tidy Towns.

The Built Environment:

You have entered the spirit of Town Renewal in a most commendable way and the recent and current developments within the towns core in particular are of a very high standard. Your planners were good to you on day one, when the town was laid out and you have great potential for high class developments. As ever the standard of shop fronts is high and the additions of Credit Union Ltd., Charlie Martins and others further enhance this great Kilrush distinction. Those listed for praise last year looked well again, and you are gradually adding to a valuable bank of shop fronts.

Public buildings were well presented and the two churches undergoing refurbishment will further raise your standard when complete. You are not without your problems and the large Ryan and Sons, Mills at the end of Frances Street is a problem. We acknowledge the problems of dereliction in and around the town, but bit by bit you are going to have to tackle them. The biggest single favourable aspect of the Built Environment is the freshly painted buildings in the town, led by the attractive Town Hall.

Landscaping:

You have outlined in your submission the numerous improvements from last year and your ability to harness such great work via FAS is commendable. We note that this work extends to clubs and organizations within the area -so well done. Your attention to detail has given you a high mark in this section again this year and high quality of street furniture complements the high standard of landscaping. Traders and householders have backed you in your endeavours and combine to present the town, estate and approach roads in a blaze of colour. The display on the bridge and the adjacent Millennium Garden and sculpture was excellent and these were receiving attention on adjudication day.

Wildlife and Natural Amenities:

You have a grasp of what is encouraged in this section. The development of duck island and the placing of nest boxes, together with planting for food will have a beneficial effect on the promotion and popularising of wildlife. However, you are endowed with many natural habitats and even without the human hand wildlife needs are well catered for in and around Kilrush.

Litter Control:

We can sum up your performance here in one word -excellent. Your strategy of continuous attention to litter control is giving you a town free of litter, following on your great performance last year. The litter bin outside Super Valu should be replaced.

Tidiness:

Your problems here relate to the already mentioned dereliction in and around the town. The unoccupied house opposite Mace at the Malthouse Lane is a bit of an eyesore. You have a small black spot near the Naomh Og at Crofton Street that needs a clean up and the view of the large mill as you come down Hector Street is a problem.

Residential Areas:

It was a pleasure to witness such a permeation of Tidy Towns activity in all the housing estates. The collective and individual effort here is most praiseworthy. Most importantly you are winning the battle in your efforts with the residential areas leading out of town from Graces Street. Well done with your local competition for best house and garden. New developments should acknowledge the character and traditional buildings of Kilrush and use appropriate materials for such developments.

Roads, Streets and Back Areas:

The standard of road structure is excellent throughout. The use of lime stone kerbing in the square reflects a great commitment from the local authority. Public lighting is attractive and by degrees you should aim for cable ducting where feasible. Side and rear entrances are now taking on a new dimension in the competition, and the commercial value of these accesses is highlighted in centres like Ennis. Car parking was well disciplined in the town -no doubt helped by the vigilance of the Maor Trachta who was on duty. Kilrush must have the least expensive parking rates in the country - so well done at 2 hours for 50 cent. Without exception approach roads were well presented, but in particular the Ennis approach. A visit to the Vandeleur Garden was as usual a treat and good to observe continued development, following your award of last year -oh yes well maintained toilets here also. The terraced houses along the Court House were exceptional in presentation. Some unoccupied commercial buildings had their walls painted and is commendable.

General Impression:

The sun shone brightly on Kilrush on the 4th July and the town was busy and cheerful. You have done well to maintain and improve your standard. Your challenge now is to build on your strengths and on your work of recent years. You are aware of your weak spots, especially in the area of dereliction -but you seem to have the commitment to deal with them -good luck in your endeavours.

Second Round Adjudication:

The yard area of the agricultural machinery showrooms on the Ennis road should be screened from public view. The new Garda Station was admired. Curved canopies should be discouraged and be replaced with traditional fabric awnings. The old Dance Hall is for sale and it's to be hoped the new owners will recognise its unique charm and maintain this in its new role (whatever that may be!) The old mill buildings at the end of the wide main street will hopefully be sensitively restored in time.

The relatively new park by the waterside was admired. The Post Office looked as fresh as ever. The standard of litter control could have been higher on Second Adjudication Day. Kilrush is a charming town which is always a pleasure to revisit!

END OF ADJUDICATION REPORT

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Charts by Kilrush Tidy Towns Committee

Competition Results for Kilrush 1998-2003

	Max	1998	%	1999	%	2000	%	2001	%	2002	%	2003	%
Overall developmental approach	50	44	88	44	88	46	92	47	94	47	94	48	96
The Built Environment	40	30	75	30	75	31	78	34	85	35	88	36	90
Landscaping	40	30	75	31	78	34	85	36	90	37	93	37	93
Wildlife and Natural Amenities	30	20	67	22	73	22	73	24	80	25	83	25	83
Litter Control	40	31	78	31	78	30	75	31	78	33	83	34	85
Tidiness	20	13	65	14	70	14	70	16	80	16	80	16	80
Residential Areas	30	21	70	22	73	22	73	24	80	24	80	25	83
Roads, Streets and Back Areas	40	22	55	23	58	24	60	25	63	26	65	27	68
General Impression	10	7	70	7	70	8	80	8	80	8	80	8	80
	300							245	82	251	84	256	85

Kilrush Tidy Towns Marks 2000-2003

Category C

Please note that this table will have to be re-formatted.

Co. Town Medals 03 2000 %00 2001 %01 Inc 2002 %02 Inc 200 %03 Inc

Kerry Kenmare Gold 260 86.7 262 87.3 0.7 265 88.3 1.0 268 89.3 1.0

Cork W Clonakilty Silver 265 88.3 267 89.0 0.7

Cork S Kinsale Silver 254 84.7 258 86.0 1.3 262 87.3 1.3 265 88.3 1.0

Clare Kilrush Bronze 231 77.0 245 81.7 4.7 251 83.7 2.0 256 85.3 1.7

Monaghan Carrickmacro 247 82.3 247 82.3 0.0 252 84.0 1.7 253 84.3 0.3

Kerry Listowel 234 78.0 242 80.7 2.7 247 82.3 1.7 249 83.0 0.7

Carlow Bagenalstow 233 77.7 238 79.3 1.7 243 81.0 1.7 245 81.7 0.7

Cork W Bantry 231 77.0 233 77.7 0.7 237 79.0 1.3 242 80.7 1.7

Cork S Macroom 227 75.7 230 76.7 1.0 233 77.7 1.0 240 80.0 2.3

Cavan Cavan 218 72.7 216 72.0 -0.7 219 73.0 1.0 230 76.7 3.7

Louth Ardee 219 73.0 222 74.0 1.0 224 74.7 0.7 229 76.3 1.7

Tipperary Roscrea 212 70.7 221 73.7 3.0 226 75.3 1.7 229 76.3 1.0

Galway Athenry 199 66.3 204 68.0 1.7 217 72.3 4.3 228 76.0 3.7

Cork N Fermoy 216 72.0 224 74.7 2.7

Offaly Birr 220 73.3 213 71.0 -2.3 218 72.7 1.7 223 74.3 1.7

Cavan Cootehill 216 72.0 212 70.7 -1.3 217 72.3 1.7 222 74.0 1.7

Limerick Newcastlewe 210 70.0 213 71.0 1.0 218 72.7 1.7 221 73.7 1.0

Kildare Clane 213 71.0 217 72.3 1.3

Roscom Roscommon 197 65.7 200 66.7 1.0 202 67.3 0.7 214 71.3 4.0

Clare Towns 2001-2003

		2001			2002			2003
Place	County Clare	Marks	%	% inc	Marks	%	% inc	Marks	%	% inc
1	Ennis	257	85.7	2.0	263	87.7	2.0	267	89.0	1.3
2	Mountshannon	256	85.3	2.3	261	87.0	1.7	264	88.0	1.0
3	Kilrush	245	81.7	4.7	251	83.7	2.0	256	85.3	1.7
4	Kilkee	234	78.0	1.7	233	77.7	-0.3	236	78.7	1.0
5	Quin	227	75.7	2.3	231	77.0	1.3	234	78.0	1.0
6	Doonbeg	224	74.7	1.0	226	75.3	0.7	228	76.0	0.7

County Clare Results

2003
Marks	%	Place	County Clare	Cat
267	89.0	1	Ennis	F
264	88.0	2	Mountshannon	A
256	85.3	3	Kilrush	D
236	78.7	4	Kilkee	C
234	78.0	5	Quin	B
228	76.0	6	Doonbeg	B
228	76.0	7	Tuamgraney	B
227	75.7	8	Shannon	E
223	74.3	9	Labasheeda	A
222	74.0	10	Ballyvaughan	A
216	72.0	11	Ballnacally	B
214	71.3	12	Sixmilebridge	C
207	69.0	13	New Market	C
206	68.7	14	Feakle	A
204	68.0	15	Ruan	A
203	67.7	16	Scarriff	B
201	67.0	17	Lahinch	B
200	66.7	18	Cranny	A
199	66.3	19	Bridgetown	A
196	65.3	20	Kilmihil	B
191	63.7	21	Connolly	A
190	63.3	22	Ennistymon	B
186	62.0	23	Mullagh	A
184	61.3	24	Kilimer	A
181	60.3	25	Broadford	A

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Kilrush Chamber of Commerce

Frances Street, Kilrush, Co. Clare, Ireland.

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