Streetscape & Public Places / Sráid-Dreach & Áiteanna Poiblí:
Your entry here outs the restoration of the Dominican priory at the top of the list. Big news follows in that the SCEAL Community group have secured a massive grant to build an extension to the Community Hall. This will be a game-changer. Two derelict houses have also been purchased and at both renovation works have begun.
Resurfacing of a footpath has been completed to counter the disruption caused by the roots of your Cherry Trees.
A common problem that we hope is now solved. This was this adjudicator’s first visit to Lorrha and we were so impressed with your built heritage. The Dominican
Abbey is a massive and inspiring building. New or maybe just very well maintained benches are outside the wall here near the really nice information signage for the abbey. St. Ruadhan’s (COI) Church, and the Augustinian Abbey are so beautiful. The huge Yew trees, All-Ireland Pollinator Plan managed areas and intriguing headstones and other grave markers make this such an interesting site.
Your rather more modern tavern was looking well with roses nearby and an important match underway within. Your Community Hall was visited and it looks only splendid.
Great to see a bike rack and well-kept planters here. The interpretative panel is really well done. The National School looks great and a sneaky look was had a the illustrated veranda.
Community – Your Planning and Involvement / An Pobal – Pleanáil agus Rannpháirtíocht:
Fáilte Chuig Comórtas na mBailte Slachtmhara Super Valu 2021. Táimid buíoch daoibh as ucht na hiontrála a chur chugainn agus guimíd gach rath ar bhúr gcuid oibre amach anseo. Lean leis an dea-obair!
Thank you for participating In Ireland’s longest-running environmental project and helping to make Ireland a better place. We really appreciate all the great work that you do and the effort you put in, year on year.
Thank you so much for the work that you put in getting your entry together for Tidy Towns 2023. This was detailed without being overly long, amply illustrated and very well informed. We liked (as did last year’s adjudicator) the way that you have linked your actions and projects to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. You have a good number on your committee and many volunteers – wow.
You meet regularly and you are well-supported by your community, local authority and other agencies. You communicate using both traditional and social media, fair play.
Your links with the local Primary School are very clear. The specific project that you have identified for particular effort this year is an unusual but vitally important to you. You secured an employee for your community employment scheme and that indeed is a big deal. Over the last year you have organised of participated in a number of really
noteworthy events which have included a famous artist and national television coming to Lorrha. Splendid. You have been involved in Tidy Towns for many years now and the competition is all the richer for having you take part.
Green Spaces and Landscaping / Spásanna Glasa agus Tírdhreachú:
Congratulations on the successful running of the Heritage Keepers project and your Oasis of Calm and Peace. A most resourceful means of funding, by the way. We note the no-dig policy and given the character of your area, this is understandable. Thank you for the year-round photographs of Lorrha planting schemes. There are some amazing mature trees at Lorrha. At the abbey and RC church there is a Beech that must be close to 200 years old.
Some beautiful mature Horse Chestnuts are to be found here also. The interpretation here an indeed at all of the heritage sites visited was so good. The grotto was immaculately kept.
Nature and Biodiversity in your Locality / An Dúlra agus an Bhithéagsúlacht i do cheantar:
Well done on your successful application for funding under the Community Foundation for Ireland scheme to allow your community to have a Local Biodiversity Action Plan produced. This, you tell us is nearly ready and we look forward to seeing this in the near future. Well done on the biodiversity theme for the St. Patrick’s Day parade. You
welcomed the Bowl Project to Lorrha and met a real celebrity. We hope that Erin wasn’t too aloof.
Joking aside, Barn Owl conservation is a really important role that Tidy Towns groups undertake so well done. You’ve positioned All-Ireland Pollinator Plan signage in appropriate places around the village to spread the message. Very good. It’s
great that you have merged your sites of cultural significance with good practice management for biodiversity.
Pollinator-friendly crypts aren’t found just anywhere. A rookery nearby provided the background track for the visit here. The buildings here would be of high bat roost potential.
Sustainability – Doing more with less / Inmharthanacht – Mórán ar an mbeagán:
A good entry from you here where you tell us first about the Smart Villages Training and a Community Engagement Event. You’ve applied for and secured a grant for water butts. This is great as rainwater harvesting is such a simple but important thing communities can do. Local farmers are participating in the ACRES programme, you can tell us.
Finally, you have met with the Community Climate Action Officer of Tipperary County Council. You’re very up to the minute in Lorrha, well done.
Tidiness and Litter Control / Slachtmhaireacht agus Rialú Bruscair:
Thank you for all the detail on your Spring Clean 2023 and for the great photographs thereof. You also give a shout out here for those that do the hard work of litter-picking your approach roads day in and out. They are acknowledged here. They will no doubt be pleased to hear that Lorrha was litter-free on adjudication day.
A super achievement, well done all. A mutt-mitt dispenser was checked. It was fully loaded. Almost all signage inspected by clean and in good condition, including the community noticeboard. Very good.
It is believed that the Tipperary North Riding signs might be past their use-by date by now though. Your bottle banks were spotless on day of visit.
Residential Streets & Housing Areas / Sráideanna Cónaithe & Ceantair Tithíochta:
THere you tell us that there is considerable gardening activity in both private gardens and other green areas in Lorrha. You also tell us that you don’t mow until April is out in order to allow the Dandelions to grow. New footpath surfaces were being applied when you were submitting your entry. One presumes that they are dry by now and are being enjoyed by the folks of Pairc na Cille. A high standard of presentation was noted among your housing stock.
A gorgeous little row of cottages caught the eye opposite the COI church entrance. A bold colour scheme or two were discussed. An ivy-covered cottage was envied. The planting at the front of Friar’s Close was lovely.
Friars Park was paid a visit and it was nice to see this in use by children and the murals were admired here.
Approach Roads, Streets & Lanes / Bóithre Isteach, Sráideanna & Lánaí:
Finally, you tell us that arrangements have been made for Poplar trees deemed dangerously high to be removed.
This is an issue with this fast-growing but shallow-rooted tree. We presume that this will be done outside the bird nesting season.
Your approach roads are very pleasant with semi-mature Whitebeam and Hornbeam trees obviously well laid-out and neatly cut verges. One wonders if they are perhaps too neat? Would ye consider letting these go wo some ‘low-mow’? Up to you, of course.
There is no footpath over the bridge and pedestrians effectively have to walk on the road. Has a footpath been considered here? A farm gate opposite the Dominican Abbey might look better if it were painted. The main approach roads were very pleasant to walk.
Concluding Remarks:
This was such an enjoyable and enlightening visit. What an important centre Lorrha must have been!
We’re delighted that you are now looking after it because we know that it is in good hands. Many thanks.
