Tidy Towns Competition 2018

Adjudication Report

Centre: Dowra Ref: 1026

County: Cavan Mark: 206

Category: A Date(s): 23/06/2018

Maximum Mark Mark Mark Awarded 2017 Awarded 2018

Community – Your Planning and Involvement 60 25 28 Streetscape & Public Places 50 25 26 Green Spaces and Landscaping 50 30 31 Nature and Biodiversity in your Locality 50 10 10 Sustainability – Doing more with less 50 5 5 Tidiness and Litter Control 90 45 46 Residential Streets & Housing Areas 50 30 30 Approach Roads, Streets & Lanes 50 30 30 TOTAL MARK 450 200 206

Community – Your Planning and Involvement / An Pobal - Pleanáil agus Rannpháirtíocht: Tá fáilte roimh An Damhshraith an Iúir chuig an 60ú ceiliúradh de Chomórtas Náisiunta na mBailte Slachtmhara. Thank you for your submission which included a completed application form, informative photographs and village map. However, the Google map had little information and did not identify the location of your projects. Perhaps you should consider a simple hand drawn map naming the roads, buildings and landmarks of the area with a legend numbering your various projects. Your committee of 5 supported by a further twelve volunteers to assist you, reflects well on Dowra. It is further encouraging that you now work in co-operation with the County Leitrim side of your location. It is also clear that you are gaining well from your engagement with Cavan County Council, in addition to other interested agencies, including Breffni Integrated, Loughlin’s, O’Rourke’s Spar and Melrose Inn. Your summary of achievements as a community is well promoted through outlets such as local media, Parish Newsletter, posters and Facebook. Your focus on tourism in a strategic location on the River Shannon, the Geo Park and the Marble Arch Caves, is well considered and should provide a meaningful aim and direction for your ongoing efforts.

Streetscape & Public Places / Sráid-Dreach & Áiteanna Poiblí: Like many other towns and villages, Dowra has suffered many commercial closures following the downturn in the economy in recent years. It is to be hoped that government incentive schemes, currently in the pipeline for urban regeneration, will be successful in altering this trend and will encourage regeneration. Buggies is an important vista building, at the end of Main Street, retaining many of the best qualities of vernacular village buildings now fast disappearing from the Irish landscape. Well done on your contact with the owners here concerning its visual enhancement and future plans. In any refurbishment, its architectural details should be conserved, particularly its window ope sizes and window types (sliding sash). This strategically located building retains a charming character. Further along, the Courthouse is a very successful development with an attractively presented forecourt housing some interesting historical story boards, enclosed by an attractive boundary wall topped with transparent black railings. Nearby, Kegan’s, the Village Inn has a tasteful colour scheme while the Melrose Inn and the Post Office look well. On the opposite side of the bridge, S.Loughlin’s, with its innovative external display and vivid red colour scheme, portrays a most welcoming introduction to your village. The Resource Centre is a fine facility and summer school was in progress here on the day of adjudication.

Green Spaces and Landscaping / Spásanna Glasa agus Tírdhreachú: The island is a lovely amenity, close by the Bridge, and enhancement by the Men’s Shed and Cavan County Council will be a significant contribution to your landscaping programme here, when completed. The children’s playground is excellent and well located adjacent to the Resource Centre. Progress in this category is moving well. Congratulations on your discussion and plans for the ‘Green’ with the Area Engineer and Men’s Shed. We wish you well with these proposals. Congratulations on your discussion and plans for the ‘Green’ with the Area Engineer and Men’s Shed. We wish you well with these proposals.

Nature and Biodiversity in your Locality / An Dúlra agus an Bhithéagsúlacht i do cheantar: It is good to hear of your plans to develop the Island river bank as a biodiversity area. Perhaps you could engage with the school children or youth groups to carry out surveys of wildlife. Such activity would not only add interest to your village but would also be educational and informative for locals and visitors alike. You are to be commended for seeking professional advice under this category and we look forward to achievements in this project.

Sustainability – Doing more with less / Inmharthanacht - Mórán ar an mbeagán: It augurs well for the future sustainability of your village that the Dowra area National Schools are engaging with Cavan and Leitrim County Councils in organising workshops on recycling and waste reduction with the school children. It is a fact that older generations are learning from our youth, a greener way of interacting with the environment. The Christmas decorations project, made from re-used cardboard and funded by Cavan County Council, is a good example of an awareness raising activity in your community. We noted the building developments near the recycling banks which were clean and tidy on the day of adjudication.

Tidiness and Litter Control / Slachtmhaireacht agus Rialú Bruscair: The new stone wall stretching out from the Jim McFadden Memorial is a fine achievement and appears to be nearing completion. Your environs contain a good quantity of outbuildings retaining a significant rural, agricultural and architectural character which could play a much more prominent role in the visual presentation of your village. Perhaps your committee should consider contact with the Heritage Office of both County Councils to discuss this important issue. It would be well worthwhile carrying out an inventory of these, in addition to vacant inner village buildings, with a view to their conservation and preservation. Your litter picks during the year are obviously successful as the village was substantially litter free on the occasion of the visit. Well done on your participation in the An Taisce Spring Clean. Bollards, at the footpath in front of the Courthouse, were in need of a freshen-up.

Residential Streets & Housing Areas / Sráideanna Cónaithe & Ceantair Tithíochta: Shannon Ville is a well preserved and well-proportioned scheme, but the nicely designed sculptural name sign feature was set in an unkempt, weedy green area. Individual residences in the environs generally look very well and once again, the floral presentations at a traditional house on the Cavan side of the bridge, were admired.

Approach Roads, Streets & Lanes / Bóithre Isteach, Sráideanna & Lánaí: Last year’s adjudicator commented on a somewhat uneven presentation on the approach roads and these comments still apply. The free-standing, blue coloured bi-lingual village announcement signs have a welcoming visual quality and were nicely enhanced with some colourful flower displays

Concluding Remarks: Your interesting area, located on both sides of the Shannon, has worked well to achieve a united approach in the development of your community in recent years.