Tidy Towns 1997 "Caring for our environment" Centre : MULTYFARNHAM County : WESTMEATH Category : B Results Date of Adjudication : 11-06-97 Maximum Mark Awarded Mark Awarded Mark 1997 1996 Overall Developmental Approach 50 32 29 The Built Environment 40 28 25 Landscaping 40 28 25 Wildlife and Natural Amenities 30 16 16 Litter Control 40 22 18 Tidiness 20 12 10 Residential Areas 30 16 16 Roads, Streets and Back Areas 40 22 21 General Impression 10 7 5 TOTAL MARK 300 183 165 Multyfarnham, Co. Westmeath OVERALL DEVELOPMENTAL APPROACH The adjudicator was pleased to read your plans for the village of Multyfarnham. You obviously have strong ideas for the major junctions and key points within the village. This seems to be a good approach as there is quite a volume of traffic through Multyfarnham and hence junctions are most important in terms of the use of the village. This would appear to be a subtle approach without too much intervention on the village with its own unique charm and character. Try to ensure that materials/elements used are sympathetic to the nature of the village i.e. that trees are simple indigenous ones and that paving is of the traditional stone variety rather than inappropriate urban brick paviors. The committee would seem to have a strongly established link with all aspects of the local community and relevant authorities which must be a help in achieving the standard which you obviously have. THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT The village of Multyfarnham has a wealth and heritage of fine stone buildings which have been beautifully maintained. The charming stone church with its grotto and stone boundary wall in the centre of the village has great charm. The graveyard was extremely well maintained. The old national school is one of great charm, unfortunately it badly needs freshening up. The fine mature cedar tree in front of the school and stone wall were also admired. The entrance pillars to the friary had been brightly painted. The attractive old forge was admired, the door to which could be freshened up before next year. The school was extremely well presented, especially the beautifully manicured grounds. However, the coping to the boundary wall could be replaced as it is broken in places. There are one or two spots of dereliction which should be looked at. There is a fine old out-building to the right hand side of the church which could be restored. The adjudicator was pleased to note that plans were being made for the old shed with tin roof at the river side. However, it should really be re-white-washed and the roof painted while waiting to implement these plans, as particularly its boundary wall on the Coole approach looked quite unsightly. The derelict cottage on the Bunbrosna road could also do with being white-washed. The commercial buildings within the town were all presented to a very high standard including Lennon's Foodstore, Fagan's Butchers, Conor Murtagh's and Weir's Bar with its attractive and colourful display of pansies against the stonework of the facade. LANDSCAPING Landscaped areas throughout the village and incidental spaces along approach roads were presented to an extremely high standard. The village park opposite the church was well maintained and in fact work was ongoing on adjudication day. The incidental stone beds of flowers beside the large mature tree on the Coole Road and the Bunbrosna Road with their sweet williams and roses looked very well. The triangular green space with the sweet williams again adjacent to the very finely landscaped, freshly painted and well maintained holiday home looked very well. The attractive garden to the front of Emmanuel was beautifully maintained with its indigenous bog irises. WILDLIFE AND NATURAL AMENITIES Multyfarnham has a wealth of wildlife due to its natural environment with the river, a multitude of mature trees and well maintained and mature gardens. However, it is important that these habitats are maintained and enhanced. For further information you should contact ENFO and Conservation Volunteers Ireland. Local experts should also be contacted for their input. LITTER CONTROL The standard of litter control was very good on adjudication day. However, in a town of Multyfarnham's size it is important that vigilance is maintained as even one or two papers can create a bad impression. One or two papers were visible on the Mullingar Road and a few papers were spotted on the bank leading down to the river either side of the bridge. Despite this Multyfarnham looked relatively litter free on adjudication day. TIDINESS The overall impression on adjudication day was one of an extremely tidy and well maintained village. However, there are some areas of detail which need to be attended to. Dead weeds should be removed from the kerbside, these were visible on both the Crookedwood Road and along Main Street. One or two election posters were still prominent and should be removed as soon as possible. RESIDENTIAL AREAS Houses within the town and along approach roads generally looked well maintained and cared for. The cottage with the yellow door on the Mullingar Road was particularly admired for it's freshness. There was a very attractive and charming house opposite. Some inconsistency, however, was noticed to the presentation of the terrace of houses on the Coole Road. Some had been freshly painted while others looked quite grubby in comparison, although their colourful window boxes were admired. ROAD, STREETS AND BACK AREAS Multyfarnham is fortunate in terms of its approach roads. The entrances to the village are attractive meandering approaches with a wealth of stone walls, mature trees, glimpses to the church in the centre of the village and subtly incidental spaces of colourful planting and landscaping. It was good to note the retention of the traditional telephone box. Verges on all approach roads were reasonably neat. The town nameplate sign should be realigned on the Mullingar Road as it was crooked on adjudication day. Some weeds were noted to the kerbside on the Crookedwood Road as previously mentioned. This is a particularly attractive approach with its fine view to the church beyond across the playing fields. Wild roses were noted in the hedgerows and the stone wall in progress to the front of the playing field was admired. The Coole Road was also admired for its fine stone walls and sloped verges rising to mature hedging. Some weeds were also noted to the kerbside on the school road, however, the stone wall opposite the school with its fine overhanging mature trees was greatly admired. GENERAL IMPRESSION Multyfarnham is a very attractive village with a strong heritage of fine stone buildings, it looked charming on adjudication day despite the inclement weather. It is a village which has its own uniquely simple and quietly elegant charm and should, with consistent effort, achieve its former ranking in the competition..