Charlestown cleans up at
Ulster In Bloom contest

The annual horticultural competition encourages cities, towns and villages right across Northern Ireland to look their best, boosting civic pride through beautiful plant and floral displays.

Now in its 37th year, the competition attracted 163 entries representing local council areas, community groups, businesses, bus and train stations as well as 9 community champion nominations.

Other category winners were: City – Derry City, Large Town – Omagh, Town – Coleraine, Small Town – Ahoghill, Large Village – Hillsborough and Village – Castlecaulfield.

For Charlestown it marked the end of a 17 year spell in which they were ‘always a bridesmaid but never a bride’ - taking second and third places during the period.

There were 25 entries in their category and the small village won out with its spectacular display of colour with numerous flowerbeds, hanging baskets, wheelbarrows and even a trailer and boat all overflowing with eyecatching floral displays.

Among five special Award winners were Oxford Island Nature Reserve and Edenvilla Secret Garden, Portadown.

The Translink Ulster in Bloom Competition is organised by the Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA).

Alderman Carla Lockhart, President, Northern Ireland Local Government Association, said:

“I’m delighted to be with you today as NILGA’s President to represent the Association and express our appreciation and congratulations to everyone, Councils, ‘In Bloom’ committees, residents, businesses and sponsors, who have participated and contributed to the 2015 Translink Ulster in Bloom Competition.

“Translink Ulster in Bloom celebrates the successes that can be achieved when we all come together to take pride in the places we live and work, and together, create a better environment for everyone to enjoy. The Association fully supports Translink Ulster in Bloom and we were delighted this year, to have each of the new councils represented across the competition categories.

“With the ongoing partnership support of the new 11 councils and our sponsors Translink, the Association aims to build on the culture of the competition, growing the competition into the future, particularly through the opportunities provided by councils’ new community planning powers.” said Alderman Lockhart.

For more information click www.translink.co.uk/ulsterinbloom/ or follow @Translink_NI #TranslinkUIB.