The entire community will come together this Saturday (October 1st) to celebrate Keadue’s Gold medal win at this year’s European Entente Florale finals, which took place in Budapest, Hungary last weekend.
The victory celebration will take place at 8 pm in St. Ronan’s Hall in Keadue and all are welcome to attend on the night.
The north Roscommon village was selected alongside Dalkey in South County Dublin to represent Ireland at the event.
Keadue Tidy Towns described winning the Gold medal as a “massive achievement”.
“This was the result of combined effort between local groups and volunteers led by the Keadue Tidy Towns, Roscommon County Council, Coillte, Roscommon LEADER Partnership, Kilronan Castle, Ardcarne Garden Centre, the Rural Social Scheme, Scoil Chill Ronain, local businesses and the entire community,” the group said.
Keadue had previously won a silver medal in this competition in 2003 and is a twice past winner of the SuperValu National Tidy Towns Award, claiming it in 1993 and 2003.
Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council, Cllr. Tom Crosby, who accompanied the local committee to Budapest last weekend, extended his congratulations at Monday’s meeting of the local authority.
“Myself and my wife Pauline accompanied them to Budapest for what was a great occasion for County Roscommon,” he said.
“This is the European Championships of Tidy Towns and the second occasion on which Keadue has been acknowledged, having won a silver medal in 2003”.
Cllr. Crosby paid tribute to the hard-working Keadue committee including Chairperson Paraic Noone as well as Council staff.
“This is a great honour not only for the village of Keadue but for Roscommon as well and will surely inspire other Tidy Towns committees throughout the county,” Cllr. Crosby concluded.
Other members of the Council were also keen to praise the Keadue Tidy Towns committee with Cllr. John Cummins congratulating the group on reaching the “Holy Grail”.
“This is something that has not been achieved lightly,” he said before highlighting the work of indoor and outdoor staff at the local authority.
Cllrs. Liam Callaghan and Joe Murphy also extended their congratulations, with Cllr. Murphy adding that the win had “put Keadue on the European map”.
Meanwhile, local Fianna Fáil Senator Eugene Murphy also offered his congratulations to those involved.
“This international event is very prestigious and Co. Roscommon should be so proud of Keadue’s success,” he said.
“Roscommon has many positive success stories and many positive groups and Keadue is one of the best. This success shows once again what can be achieved when people get up and go. Keadue has always had that get up and go”.
The celebration night this Saturday at St. Ronan’s Hall will include food and music and the Tidy Towns committee has extended an invitation to all.
