The 2023 AGM of the Phibsboro’ Village Tidy Towns community organisation was held last Thursday evening in Phibsborough Scout Hall. The event was well attended, despite the inclement weather, including Deputy Lord Mayor Darcy Lonergan who braved the rain and cold to present an award on the evening for third place in the Best Urban Village category in the Dublin City Neighbourhood Awards to Chairperson Susan Dawson on behalf of all the volunteers.
Susan Dawson ran through the main activities of the group over the last twelve months including:
· the implementation of part of our Biodiversity Action Plan, whereby Dublin Bus created a pollinator friendly garden at the Broadstone Depot;
· the very successful and well-attended Buzzfest 2022 which took place in St Peter’s Church Garden in September;
· the development of Villa Bank Garden in conjunction with Mountjoy Prison;
· the installation and maintenance of planters on the streets, despite the challenges of watering, replanting and littering;
· the installation of a new sustainable rainwater planter near permanent tsb which reuses rainwater, helps mitigate against flooding and can be adapted for use in any garden with a suitable downpipe;
· the SEAI Home Energy Information session in December organised by the Sustainability Group;
· the Biodiversity Group's information stands, and plant and bulb giveaways, at events such as Buzzfest, Phizzfest and the market in Linear Park;
· the very popular Crochet Christmas Tree in Phibsborough Library garden, complemented by the colourful knitted bollard covers on the streets;
· the Affirmation Evening held in early January to celebrate the achievements of Phibsboro’ Village Tidy Towns since the group’s inception, which was kindly and generously supported by McGeough’s/The Bohemian;
· and the very important regular monthly clean ups which form the backbone of the group’s activities.
After a brief discussion of our results in the latest Tidy Towns competition, Susan highlighted the advantages of partaking in the Tidy Towns competition, such as access to guidance, structure and grant funding. She also described evolution of the Tidy Towns which has moved beyond it’s original focus on litter picking and landscaping, into biodiversity and sustainability.
The AGM was also the occasion of the launch of the Phibsborough Circular Economy and Biodiversity Map designed by Phibsboro’ Village Tidy Towns Climate Club and Cormac Byrne. It highlights the village’s iconic buildings, important biodiversity sites and businesses involved in the circular economy. It will be distributed to residents via local businesses and amenities in the coming weeks.
A presentation was also made to Secretary Ciara Brennan, who is retiring from the committee, along with long-time committee members Maria Kinane, Catherine McHugh and Eileen Reilly. Phibsboro’ Village Tidy Towns are very grateful for their contributions since 2014 which have helped make the group as successful as it is.
Following the prizegiving and a speech from Deputy Lord Mayor Darcy Lonergan, attendees were invited to speak directly to members of the Clean Up Crew, Biodiversity Group and Sustainability Group about their activities and plans for the coming year.
New volunteers are very welcome to get involved and anyone interested in volunteering or joining the committee, Clean Up Crew, Biodiversity Group or Sustainability Group is invited to contact phibsborotidytowns@gmail.com for more information.
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