Telecommunications Infrastructure, Tidy Towns 2004

TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE 

A contract for the delivery of broadband services to Sligo City and its environs was signed in November 2004. Work on this network known as the “The Metropolitan Area Network” is currently underway in Sligo. This project involves the placing of ducting and fibre optic cabling within the metropolitan area, 25 km of network is being provided around Sligo and environs. This will meet the business demands into the future and will provide a platform for the further expansion of existing businesses whilst being a key element in attracting new business to Sligo. The total cost of the network is €4.6m with the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources providing €3.9m and the Council providing the balance; work on the project will be completed early in 2005.

TIDY TOWNS 2004

St. Patrick’s Hall in Dublin Castle was the venue for the presentation of prizes in the Tidy Towns Competition 2004.  The Tidy Towns Competition is run by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and has been sponsored by SuperValu since 1990.

Lismore, County Waterford, was awarded the title of Ireland's Tidiest Town in 2004. The County Waterford town was chosen from almost 700 other competitors in this year's Tidy Town Competition to win the overall title. Other national winners included Moynalty, County Meath – Ireland's Tidiest Village, and Westport, County Mayo – Ireland's Tidiest Large Town.

Representatives of hundreds of Tidy Towns Committees from around Ireland including representatives from Sligo travelled to Dublin to see Mr. Pat the Cope Gallagher, Minister of State at the Department and Mr. Donal Horgan, Managing Director of SuperValu present the prizes.

The 2004 results for Sligo again saw an increase in marks for all competitors and reflected the efforts by all groups to encourage community participation and improve their local environment.

County Awards

Best Town/Village in the county

Coolaney once again has received the award for securing the highest mark in the county.
Ballintogher was highly commended.
Riverstown was commended.

SuperValu Endeavour Award

This award has been presented to Enniscrone to recognise the town or village in each county, which has made the greatest improvement on its performance over last year.

The local groups who carry out the work in each village are extremely committed to the betterment of their area and in acknowledgement of this the Sligo County Council has provided a fund under the Community & Voluntary Grants scheme to assist them in their efforts.