Dedicated NI community gardeners celebrated at Translink Ulster in Bloom Awards

Bridge over River Maine, Cullybackey.

Community and council gardeners from across Northern Ireland were presented with awards for the sought-after Translink Ulster in Bloom accolade, which recognises the work carried out by gardening enthusiasts and council teams in local cities, towns and villages.

The popular horticultural and community awards, which were hosted at The Guildhall, Derry~Londondery, celebrate the work and dedication gardening teams give to create beautiful plant and floral displays, clean up local beauty spots, boost biodiversity, and develop and maintain green areas for people to enjoy.

Randalstown, County Antrim.

L-R: Donnie Sweeney, Tidy Randalstown; Paul Mawhinney, Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council; Elizabeth English Wylie and John McConnell from McConnells Bar, Doagh; Cllr Martin Kearney, President, NILGA; Leah Smyth, Deputy Mayor, Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council; Mark Montgomery, Area Route Manager, Northern Line, Translink; Cllr Frances Burton, Vice President, NILGA; Helen Boyd, Tidy Randalstown; Dr Michael Wardlow, Chairman, Translink; and Bill Wells, Ballynure Community Association

The winners by category were:

• City Large Town / City - Derry City (Derry City & Strabane District Council)

• Large Town / Small City - Coleraine (Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council)

• Town - Donaghadee (Ards & North Down Borough Council)

• Small Town - Randalstown (Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council)

• Large Village - Cullybackey (Mid & East Antrim Borough Council)

• Village - Donaghmore (Mid Ulster District Council)

• Small Village - Ballynure (Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council).

Special Award winners were:

• McConnells Bar, Doagh for Floral Presentation

• Friels Bar and Restaurant, Swatragh for Impressive Floral Heritage

• Lorcan Doran, Saintfield for the Youth Award

• Special Award for Larne Renovation Generation.

L-R: Margaret Murphy, Cullybackey Community Partnership; Michael Wardlow, Chairman, Translink; Cllr Beth Adger MBE, Dept Mayor, Mid & East Antrim Borough Council; Cllr Martin Kearney, President, NILGA; Cllr Frances Burton, Vice President, NILGA; Bertie McNeilly, Cullybackey Community Partnership; and Mark Montgomery, Area Route Manager, Northern Line, Translink.

Margaret Murphy, Cullybackey was awarded the winner of Translink Ken Powels Community Champion Award in recognition of the positive impact her work and commitment has made to her local community spaces by embracing the Ulster in Bloom ethos.I

The Best Station title was won by Whitehead Railway Station (Mid & East Antrim Borough Council).

Whitehead Railway Station.

Whitehead Winner of the Station Award- L-R: Dr Michael Wardlow, Chairman, Translink; Yvonne Carleton, Brighter Whitehead; Cllr Martin Kearney, President, NILGA; Cllr Beth Adger MBE, Dept Mayor, Mid & East Antrim Borough Council; Mark Montgomery, Area Route Manager, Northern Line, Translink; Cllr Frances Burton, Vice President, NILGA; and Sandra Thompson, Brighter Whitehead.

Speaking at the presentation of awards, Translink Chairman Dr Michael Wardlow said:

“Ulster in Bloom is a fantastic example of community spirit and demonstrates the great achievements that can be made when people come together. As Northern Ireland’s public transport provider, servicing communities large and small, Translink is proud to continue its support of Ulster in Bloom which recognises and celebrates the time and dedication of volunteers, council workers and local groups across Citie, towns and villages, big and small.”  

The Translink Ulster in Bloom Competition is co-ordinated by the Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA). Cllr Frances Burton, Vice President, Northern Ireland Local Government Association, said:

“For everyone involved, Translink Ulster in Bloom celebrates the amazing achievements of great team work and partnerships and the success of coming together to take pride in the places where we live and work to create a better environment for everyone to enjoy.

Larne Regeneration Winner of a Special Award - LR-: Dr Michael Wardlow, Chairman, Translink; Lynda Hill, Larne Renovation Generation; Cllr Martin Kearney, President, NILGA; Cllr Beth Adger MBE, Dept Mayor, Mid & East Antrim Borough Council; John Thompson, Head of Safety and Corporate Responsibility, Translink; and Cllr Frances Burton, Vice President, NILGA.

"As your Local Government Association, NILGA represents and promotes local government on behalf of all councils and the competition helps us, as NILGA, councils and councillors, to focus on improving the quality of life for citizens right across the region, while also enhancing our cities, towns and villages".

If you’re interested in getting involved in the Translink Ulster in Bloom 2022 Competition contact NILGA on (0)28 9079 8972 or email office@nilga.org.  

Randalstown did extremely well at this year’s Awards winning the Small Town Award. L-R: Donnie Sweeney, Tidy Randalstown; Paul Mawhinney, Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council; Elizabeth English Wylie and John McConnell from McConnells Bar, Doagh; Cllr Martin Kearney, President, NILGA; Leah Smyth, Deputy Mayor, Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council; Mark Montgomery, Area Route Manager, Northern Line, Translink; Cllr Frances Burton, Vice President, NILGA; Helen Boyd, Tidy Randalstown; Dr Michael Wardlow, Chairman, Translink; and Bill Wells, Ballynure Community Association.

L-R Celebrating their win as Translink Ulster in Bloom for the Village category, Sammy Wilson and Angela Mullan from Donaghmore Horticultural Society are joined by Cllr Frances Burton (Vice President, NILGA). Representing the dedicated team of community gardeners from Donaghmore in County Tyrone, they were one of winners attending the annual Translink Ulster in Bloom Awards Presentation.