Inistioge looks a beautiful picture as international judges due in town

European adjudicators for Entente Florale are expected in Inistioge this Friday — and the South Kilkenny village is looking its absolute best.

Volunteers and council staff have been working flat out with weeding, litter picking and painting being completed, even given the difficulties arising from the heatwave and drought in recent weeks. The local school expanded their school garden and work every week to ensure their vegetable patch is flourishing.

An array of new hanging baskets have brought a wealth of colour and life into the village square, while repair works at riverpark, new LED lighting, measures to combat dog fouling, and other initiatives have combined to improve on an the already-beautiful village.

Entente Florale Judges will be guided around our beautiful village from 10.30 on Friday (20th) for 2 hours. Tidy Towns would like to invite everyone who is available to support us by being in and around the village during this time.

— Inistioge.ie (@InistiogeCyclo) July 18, 2018

Chairman of Inistioge’s Entente Florale group Frank Sullivan gave an update to local councillors at Monday’s meeting of Kilkenny County Council, which took place in Inistioge Community Hall. He said the Entente Florale had been a great example of a partnership between the council and the local community, and the group was extremely grateful for the support of the council.

Mr Sullivan said that many new faces had been out to help them in their efforts. He also listed the improvements that had taken place since the Inistioge group first presented to councillors, as well as what was still to be done.

Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council Eamon Aylward said the village was looking ‘fantastic’, and wished Inistioge the best of luck on Friday. Local councillor Michael Doyle said the amount of work put in ‘has been phenomenal’, and said there was potential to do even more.

READ MORE HERE: INISTIOGE BUZZING AHEAD OF VISIT

"There's huge potential in Inistioge. There's a huge amount done by the county council, and especially [the] Inistioge Tidy Towns group. They've put a lot of effort into trying to promote Inistioge," he said.

"I believe we are only scratching the surface - there's an absolute treasure of stuff in Inistioge."

Mayor of Kilkenny Peter 'Chap' Cleere said the standard Inistioge had set was 'second to none', and the group should be very proud of themelves. Cllr Joe Malone said that Cllr Doyle had put Inistioge 'on the agenda'.

Cllr David Fitzgerald noted that Entente Florale was an international competition, and Inistioge was not just representing Kilkenny, but Ireland also. The other councillors joined in congratulating the group and wishing the village the best of luck.

Entente Florale Europe is a Europe wide competition for villages, towns and cities administered by the international organization Association Européenne pour le Fleurissement et le Paysage (AEFP).