Blooming great success for Saintfield

Blooming great success for Saintfield

5 October 2022

SAINTFIELD, Downpatrick and Killough are celebrating success in this year’s Ulster in Bloom competition.

Saintfield Community Centre’s Loran Doran received a youth award for “outstanding presentation” in the prestigious competition sponsored by Translink, while Downpatrick bus station was recognised for its floral displays at its Market Street base.

Picturesque Killough won an award for its stunning floral displays in the small town category.

This year’s winners were announced last week when budding community gardeners from across Northern Ireland were commended for their hard work and dedication.

Confirmation of the local success came during a ceremony hosted at Hill of the O’Neill in Dungannon when the horticultural competition celebrated the fantastic work of green-fingered gardening enthusiasts across the country and officially recognised the most beautiful plant and floral displays across local cities, towns and villages, with Comber also winning an award in the large town category.

Translink chairman, Dr Michael Wardlow, described the annual competition as a “wonderful demonstration of community spirit” which highlights the fantastic work and dedication of volunteers who take exceptional pride in their local areas, big and small. 

“Each worthy winner is a shining example of the true Ulster in Bloom ethos, which brings together knowledge, skill and most importantly enthusiasm, to create beautiful spaces and improve their local environment for everyone to enjoy,” he continued.

“The awards also showcase the work and commitment of our Translink staff in stations and halts across Northern Ireland in bringing biodiversity, plants and flowers to these spaces. On behalf of Translink, I’d like to congratulate all our Ulster in Bloom winners and participants.”

The Ulster in Bloom competition is co-ordinated by the Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) with vice-president Frances Burton congratulating all the winners.

She added: “The participants and winners have yet again shone a light on the amazing results which can be achieved through commitment, community engagement and hard work.

“These awards demonstrate the value which the 11 councils and our Ulster in Bloom community groups have given in encouraging us to care for our local spaces regardless of size or location.”