SOCIAL ENTERPRISE OF THE YEAR FINALIST: Milltownpass Tidy Towns

Westmeath Examiner Community & Sports Awards

Milltownpass Tidy Towns have been in existence for many years, but more recently, there has been a significant revitalisation thanks to the energy and commitment of new members. In just a few years, they have helped make sure Milltownpass continues as a thriving community.

The volunteer-led group have undertaken an impressive array of projects and enhancements. A survey of empty and derelict buildings highlighted the need to paint some of those to create a more amenable looking village.

By introducing vibrant planters, hanging baskets, and window boxes, they have brought life and colour to the village. Installation of new community seating and village signs has improved the functionality and appearance of public areas. The addition of bottle and clothes banks demonstrates their commitment to environmental sustainability.

An impressive mural, crafted entirely from bottle tops and designed by a local young artist, created as a community project with the local Scout group, has become a feature of the village.

A sensory outdoor play area, a polytunnel for the local national school and the creation of the Milltownpass (Bog) Woodland Trail, inaugurated in February 2023, offer new recreational spaces for the community to enjoy nature.