The 2021 awards have revealed 11 Office of Public Works (OPW) sites across Ireland have received Green Flag awards for their endeavours.
This week, the 2021 International Green Flag Awards took place. Celebrating quality, natural, and sustainable spaces, the awards aim to encourage the public to preserve Ireland’s natural beauty, and create a more sustainable future.
This year, 11 parks owned by the Office of Public Works (OPW) have made the cut. Across Ireland, 11 OPW sites have been awarded Green Flag Awards for their efforts.
Care to learn more? Discover the amazing sites below.
The Green Flag Awards – a celebration of beauty and sustainability
Judges mark the awards on several different criteria, including cleanliness, sustainability, and community involvement.
The international scheme is in place all across the UK and Ireland, as well as in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Australia, and New Zealand.
Patrick O’Donovan TD is the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works. He acknowledged the importance of the Green Flag Award for 11 of the OPW sites, saying:
“The OPW places great importance on the sustainable environmental management and conservation of the state’s heritage sites, and the Green Flag Awards scheme is a wonderful way of recognising and celebrating these high standards.”
11 OPW Green Flag Awards – delight for those across Ireland
The news comes as a delight for many, acknowledging efforts in sustaining its natural beauty.
O’Donovan continued: “I am delighted to see that the OPW has been awarded these flags, which highlights the wonderfully diverse parks in our care.
“Over the last 18 months, these beautiful green spaces have been a lifeline for the Irish public, as places to escape to and help with our wellbeing and mindfulness during this testing time.
“I particularly would like to congratulate all the OPW staff whose dedicated work and commitment to each property has contributed towards these Awards.”
The OPW Green Flag sites across Ireland – who made the list?
The natural beauty of Ireland’s landscape is hard to ignore. So, it’s easy to see just why so many Green Flag awards were given to the OPW sites.
Here is the full list of OPW parks and gardens which were awarded a 2021 Green Flag Award:
- Altamont Gardens – Tullow, Co. Carlow.
- Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre – Drogheda, Co. Meath.
- Castletown Demesne – Celbridge, Co. Kildare.
- Derrynane House and Historic Park – Derrnynane, Co. Kerry.
- Fota Arboretum and Gardens – Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork
- Garnish Island – Beara Peninsula, Co. Cork.
- Grangegorman Military Cemetery – Cabra, Dublin.
- Irish National War Memorial Gardens – Ushers, Dublin.
- St. Stephen’s Green – Dublin
- The Iveagh Gardens – Dublin
- Phoenix Park – Dublin
If you’d like to find out more about OPW’s incredible heritage sites, you can visit Heritage Ireland’s website here.
