The Tidy Town Committee always brings a good news smile especially at this time of year. Full throttle is on at the moment in preparation for the annual Tidy Town competition adjudication. Townspeople will wake up this week to some 200 floral
displays placed out around the town, this is the result of months of work by this small but hardworking committee. While the floral displays are one of the highlights of the year and work wonders for the mental health of the community and bring business to
the town, this part of the Tidy Town agenda belies all of the other ongoing work that takes place throughout the year.
The 2025 campaign flagship project has been Phase 4 of the development of the Eco Meadow or what was formerly Tullynaskeagh East Park. The Eco Meadow, situated between the athletics track and the old Ardee Road has seen a huge upgrade in recent months. A beautiful pond or bog garden area with seating has attracted much praise and the surround planting and solar-powered water supply make for a therapeutic half hour sit, so you are invited to take a stroll and enjoy. This work has been carried out by Nature Works Landscaping.
The committee has also saved a huge beech tree that fell on the Convent Avenue during the January storm
and has upcycled it into three huge pieces of sunken timber that will eventually be carved into wildlife sculptures by a local Ukranian immigrant sculptor, named Remzi. 
Thanks to the Municipal District for transporting the three tree pieces to the Meadow. An audio-visual bird recognition device will also be installed soon as more than thirty bird species have been identified at the Eco Meadow. The evening birdsong is a delight to listen to.
Some other features that have appeared around the town have been two new prominent metal sculptures designed by Aideen Hand and Lisa Trinder and made by Liam Murray in conjunction with Mc Kenna Engineering and placed out by contractor Aidan Slevin, The Farmer Bringing his Pig to Market sculpture is now in situ on the Ballybay Road roundabout and commemorates the weekly Thursday pig market that was held in the town for many decades. The second sculpture is of the famed harper Patrick Byrne, buried in Bullys Acre, who was Queen Victorias harper. This sculpture is now in situ at the Dundalk Road approach.
Recognising the hard work of the Tidy Town Committee , Carrickmacross has been asked to take part in the Pride in Place National Awards in August next. The town will participate in the Biodiversity and Climate Change section of the competition. This Is further recognition of the esteem in which the town is held nationally and follows hot on the heels of the town being invited to participate in Irelands Best Kept Town Competition in 2023 and achieving the National Award in the Town Centre First Competition 2024.
So, while our town has received a considerable amount of bad press in recent months, our award-winning Tidy Town Committee, working closely with the Municipal District, continues to improve the quality of life for all of our people. You can do your bit by ensuring your area is neat and tidy in the coming weeks as Carrickmacross strives for its 13 th successive gold medal