THE winners of the 2019 City Centre Initiative Annual Floral Competition have been revealed! The competition organised in partnership with Altnagelvin Garden and Pet Centre encourages traders and residents to celebrate the summer season with floral and plant displays.
The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Michaela Boyle hosted the competition winners at the Mayors Parlour this week.
She said: “The City Centre Floral Competition is a fantastic way of celebrating the hard work and dedication of those who put so much time and effort into ensuring that their premises are so visually appealing for visitors and customers.
“We have established a strong reputation for excellence in maintaining our beautiful city, with numerous accolades in a variety of both regional and national environmental competitions.
“I would like to congratulate not only the winners but all the participants of the competition and thank City Centre Initiative and Altnagelvin Flower Centre for continuing to develop and promote these positive projects that improve our city.”
Jim Roddy, Chief Executive of City Centre Initiative extended his congratulations to the winners and thanked all who entered the competition and keep the city centre and surrounding areas looking bright and colourful throughout the summer season.
“The competition celebrates our summer season and all the city centre businesses, community groups and residents who put so much effort into their gardens and floral displays.
“This event celebrates the team work within the city with traders, residents and council’s ground maintenance teams working hard to make the city centre presentable and attractive for locals and visitors to the city, making it a nicer place to be for all.
“A big thank you to everyone who entered the competition, our judges and main sponsor, Altnagelvin Garden and Pet Centre.
“I understand some may be disappointed to have not made the final three but the judges do have a difficult task in deciding the winners and the standard of entries was once again exceptional.
“What makes everyone a winner is the pride we see demonstrated for not only their own property but also for our city as a whole.
“Congratulations to our winners and for those who didn’t get placed this year we hope our judges will get to see you again next year.” He said.
Ian Peilow of Altnagelvin Garden and Pet Centre, who sponsor the competition, said he believed the floral competition was an invaluable way of bringing the people of the city together and rewarding those who put in great efforts throughout the year to keep their gardens and properties looking well.
He said: “The hard work and dedication of the entrants makes such a difference to the streetscape of the city, obviously as a keen gardener and supplier of gardening materials myself, I look forward to seeing the city centre blooming with colour.
“No matter how small your garden area is, a small plant box or hanging basket certainly makes all the difference. Well done to all who took part in the competition.”
The competition pre-empts the forthcoming ‘In Bloom’ competitions that the city competes in and is judged on later in the summer.
John Quinn, Streetscape Manager at Derry City and Strabane District Council who will be presenting the city to judges asked that everyone continue to maintain their displays throughout the summer months to enhance colour and community within the city and help maintain our winning standards ahead of the forthcoming ‘In Bloom’ judging, expected to take place later in August.
He said: “Derry City and Strabane District Council’s grounds maintenance and cleansing teams work throughout the year with community partners to ensure the parks, greenways and streets of our city are blooming all year round.
“Community participation and involvement is a crucial element of the judging process therefore we applaud CCI for rewarding those who get involved and help keep the city blooming throughout the year and ask that everyone works together over the summer months to keep the city looking bright and colourful with floral and plant displays.”
The 2019 CCI Annual Floral Competition winners:
Category
Winners
Public Service/ Charity/ Church
GOLD – St Eugene’s Cathedral
SILVER – Inner City Trust
BRONZE – St Augustine’s
Hospitality/ Tourism/ Retail
GOLD – Badgers Bar
SILVER – Café Zest
BRONZE – Everglades Hotel
Residential
GOLD – James Nelis, Abercorn Terrace
SILVER – Paul Stewart, Rock Road
BRONZE – John Doherty, Celtic Court
For further details on the City Centre Initiative Floral Competition and initiatives, visit
