Top gardeners in Kells rewarded for hard work

A huge crowd attended the presentation of prizes for the Kells Tidy Towns competition on Friday night, where Mary McEnerney of Gardenrath Road was declared overall residential winner. The Headfort Arms Hotel won the top commercial award, while Cherryhill estate took the award for best large estate. Jason McGovern was MC for the evening and among those who attended were the cathaoirleach of Kells Towns Council, Cllr Brian Curran, and the chairman of the Kells Tidy Towns Committee, Seamus Grimes. The competition was sponsored by SuperValu, Kells. Other winners included Bridget Thompson of Magdalene Court, who took first place on the small urban walled garden category. Tina Grayson, St Columba's Terrace, won the award for the most creative and colourful garden, while Avril Gillic took the award for the best off-street team garden. Kevin Gilsenan of Magdalene Court won the urban hanging basket award while Pam Walsh, Townspark Manor, won the award for best creative back gadren in a new estate. The Brother Edmund Rice Centre and gardens won the community amenity award while Hughie Lynch of Gardenrath Close took the prize for the best OAP front garden. St Colmcille's Credit Union won the community building award, while John and Betty Smith, Kenlis Crescent, won the award for the best OAP mature urban garden. Catherina and Kevin McGeough of Headfort Grove won the urban pavement garden award while Joe Walsh, Blackthorn Close, won the front garden of excellence award. Avalon B&B, Headfort Park, took the title 'Home of Excellence', while Olohans won the award for best shop frontage and Emma and Ronan Leonard of The Glebe won the award for best new garden in the county council area. Orla Grimes, Cannon Street, won the award for monastic street window boxes, while Eileen McKenna, Rockford Hall, won the award for best small back garden in the county council area. Tommy Morris, Suffolk Street, won the OAP creative award and Kitty Lynch, Blackwater Heights, gained the award for the country image garden and Rosie Gillespie, Blackwater Heights, won the special home award. The small front walled garden award went to Liam Mulvaney of O'Growney Terrace, the chairman's award went to Liam Galligan, Cherryhill Avenue, and Philip and Mary Fitzsimons of The Glebe won the award for the back garden (vegetable and novelty) category. Johnnie and Siobhan Lynch, The Glebe, took the award for best new creative garden, while Vera and Phil Matthews, Cross Carrick, took home the award for best cottage front garden. Marie Flanagan of Carrick Street won the best off-street patio category and Ann Lee, Suffolk Street, the award for mature off-street garden. The chairman's special awards went to Cllr Brian Curran, Kevin Smith, Michael McGuinness, Hughie McConnell and Lenny Kellett, while the president's awards went to Frances and Ernest McBride.