Three parks across Galway city have been celebrated with prestigious Green Flag awards.

Quincentennial Park in Salthill achieved the award for the third time, and Children's Millennium Park retained the honour for a fourth year in a row. O'Sullivan Park in Mervue joined the honour roll this year, with the award of the Green Flag for the first time.

Delivered by An Taisce Environmental Education, the Green Flag Awards are an international mark of excellence for parks and green spaces, with applicants marked on stringent environmental standards in green-space management, and excellence of visitor attractions.

The Awards are judged every year by a peer jury of green space experts, who volunteer their time to visit applicant sites and assess them against eight strict criteria, including horticultural standards, cleanliness, sustainability, and community involvement.

-- Advertisement --

Speaking about the Awards, Patrick Greene, Director of Services with Galway City Council commented: "Galway City Council is delighted to see the work of our staff in Environment and Recreation and Amenity recognised today, with the award of three Green Flags for the City. Staff are engaged on a daily basis in planting, cleaning, upgrading playgrounds, supporting biodiversity, protecting wildlife, litter-picking, and creating beautiful, engaging and playful spaces for the people of Galway. I would like to acknowledge their efforts in bringing about these awards today. Galway City Council continues to invest in recreation facilities across the City, including the recent upgrade of tennis courts in Westside, Crestwood and McGrath's Field, installation of a wheelchair friendly swing in Salthill, and planting for biodiversity across the city, among other initiatives. Many thanks also to the volunteers who assist us in maintaining parks and green spaces in the City. We are particularly delighted with the award for O'Sullivan Park this year and look forward to adding more parks to the list of awardees in future."