Dundalk, Drogheda and Ardee projects win major support in €100k Tidy Towns fund

By Olivia Ryan, The Drogheda Independent

Just over €16,300 was approved for four projects in the Drogheda Borough District, while initiatives in the Dundalk Municipal District secured €63,182 across eight projects focusing on biodiversity, climate action and local amenity enhancement.

A further €24,003.84 was granted by elected members in the Ardee Municipal District to support five projects aimed at improving the visual environment and fostering community pride.

At the Dundalk Municipal meeting, the local authority confirmed that all of the applicants were successful. Some of the applications are from smaller groups, and others which apply for funding every year.

The meeting heard that the council will look at encouraging applications from a wider range of groups over the next few years.

The Tidy Towns funding scheme, administered by Louth County Council’s Community Support Section, provides financial assistance for small‑scale capital works, landscaping and biodiversity projects undertaken by volunteer‑run Tidy Towns committees and residents’ groups.

Administered by the Community Support Section of Louth County Council, the seventeen projects across the three borough and municipal districts included:

Ardee Tidy Towns – Chantry Cottage Garden upgrade to include laurel removal and installation of metal artwork. Grant Total: €4,050; Dunleer Tidy Towns – Installation of a miniature monument windmill. Grant Total: €8,938.74; Louth Village Tidy Towns – Flowerbeds and box hedging. Grant Total: €3,150; Tallanstown (Project 1) – Flowerbeds and entry signs on access roads. Grant Total: €3,166.20 and the Tallanstown (Project 2) – Flowerbeds at Glyde View. Grant Total: €4,698.90.

The four projects approved by the elected members of the Borough District of Drogheda included; Baltray Tidy Towns – Rotavator, fairy village development, and willow art installation. Grant Total: €7,168.59; Drogheda Tidy Towns Project 1 – Installation of three benches in the 1916 Commemorative Garden. Grant Total: €3,487.05; Drogheda Tidy Towns Project 2 – Planting works across three areas of Drogheda. Grant Total: €2,857.50 and Monasterboice Tidy Towns – Water butts and composters. Grant Total: €2,826.

Funding was approved by elected members of Dundalk Municipal District for eight projects including; Blackrock Tidy Towns (Project 1) – Design and fabrication of decorative panels along the Rock Celtic wall. Grant Total: €7,787.75; Blackrock Tidy Towns (Project 2) – Swimming pool walkway improvements. Grant Total: €9,000; Carlingford Tidy Towns – Four to six age-friendly benches. Grant Total: €9,000; Dromiskin Tidy Towns (Project 1) – Interactive bird‑sound installation. Grant Total: €9,000; Dromiskin Tidy Towns (Project 2) – Planting of 300 lime trees. Grant Total: €1,800; Dundalk Tidy Towns – Two pollinator-friendly planters. Grant Total: €8,775; Knockbridge Tidy Towns – Village mural on the community centre. Grant Total: €9,000; Omeath Tidy Towns – Wall painting at Cloch Mór and biodiversity planting. Grant Total: €8,820.

A spokesperson for Louth County Council said the local authority “remains committed to supporting Tidy Towns groups and their initiatives through funding for small-scale capital improvement projects, helping them maximise their impact in both local and national competitions.”