Athlone Croí na hÉireann biodiversity award for local Municipal District

The Athlone Croí na hÉireann group, which organises the festivities around St Patrick's Day in the town, has presented a biodiversity award to the Athlone Moate Municipal District and local authority horticulturist Tom Daly.

The Croí na hÉireann group said the award was presented in recognition of the local authority's work in managing public spaces for biodiversity.

Committee member Cllr Frankie Keena said the recent discovery of three orchid species, including the rare bee orchid (Ophrys apifera), in local authority-managed amenity grasslands beside TUS Athlone, "the success of biodiversity-friendly management practices being implemented across the district".

The orchids were recorded by Westmeath County Council Horticulturist Tom Daly and ecological consultant Linda Gilsenan during ongoing baseline surveys of amenity grassland areas across Athlone.

The discovery of the bee orchid is thought to be particularly significant, as this species thrives only in specific conditions and is widely regarded as an indicator of a healthy environment.

Both the chairman of the Athlone Croi na hEireann group, John Henson, and Cllr Keena said it was fitting that the group's biodiversity award went to the Athlone Moate Municipal District and to Tom Daly.

They also played tribute to Athlone Tidy Towns for its "continuous voluntary work in enhancing the town".