Arklow Municipal District has been shortlisted as a finalist in the 2019 All Ireland Community & Council Awards for their project – “Moments in Time” – Dementia Friendly Garden – under the category for Best Community Health Initiative.
The garden, titled “Moments in Time”, was one of the key attractions at the 2018 Bord Bia’s Bloom in Dublin’s Phoenix Park. It was designed by Newtown Saunders Ltd of Baltinglass, along with TrinityHaus and Sonas apc.
The project is an initiative of the Dementia: Understand Together campaign, led by the HSE in partnership with the Alzheimer Society of Ireland and Genio, which aims to create an Ireland that embraces and includes people with dementia, and which displays solidarity with them and their loved ones.
The campaign had invited applications from publicly-funded organisations and residential care centres nationwide to take ownership of the garden once its time at Bord Bia’s Bloom had come to an end. Arklow Municipal District, with the support of the Lily of the Valley Day Centre, Arklow Tidy Towns and the Arklow Town Team, was successful in its application to provide a new home for the garden at Seaview Avenue in Arklow Town.
Studies have shown that welcoming, accessible outdoor spaces support people with dementia and their carers to have positive interactions, maintain their independence, engage in meaningful occupation and experience enhanced health and well-being.
The 2019 All Ireland Community & Council Awards are presented by IPB Insurance and LAMA (the Local Authority Member’s Association) to recognise and celebrate the outstanding work being carried out by Local Authorities and Communities all over Ireland.
Commenting on the nomination, the Cathaoirleach of Arklow Municipal District, Cllr Miriam Murphy stated: “I am delighted that Arklow Municipal District has been recognised nationally by this nomination and I would like to congratulate all involved. It is recognition of the fact that so many people in the local authority and the community are delivering great projects on a daily basis.”
Winners will be announced at an Awards ceremony which takes place on Saturday, 9th February 2019 in the Hogan Suite, Croke Park Stadium.
