European adjudicators visited Inistioge on Friday where they were given a tour of the village and the jewel in its crown, the famous Woodstock Gardens.
The judges were there on behalf of the international Entente Florale competition, and they were greeted by some of those who have been putting in endless hours to have the south Kilkenny village looking its best.
Local councillor Michael Doyle said he thought the event had gone very well.
“It was a fantastic day —the judges were down, the weather was good and the Inistioge looked as well as it could,” he said.
After the judges’ visit, there was a gala dinner in Mount Juliet Hotel, where many of those who had worked hard in recent weeks and months were able to unwind.
In Entente Florale, places are assessed over criteria across several categories, including Planning and Development, Sustainable Environment, Built Environment, Landscape, Greenspaces, Planting, Environmental Education, among others.
“For me, it’s been very positive — it’s a great example of cooperation beween the community and the local authority,” says Cllr Doyle.
On Monday evening, RTE’s Nationwide featured a look around the village, as well as interviews with key figures there. The programme also visited Dungarvan , Ireland’s other Entente Florale entrant.