The Minister for the Environment, Mr Roche, is to launch National Tree Week with the dedication of a new forest walk in Aughrim, Co Wicklow.
Dedicated to the memory of a local garda, Seán Linehan, the new trail adds about 4.5km to a riverside walk leading from the village along the bank of the Macreddin river.
The new, all-weather walk was financed by Coillte, which approached Aughrim Tidy Towns stalwart and former Irish Times photographer, Jack McManus, seeking ways in which it could contribute to the local community.
Mr McManus immediately suggested a memorial to Garda Linehan for his work on the Tidy Towns committee.
For almost two decades Aughrim - where the "All together now" advertisements for the Tidy Towns competition were filmed - has been sprucing up its image with successes in the competition, and has been the Wicklow medal winner for the last eight years
Along the way the town has developed a 1798 memorial, a park dedicated to the memory of local schoolteachers T. C. Herr and his wife, Sarah, and an internationally famous fishing facility which is fully accessible to the disabled.
"As a member of the Tidy Towns committee and treasurer for 14 years, Garda Linehan was instrumental in Aughrim coming tops," explained Mr McManus, adding; "Last year we got a gold medal."
The village, just west of the famous Vale of Avoca, is a little off the tourist trail, according to Mr McManus, and just far enough from Dublin to escape urban sprawl.
"We work with property owners and developers, and make helpful suggestions. We recently approached the owner of the mill on the main street, and he has put up money to repair the gates and clean the granite walls.
"Over the years Garda Linehan was a great man for raising money for all we do, and he created a great sense of community feeling.
"It is very appropriate that Coillte, who wanted to help the community, should be associated with him. The local forester, Ned Dore, was well badgered by him too!"
More than 300 events, including forest walks, tree-planting ceremonies, workshops, talks, competitions and tree-plantings, have been organised for this year's National Tree Week, which begins on March 6th.
An events guide is available from the offices of sponsors O2 and Coillte.
Mr Roche will inaugurate the Garda Linehan walk at a ceremony on March.
