Judgment day is approaching for the citizens of Leighlinbridge, Co Carlow, Ireland's village entry in this year's Entente Florale. For the past several months a major community effort has gone into transforming this already picturesque village by the Barrow into a flower-filled haven of colour.
Next Monday, judges from eight of the other nine participating countries will visit the village to decide if Leighlinbridge should become only the third Irish entry - following Clonakility and Skerries - to receive the coveted Entente Florale gold award.
Although commonly referred to as a competition, the prestigious European event is not, strictly, a contest between the participating towns and villages. Each goes for gold and more than one can make it in the same year but, as the chairman of the Leighlinbridge Improvement Group, Mr Bob McGrath, observes: "They don't give the gold away lightly."
Entrants are rated under headings such as enhancement through flowers, shrubs, trees and green spaces, respect for nature, development that is environmentally and ecologically sensitive, maintenance of buildings and streetscape and a sense of colour, tidiness and cheerfulness.
Whatever the outcome after next week's assessment, Mr McGrath believes the village is already a winner as the event has brought people together as never before. "That has been the best thing about it and hopefully that spirit of co-operation will continue into the future," he says.
Leighlinbridge's selection as Ireland's village entry is the culmination of years of work by dedicated locals. Last year, the village won the Green Town 2000 competition for its millennium garden project and was a county winner in the Tidy Towns, Barrow Awards, Floral Pride and County Council Environmental competitions.
The judges, from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Britain and Ireland, will spend Monday night and next Tuesday in Leighlinbridge.
The village is already awash with hanging baskets and shrubs and flowers, planting, while a flower festival called "Spanning the Bridge of Time in Leighlinbridge" - with 61 exhibits depicting local themes from early to modern times - will be held in St Lazerian's Church to coincide with the event.
Musicians, dancers and street theatre acts will add to the atmosphere. The judges will be taken on a tour of the village's narrow, winding streets, limestone malthouses and its defining features - the ruined castle overlooking a 14th century bridge.
While its selection will raise the profile of the village, Mr McGrath says the main benefit will be the improved living environment for locals, who raised about £17,000 for the event. Substantial funding and support was also provided by Carlow County Council.
