Judging for the national Tidy Towns competition takes place during the months of June, July and August, and can begin anytime from the first of June onwards.  Last year Blackrock was awarded 284 points in the competition, just one point short of a medal.  This year the Tidy Towns ask everyone in the village to do all they can to get those extra few points to reach medal status.  The committee has identified a number of ways in which individuals, households and businesses can assist in achieving the highest possible marks for Blackrock this year:

• Make sure your property, including boundary walls, is in a good state of repair and decoration.
• Try to keep the footpath, gutter and roadway directly outside your own property tidy, weed-free and litter-free at all times.
• Remove any weeds or grass growing at kerbs or at the bases of walls outside your property, or in the gutters or chimneys of buildings.
• Make sure that the entrances to residential estates, and the common areas within estates, are well maintained and presented.
• Erect hanging baskets and window boxes where appropriate.
• Please carry a bag to clean up after your dog (dog fouling continues to be a problem in Blackrock).
• If you are a smoker, please dispose of your cigarette end properly – don’t just drop it on the footpath or roadway.
• If you come across litter while out walking, please pick it up and place it in the nearest bin. If everyone picked up even one item of litter each time they go for a walk it would help enormously.  
• If you see anybody dropping litter, point out to them that they are undermining the village’s chances of getting that elusive medal.

Conor Hughes, Director of Cross Cause, wishes to announce that the annual Cross Cause Christmas Toy Appeal is this year dedicated to victims of flooding nationwide. Gifts of new toys can be left in the Cross Cause Shop n' Centre on Main Street as soon as possible. Conor hopes to drive a truck over to the west during the weekend to deliver the toys for distribution.

If you are dropping toys into the shop why not have a look at the beautiful hand painted Romanian glassware on sale. These would make super gifts as they come in custom made boxes bearing a special tag - "Just one gift from Cross Cause would make a World of Difference" . We also  have lots of Romanian pottery, arts and crafts from Ghana, hand knitted socks and hats and lots more which might just be the very gift you are looking for! We are open each day until Christmas Eve from 10am to 6pm and on Christmas Eve from 10am to 2pm