A Laois priest leading by example has seen his parish scoop a Tidy Towns award for the fifth straight year. Paul Keenan reports from Borris-in-Ossory.
'I can't pass litter without picking it up.'' So says Fr John Robinson of Borris-in-Ossory, a town visibly spotless on the day The Irish Catholic visits. Such an approach to the curse that is litter has served the community in the little Laois town very well; the visit coincides with news that, for the fifth year in a row, Borris-in-Ossory has won Laois's Inter-Community Litter Challenge, an initiative of the County Council towards fostering both community spirit and tidy towns across the county.
No small part in both elements here is Fr John, (pictured) who is to be found daily on the streets from 5.30am sprucing up a town he clearly cares deeply about.
''It's good for the health, both mental and physical,'' he says casually of the early routine, before pointing to a wider benefit of the litter challenge. ''It's great for the morale of the community.''
Proof of this lies in Fr John's statement that ''I have no trouble in getting volunteers for the clean-ups''. There are currently eight regulars and a handful more who make themselves available when needed.
Eager to offer credit for the town's latest success, Fr John goes on to explain how the town's small army of volunteers hits the streets every Tuesday night to clean all areas that are examined by the judges over the 12 weeks of the competition. In addition, he insists that the workers with the local FàS office, led by Jack Fahy, be acknowledged for the part they play. ''I can only offer great praise for the work they do,'' says Fr John.
On top of all such volunteering efforts, locals have also agreed, for at least the duration of the competition, to make sure the area immediately in front of their own homes is kept spic and span.
The competition itself begins each year in May, with a closing date this year on July 23. In that time, Fr John explains, judges can appear in the parish at any time, unannounced, looking for wayward litter floating on the summer breeze to seriously affect chances of the prize, a perpetual cup and a purse of €1,000 for the local community. The only guarantee offered by the judges is that they will visit each competing community four times up to the closing date, awarding scores on each visit. Now, once again, the combination of parish pride and hard work have paid off for Borris-in-Ossory, making it the outright winner of the competition five times in a row.
A spokeswoman for Laois County Council confirmed Borris-in-Ossory had secured a very impressive win this year.
''The town topped the poll with a total score of 392 points,'' she said, ''while the nearest competitor had 360.'' In addition, she revealed, the final two visits by judges had resulted in top marks each time such was the pristine condition of the town's main street, residential areas, green spaces and church environs.
While Borris may, quite rightly, celebrate its endeavours, there will be a measure of 'business as usual' for Fr John, who, throughout, combined his 'sweeper duties' with the everyday demands on him as a priest at the heart of a community.
''Morning Mass in the church is 8.30 each day,'' he says, ''Thursday and Friday are the school days [there are two schools in the parish], and there are the Communion rounds.'' On top of this and other elements, Fr John is overseeing preparatory work for a replacement roof on the nearby church of St Ciaran at Knockaroo.
Fr John is not complaining; quite the opposite.
''There is a tremendous variety in ministry,'' he says happily. ''You make your plans for everyday events, and then so many other things crop up. I enjoy the priesthood and the preaching of God's word.''
This is no less true for him even when considering modern challenges and recent scandals, which he admits, have been ''demoralising''.
''These are challenging times,'' he admits. ''We need such strong leadership from the bishops.'' But, he says, returning quickly to a more positive note, ''it's the same with a parish. There is always lots of work to be done.'' Even as he speaks, it is clear in his face that Fr John is already planning for next year, and hopes of six in a row.
