The selection of a County Carlow entrant for the third time is indeed a great honour not alone for the people of Leighlinbridge but for the entire county.

The Competition was founded more than twenty-five years ago. At first it was a local competition between France and Britain, but very soon many other European Nations, including Ireland, had joined. At present ten countries take part in the competition, i.e. Britain, France, Portugal, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Hungary and Ireland. Each country puts forward a town (Population over 10,000) and a village (Population up to 5,000).

Leighlinbridge was selected as the village entry based on its achievements to date:

· County Winner in National Tidy Towns 2000
· First in Barrow Awards 2000
· First in Carlows Floral Pride 2000
· Winner in Carlow County Councils Cathaoirleach's Environmental Awards 2000
· Overall National Winner in "Green Town 2000" for its Millennium Garden project

The aim of Entente Florale is the improvement of the standard of life for the community and the "Greening of the Village". Specifically, the judges will look for:

Reintroduction and Respect for Nature
Enhancement through flowers, shrubs, trees, green spaces and parks
Development which is environmentally and ecologically sensitive
High standards of maintenance in buildings and streetscape - a sense of colour, tidiness and cheerfulness.
Co-operation between local community, public bodies and voluntary agencies

Ten judges, one from each country, will travel to County Carlow on Monday, 23rd July, 2001, staying overnight in Carlow town. Adjudication will take place on Tuesday, 24th July, when the judges will travel to Leighlinbridge and spend an action-packed day in the village. The day will be a celebration for all the people of the village and county to enjoy. Music, street theatre, dance and exhibitions will be evident throughout the area, encouraging a spirit of unity and fun, adding to the positive ambience. To coincide with the event, a Flower Festival called "Spanning the Bridge of Time in Leighlinbridge" will be held in St. Lazerians Church and a separate committee is working hard, planning what promises to be a wonderful display.

The local community is determined to achieve a 'Gold Medal' in this prestigious competition. Planning for Entente Florale commenced in October, 2000. A public meeting was held in February, 2001 to generate awareness and encourage community participation. Judging is divided into three categories, Quality Criteria; Effort and Involvement; Overall Impression. Householders, businesses, gardai, clergy, teachers and pupils are working in partnership with Carlow County Council, County Carlow Tourism Committee, FAS, Duchas and other agencies to achieve success. It's all hands on deck, as cleaning, painting, pruning, planting and planning take place.

There is no doubt that the village of Leighlinbridge will perform to a very high standard, placing County Carlow yet again on the international map, promoting the county as Ireland's Floral County.