Leamybrien was awash with colour as the St. Anne’s Court Residents Association received prizes from Cllr. Liam Brazil for their sunflower growing efforts, as part of the ‘Staying Connected’ campaign.

The initiative, rolled out by Waterford City and County Council, was aimed at keeping communities connected, offering support to those who were feeling isolated and encouraging healthy and helpful habits into daily and weekly routines.

Eamonn O’Leary, Estates Office, Waterford City and County Council, was delighted with the response from local authority housing estates.  “Initially the campaign was a reminder to us all to look after our friends, families and neighbours, during a very challenging time.  St. Anne’s Court Residents Association brought the estate together, everyone got involved and they embarked on a sunflower growing project.”

“What was great about it was that it created a real buzz in the estate, it brought the community together and it added a delightful pop of colour to the estate.”

Cllr. Liam Brazil presented prizes to the best sunflowers grown by the children and commended the residents association on their community spirit, he also thanked the committee of Anne McGrath, Emma Mansfield and John Mansfield.

“What struck me about the efforts of St. Anne’s is that it was a real community effort.  Everyone got involved, and the results speak for themselves.  It’s hard not to be cheered when you see the sunflowers and the beautiful colour they bring to the estate. The people of the St Anne’s Court Leamybrien are a real neighbourhood group, who look out for everyone in the estate.”

“I’d like to congratulate the winners; Lola Curran for Best Sunflower, and Corina Cody for Best Garden in the estate.  Special mention also has to be given to the St. Anne’s Residents Association, who encouraged the residents to get involved in a project that certainly brought friends and neighbours together.”

As part of the project, Patrick Kirwan, a local biodiversity activist, taught the children about biodiversity and provided the sunflower seeds and pots, with some very impressive results with some sunflowers reaching a height of 2.8 metres.