The committee is thanked for their completed and comprehensive application form for the Tidy Towns competition 2004. The information supplied was very informative and provided the adjudicator with a good base to work from before beginning the inspection. The documents submitted with the application form provided the adjudicator with a lot of information on Dalkey and the work carried out, however it is suggested that an overall three year plan for the area be included in future applications. The constant work with local community groups and schools is an excellent method of creating awareness and gaining interest from the community in the overall development of the area. The annual tree planting, local groups adopting areas and the Family day in Killiney Hill and the Christmas pageant are all good community initiatives. Continued involvement from all aspects of the community is encouraged to ensure the constant upkeep and care of Dalkey.

   Dalkey is a heritage village with a lot of character and charm. On the approach to Castle Street from the Barnhill Road area, the area outside the petrol station was well maintained, with work being carried out by station employees on the day of adjudication to tidy up the area. There is a lovely planter with a nice array of flowers at the junction of Barnhill road and Hyde Road, which provides a nice entrance into the area. As you continue towards Castle street it is unfortunate that you come across quite a large poster site, though not very pleasing to the eye or picturesque, it was overall well maintained, however I do feel the area of Dalkey would benefit from less poster sites as for a relatively small town it has a number of large poster site areas. Castle Street itself is well maintained and many of the shop fronts should be commended for their overall high standard of appearance. Many areas of the street are extremely pleasant, the Catholic Church, Goat Castle and the Heritage Centre among them. All of these areas were well maintained.
   The car park beside the Catholic Church was well maintained and the information point outside the car park provides the visitor with a good starting point to explore Dalkey. Queens Pub, Don Giovannis and the Sorrento Lounge all looked pleasant on the day of adjudication. Again the poster site near the heritage centre and at the further end of Castle street opposite the Allied Irish are not ideal but the adjudicator appreciates the committee's frustration with these areas. However both areas were nicely maintained, with little evidence of litter in these areas.
   The lane ways off Castle Street were a slight disappointment as they take away from the charm of the village. The lane way by the library up to Supervalu is in need of attention with graffiti and litter evident on the day of adjudication. The Library entrance on this lane way is also in need of some attention. From this lane way you can enter the car park at the back of SuperValu; again this area is in need of some attention.    The back wall of the car park has a lot of graffiti on it and the grass area is not been maintained. I agree with the suggestion submitted with the application form that this area should be paved if it is not going to be maintained as it is quite unsightly. There was also delivery trolleys, card boxes and other material evident in the car park. A neater option for these should be explored by SuperValu. The railway station is quite a busy area with work being done in the car park area, which made it a little untidy. The outside of the station itself was in need of some maintenance, and though there were nice hanging flower baskets they do require some attention. The Guinea Pig restaurant and Photogenic all looked well on the day of adjudication.

The new sign and planted area at Castle Park Road is lovely and looked well on the day of adjudication., with the nicely paved area, new sign and nice planters with a selection of colourful flowers. The adjudicator looks forward to the proposed erection of the granite signs in three other locations. Castle Street has benefited from delightful floral arrangements and tress which make it a very pleasant street. Many of the residents from residential areas surrounding Dalkey take great care of their gardens with a majority of areas well maintained. The residents of St. Patrick's Square should be commended once again for the up keep of their area. Some kerb maintenance is required in a few areas around Dalkey, on the Barnhill approach road, up Killiney hill and some areas on Sorrento road.

Killiney hill is a lovely area with great potential. A number of projects could be undertaken to enhance this area. Possible publications/ information included in the local newsletter on the area. Information panels should be erected in the area to provide information on local wildlife and birds in the area. The coastal setting of Dalkey provides Dalkey with stunning sea views and lovely walks along the coast.

The local group scheme devised where local groups adopt an area and maintain it seems to be paying off. There was little evidence of litter on Castle Street and Sorrento Road and the residential areas off Castle Street. A small amount of litter was evident near the DART Station and on the laneway up beside the library. Overall the measures taken to help combat the litter issue seem to be working.

Overall the tidiness of Dalkey should be commended. Castle Street looked well on the day of adjudication. The areas that need addressing regarding overall tidiness are the SuperValu Car park area, the lane ways off Castle Street and the car park behind Queens pub, there were a large amount of empty bottles& kegs stacked up at the back of the car park, which looked quite untidy.

Many of the residential areas around Dalkey looked well and should be commended for there overall upkeep. Termon housing on Castle Street was well maintained as are the lovely houses opposite Sorrento Lounge and further along Sorrento road. White Villas and St Patrick's road are both well maintained residential areas which add to the charm of Dalkey. Some residential areas up towards Killiney Hill area are in need of some maintenance, the entrance to Old Quarry hill is in need of some attention.

The approach roads into Dalkey are well maintained, however the heritage signs are in need of replacing on the Barnhill road entrance as graffiti was evident on the sign. However the proposed replacement of the heritage signs with granite signs will be welcome. Small amount of kerb maintenance is required on some of the approach roads, including Vico Road, and Ulverton Road.

Dalkey is a lovely heritage village that sits on the scenic coast of South Dublin. It has a large amount of heritage attached to the town that is being developed to its best potential, along with a charming commercial main street and pleasant residential areas. Some areas need to be improved over the coming year to ensure that the standard is reached and maintained. The community should be commended on their overall approach to the development of the area and the adjudicator is looking forward to seeing many of the items outlined in the Action plan for 2004 completed by next year.