Coulter praises ‘Brilliant Broughshane’
Rev Dr Robert Coulter, the Ulster Unionist Party Assembly member for North Antrim and UUP Stormont Commissioner, has congratulated “brilliant” Broughshane on bringing yet another superb award to the locality when the village was named as overall winner of this year’s Britain in Bloom awards.
Dr Coulter said he was “very proud” of the village, and the latest accolade was “tremendous news for the borough” coming hot on the heels of Broughshane collecting the Best Kept Small Town in Ireland Award earlier this summer.
He added the latest award reinforced the village’s sterling reputation as “a beacon for the whole community throughout the Province to follow”.
“I could have told anyone that it was the prettiest village in Northern Ireland, but now we have independent confirmation of it,” said a delighted Dr Coulter.
“What is particularly pleasing are the extremely positive comments the judges made about the village, quite apart from the award itself. They described Broughshane’s entry as outstanding, bold, imaginative and forward-looking.
“That and the fact the whole community were involved in the effort is a great boost for North Antrim.
“It certainly was quite an achievement for Broughshane to fend off the competition from 68 other finalists. I don’t think we in Northern Ireland say enough about our achievements. We are a self-effacing and naturally shy people.
“We should really celebrate this great achievement. It will do a lot for the tourist potential of what is already a very beautiful part of the Province.”
Assemblyman Dr Coulter, himself a former Mayor of Ballymena for three terms in the mid 1990s, said it was “not surprising” Broughshane had scooped yet another prestigious award, given the “superb portfolio” of accolades the village had achieved over the years.
He added: “We are now living in an era when caring for our environment and keeping our localities neat and tidy are becoming major community issues.
“Broughshane has become a shining example of how people from the local community can bond together to take a real pride in the appearance and environmental development of their neighbourhoods.
“I would highly commend the sterling example of Broughshane to other local communities throughout our North Antrim constituency and wholeheartedly congratulate all the residents of Broughshane who helped bring this brilliant honour to the region,” said Assemblyman Dr Coulter.