Prestigious National Green Award for Longford veterinary practice

A Longford veterinary practice was acknowledged for their contribution and commitment towards growing a greener future at a ceremony in Dublin last week.

Emma Plant Veterinary Hospital is based in Kilnatruhan Killoe and on Tuesday, February 27 they scooped a gong at The Green Awards at The Clayton Hotel.

Emma's dedicated team of experienced veterinary practitioners, nurses and support staff have been working on making the practice as environmentally sustainable as possible for several years.

On Tuesday last Emma and Veterinary Nurse Donna Flynn joined with the cream of Ireland's green industry for the annual awards ceremony that has been up and running since 2008.

The Green Awards is a platform for sustainability intelligence, leadership and innovation in best green practice in Ireland. There were 28 category winners, with the overall prize in the Green Micro Enterprise of the Year category going to Emma Plant Veterinary Hospital.

“We're thrilled, yes, we never expected it,” Emma told the Leader, “We weren't expecting it, not in the slightest. We were just lucky we put on the posh togs and got the hair done, to be honest,” she joked.

Emma says the whole staff at the practice are delighted with the award: “It's lovely to win anything, whether it's the potato race or a national award like this, it's amazing.

“We've implemented changes and we no longer think about them. They have become normal day-to-day tasks. To be given an award for what is now just part of our daily work is amazing. The staff are all chuffed, everybody's delighted.”

The veterinary practitioner says there was lots of support when she first embarked on the programme of green improvements: “I have to thank Gary Brady in Longford County Council, because he really pushed us to enter our application, also Longford, Enterprise Board. They provide really, really good support for the initial idea for Green for Micro Business,” Emma concluded.