PURPLE FLAG

‍Purple Flag

Gaining Purple Flag status is an accreditation process similar to the Green Flag award for parks and the Blue Flag award for beaches. Winning Purple Flag status illustrates Drogheda's dedication to being a safe, welcoming and vibrant place to spend time in the evening and night-time economy.

 

What is the Purple Flag?

Drogheda was first awarded the prestigious Purple Flag in 2019 and renewed again in January 2024 based on an assessment visit that took place in November 2023. It is an international recognition of Drogheda’s successful night-time economy in the town centre.

The Purple Flag accreditation celebrates excellent management of the evening and night-time economy in Drogheda and the diversity of offerings available after 5 pm. Within the Drogheda Purple Flag area, you will find a range of family activities, art and culture venues, dining, bars and pubs, transport and sports activities... truly something for everyone.  

During the renewal process, the Purple Flag accreditors under ACTM-(Association of City & Town Management) standards investigated:

  • Cleanliness of the town centre public realm spaces
  • Public transport
  • Diversity of entertainment on offer
  • How welcoming and vibrate Drogheda felt
  • Feeling of safety
  • The strength of the collaboration and partnership between the businesses that operate the evening and night-time economy within Drogheda and that of the Purple Flag team

Drogheda's Evening Economy

Get Home Safe

ask for angela

The Drogheda Implementation Board and An Garda Síochána have launched a new safety campaign called "Ask for Angela", supported by the Drogheda & District Chamber, Restaurants Association of Ireland, Vintners Federation, members of the Drogheda Taxi Federation and Love Drogheda BIDs.

"Ask for Angela" focuses on giving anyone experiencing an uncomfortable night out, or who feels unsafe in the company of someone they are with, a discreet way of signalling to venue staff or security that they need assistance. The person need only ask to speak to "Angela" and venue staff can take steps to assist them, such as moving them to out-of-sight areas, calling a taxi or having the person causing the distress removed from the venue. An Garda Síochána still advises to contact the Garda if the person causing the distress becomes angry or violent.

The campaign was originally started in England to keep people safe from sexual assault and has been previously rolled out in much of the UK and the USA as well as Waterford, Sligo and most recently in Donegal. Similar safety campaigns have been implemented in the USA. "Ask for Angela" is being rolled out in Drogheda ahead of the busy Christmas and New Year season, but will remain in place throughout the year. The Drogheda Implementation Board and Garda Síochána have promised further campaigns in 2023, all aimed at keeping Drogheda safe for all who work, visit, live and socialise in our town.

Venues who are supporting the "Ask for Angela" campaign can collect stickers to place in restrooms or posters with "Guidance for Venue Staff" from the Love Drogheda BID office at Unit 5 Meatmarket Lane. Further information on the campaign can be requested by contacting implementationboard@lmetb.ie

To help spread the word about this campaign use the hashtags;

#askforangela
#safenightout
#lovedrogheda
#purpleflag
#nighttimeeveningeconomy

Ask for Angela Poster

See Something,
Say Something

Report Ant-Social Behaviour in our town

Se something, Say Something poster

The Drogheda Implementation Board and An Garda Síochána recently launched “Say Something SeeSomething” - a confidential text alert service that will allow residents and visitors to Drogheda to instantly report incidents to Gardaí. Members of the public or business owners can report anti-social or suspicious behaviour anonymously and for free by texting DROGHEDA to 50555.  

Originally developed in County Kerry,  and advocated for by the Love Drogheda Business Improvement District, the See Something Say Something system is listed as an action in the Drogheda Report Implementation Plan and contributes to several other community safety initiatives such as the Purple Flag.

See Something Say Something is not a system for reporting incidences that require an immediate and urgent response by An Garda Siochána, however, it is a simple and effective way to report issues that are affecting you and your area. Members of the public are advised when texting 50555 that they must text DROGHEDA first and then should give clear details in the text – such as specific location and the nature of the issue. An Garda Siochána will review the details shared and take an appropriate response based on this.

 Launching the initiative Garda Superintendent Watters said:

“We are asking people in Drogheda when they see something, to say something, by texting DROGHEDA and the incident details to 50555.  Don’t assume someone else will report it, take out your phone, describe what you have seen and text the details, for free, to50555, we want to hear from you.”

‍To report an incident of anti-social behaviour text "DROGHEDA" and the incident details to 50555.

Goals of Purple Flag

The Purple Flag programme is the framework under which the vision of a vibrant, safe and appealing city which is open to all can be achieved. One of Purple Flag’s key philosophies is collaboration and this sees all the main stakeholder groups in the Drogheda’s evening and night-time economy working closely together.

The Purple Flag award is the benchmark for good evening and night-time destinations and in many cases increases footfall and safety in the long run. Centres that achieve a PurpleFlag are those that offer a positive experience to consumers. Achievement of the status is of huge benefit to Drogheda. Under the auspices of the PurpleFlag, local stakeholders are working to promote the evening & night-time economy as a lever of economic and social prosperity for Drogheda.

the benchmark

Drogheda's Purple Flag Group

  • Representatives from Drogheda Vinters and restaurants
  • Grainne Berrill - Drogheda Implementation Board
  • Yvette Mc Cormack - An Garda Síochána
  • Trevor Connolly - Love Drogheda BID
  • Kelly Foley - Love Drogheda BID
  • Collette Farrell - Droichead Arts Centre
  • Mark Davies - Night-time Economy Advisor for Drogheda
  • Hubert Murphy - Drogheda and District Chamber
  • Sarah Taaffe - The Punt Pub and Drogheda Festivals committee
  • Catriona Calligan & Sylvia McCann - Boomerang Youth Café
  • Valerie Sherlock - The Marcy Hotel