“I am delighted to be in a position to attend the awards on behalf of Minister Ring and I encourage committees to avail of the €1.4 Million in grant funding to assist committees in preparing for the 2020 competition. All eligible committees will have recently received an application form for the grant and it should be returned as soon as possible to take full advantage of the funding.”

“For many years, communities have volunteered with TidyTowns to make our country a place that we can all be proud of. I have nothing but admiration for the volunteers here tonight and across the country and this grant scheme is recognition from the Government for the huge contribution made by your committees every year.”

“It is fantastic to have the opportunity to meet TidyTowns groups from across the South East Region. These awards are just a small token for the efforts of so many volunteers who take pride in their home town and work tirelessly to make their community a more sustainable and environmentally friendly place now and for future generations. We also recognise all the other TidyTowns groups not here today who are equally committed to improving their community year on year but have not achieved formal recognition in the competition this year, - well done to you all on the work you do and we hope to see you here with us next year.”

“For 28 years SuperValu, as the main sponsor, have been involved in this competition at local and national level. SuperValu has helped the competition to flourish and grow and continues to demonstrate a real commitment to supporting local communities and have worked closely with Department officials to help make it the success it is today.”

“2019 was another landmark year for SuperValu TidyTowns, with a record number of committees and groups taking part in the competition. The TidyTowns programme continues to be the greatest sustainability and community initiative in Ireland and it really positively impacts on our towns and villages across our country.”

“SuperValu are proud sponsors of the TidyTowns competition for almost 30 years now. Over this time we have seen first-hand the competition grow and evolve to a level that no one could have foreseen. In recent years, the SuperValu TidyTowns competition is increasingly focused on sustainability, biodiversity and conservation. Working together, we are making important steps in protecting our natural environment now and into the future. This is all made possible by the remarkable dedication and commitment shown by TidyTowns groups and SuperValu retailers around the country. This tireless work has a hugely positive impact on our communities.”