Press release
Midlands and East regional Tidy Towns Awards presented at ceremony in Longford
From Department of Rural and Community Development
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Rural and Community Development
Published on
Last updated on
This year’s SuperValu TidyTowns awards for the Midlands and East region were presented on 6 December, at a prize-giving ceremony in the Rustic Inn, Abbeyshrule, Co Longford.
SuperValu TidyTowns winners were presented with their awards by Minister of State for Rural Affairs and Natural Resources, Mr Sean Canney TD and Eoghan Jones, SuperValu Regional Manager, long-time sponsors of the competition. Also joining the minister on stage was Paddy Mathews of Fáilte Ireland.
At the ceremony, Minister Canney spoke of the recently announced grant scheme which will enable TidyTowns committees to apply for a grant of between €1,000 and €4,000. Minister Canney said:
“He was delighted to be in a position to attend the awards on behalf of Minister Ring and encouraged committees to avail of the €1.4 million in grant funding recently announced by Minister Ring to assist committees in preparing for the 2019 competition.
“Generations of communities have volunteered with TidyTowns to make our country a place 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 of the huge contribution made by committees to their community.
“It is fantastic to have the opportunity, this evening, to meet TidyTowns groups from across the Midlands and East region. These awards are just a small reward for the efforts of so many volunteers who take pride in their home town and work tirelessly to make it a better place now and for future generations. This unselfish effort and the generosity displayed by these volunteers makes a huge difference in our communities.
“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.
“I want to also give a special mention to Abbeyshrule, congratulations on winning the regional title and also to all of today’s other prize winners.”
The minister also thanked TidyTowns’ main sponsor SuperValu:
“For 27 years SuperValu as the main sponsor has 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.”
Eoghan Jones, SuperValu Regional Manager said:
“2018 marks the 60th anniversary of SuperValu TidyTowns, with close to 900 committees entering and 12 new committees getting involved for the first time this year.
“I would like to thank all of these new SuperValu TidyTowns committees for getting involved during the 60th year of the competition. It goes to show that SuperValu TidyTowns is a unique initiative, there is no other competition like it in the rest of Europe, thanks to the commitment of volunteers, committees and SuperValu retailers.
“The competition has had a huge benefit across Ireland for the past 60 years, and this year was no exception, with SuperValu TidyTowns committees building greenways, eradicating plastic straw use and delivering heritage projects, while bringing people from all ages and backgrounds together to build thriving, sustainable communities.
“We are delighted to have been involved in the TidyTowns competition for the past 27 years and look forward to continuing to work with communities in the coming years."
Interest in the SuperValu TidyTowns competition has been stronger than ever in recent years with a record 883 communities entering the competition in 2018.
The competition has been running since 1958 and is organised by the Department of Rural and Community Development. The competition has been sponsored by SuperValu since 1992.
Abbeyshrule won the regional title and a full list of all of today’s prize winners is attached.
ENDS
Sponsored by the Department of Rural and Community Development
| Recipient | County | Award |
| Abbeyshrule | Longford | Regional Winner |
Sponsored by SuperValu
| Recipient | County | Award |
| Abbeyleix | Laois | Gold Medal |
| Abbeyshrule | Longford | Gold Medal |
| Ardee | Louth | Gold Medal |
| Blackrock | Louth | Gold Medal |
| Dalkey | Dublin | Gold Medal |
| Drogheda | Louth | Gold Medal |
| Dundalk | Louth | Gold Medal |
| Kill | Kildare | Gold Medal |
| Leixlip | Kildare | Gold Medal |
| Malahide | Dublin | Gold Medal |
| Maynooth | Kildare | Gold Medal |
| Naas | Kildare | Gold Medal |
| Skerries | Dublin | Gold Medal |
| Staffan | Kildare | Gold Medal |
| Trim | Meath | Gold Medal |
| Tullamore | Offaly | Gold Medal |
| Arklow | Wicklow | Silver Medal |
| Aughrim | Wicklow | Silver Medal |
| Ballymore Eustace | Kildare | Silver Medal |
| Celbridge | Kildare | Silver Medal |
| Geashill | Offaly | Silver Medal |
| Moynalty | Meath | Silver Medal |
| Newbridge | Kildare | Silver Medal |
| Portlaoise | Laois | Silver Medal |
| Swords | Dublin | Silver Medal |
| Wicklow | Wicklow | Silver Medal |
| Athlone | Westmeath | Bronze Medal |
| Ballinahown | Westmeath | Bronze Medal |
| Bray | Wicklow | Bronze Medal |
| Cabinteely | Dublin | Bronze Medal |
| Clane | Kildare | Bronze Medal |
| Clonbullogue | Offaly | Bronze Medal |
| Greystones | Wicklow | Bronze Medal |
| Knockbridge | Louth | Bronze Medal |
| Longford | Longford | Bronze Medal |
| Lucan | Dublin | Bronze Medal |
| Lusk | Dublin | Bronze Medal |
| Newtowncashel | Longford | Bronze Medal |
| Raheny | Dublin | Bronze Medal |
| Rathangan | Kildare | Bronze Medal |
| Shankill | Dublin | Bronze Medal |
Sponsored by SuperValu
| Recipient | County | Award |
| Skerries | Dublin | County Winner |
| Dalkey | Dublin | Highly Commended |
| Cabinteely | Dublin | Commended |
| The Naul | Dublin | Endeavour * |
| Maynooth | Kildare | County Winner |
| Naas | Kildare | Highly Commended |
| Staffan | Kildare | Commended |
| Milltown | Kildare | Endeavour * |
| Abbeyleix | Laois | County Winner |
| Castletown | Laois | Highly Commended |
| Ballacolla | Laois | Commended |
| Mountmellick | Laois | Endeavour * |
| Abbeyshrule | Longford | County Winner |
| Newtowncashel | Longford | Highly Commended |
| Longford | Longford | Commended |
| Moydow | Longford | Endeavour * |
| Blackrock | Louth | County Winner |
| Knockbridge | Louth | Highly Commended |
| Ardee | Louth | Commended |
| Kilcurry | Louth | Endeavour * |
| Trim | Meath | County Winner |
| Moynalty | Meath | Highly Commended |
| Athboy | Meath | Commended |
| Johnstown | Meath | Endeavour * |
| Geashill | Offaly | County Winner |
| Tullamore | Offaly | Highly Commended |
| Clonbullogue | Offaly | Commended |
| Kinnitty | Offaly | Endeavour * |
| Ballinahown | Westmeath | County Winner |
| Tyrrellspass | Westmeath | Highly Commended |
| Glasson | Westmeath | Commended |
| Streamstown | Westmeath | Endeavour * |
| Aughrim | Wicklow | County Winner |
| Wicklow | Wicklow | Highly Commended |
| Arklow | Wicklow | Commended |
| Hollywood Village | Wicklow | Endeavour * |
Endeavour Award winners are those who achieved the greatest improvement in score in 2017 *
| Recipient | County | Sponsor & Award |
| Biodiversity Project in association with Dunboyne TidyTowns Committee & Dunboyne Senior Primary School, Dunboyne, Co Meath | Meath | Supervalu School Award – sponsored by SuperValu |
| Grange TidyTowns | Louth | Waters & Communities Award sponsored by Inland Fisheries Ireland, Watersways Ireland and the Local Authority Waters & Communities Office Regional Highly Commended |
| Ballymore Eustace Trout & Salmon Angler’s Association/Ballymore Eustace TidyTowns | Kildare | Waters & Communities Award sponsored by Inland Fisheries Ireland, Waterways Ireland and the Local Authority Waters & Communities Office Regional Winner |
| Geashill TidyTowns | Offaly | Let’s Get Buzzing Pollinator Award – sponsored by Local Authorities – Small Town Category Regional Winner |
| Swords TidyTowns | Dublin | Let’s Get Buzzing Pollinator Award – sponsored by Local Authorities – Large Town Category Regional Winner |
| Naas TidyTowns | Kildare | Gum Litter Taskforce Award sponsored by the Gum Litter Taskforce – Large Town and Urban Centre Category |
| Ashbourne TidyTowns | Meath | The Big Scoop Award – sponsored by Dogs Trust – Joint National Winner |
| Naas TidyTowns | Kildare | Clean Air Award Runner Up – sponsored by Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment |
| Donnybrook TidyTowns – Project Seat & Retreat | Meath | Sustainable Development Award Runner Up – sponsored by Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment |
| The Riverwalk with Arklow TidyTowns | Wicklow | Sustainable Development Award Second Place – sponsored by Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment |
| Hollywood TidyTowns | Wicklow | Sustainable Development Award National Award Winner – sponsored by Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment |