Press release
TidyTowns awards honour communities from Clare, Cork, Kerry and Limerick
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 Mid-West and South West region were presented today, Thursday, 22 November, at a prize-giving ceremony in the Listowel Arms Hotel in Listowel, Co Kerry.
SuperValu TidyTowns winners were presented with their awards by Councillor Michael Kennelly, Kerry County Council and Dolores Farrell, SuperValu community and sponsorship brand manager, longtime sponsors of the competition. Also joining the councillor on stage was Declan Murphy of Fáilte Ireland.
At the ceremony, Cllr Kennelly spoke of the grant scheme, recently announced by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring TD, which enables TidyTowns Committees to apply for a grant of between €1,000 and €4,000. Cllr Kennelly said:
“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 recently announced by his department, which will assist committees in preparing for the 2019 competition. A similar scheme was run last year and over 900 committees benefitted from the funding.
“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 across this 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 give a special mention to Listowel – congratulations on winning the Regional title and being named Ireland’s Tidiest Large Town along with the overall title of Ireland’s Tidiest Town.
“I would also like to acknowledge Ballincollig and congratulate them on being awarded the title of Ireland’s Tidiest Large Urban Centre and also to all of today’s other prize winners.”
Cllr Kennelly also thanked TidyTowns’ main sponsor, SuperValu.
“For 27 years SuperValu has been involved in this competition at local and national level and they have helped it to flourish and grow and continue to demonstrate a real commitment to supporting local communities. They have worked closely with department officials to help make it the success it is today.
Dolores Farrell, SuperValu community and sponsorship brand 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 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.
Listowel won the title of Ireland’s Tidiest Towns, along Ireland’s Tidiest Large Town and the Regional Title.
Ballincollig won the title of Ireland’s Tidiest Large Urban Centre. See below for more details of prize winners.
ENDS
SuperValu TidyTowns – Mid-West and South West – Ireland’s Tidiest Town for 2018
Sponsored by SuperValu
| Recipient | County | Award |
| Listowel | Kerry | Ireland's Tidiest Town |
SuperValu TidyTowns – Mid-West and South West – Ireland’s Tidiest Large Town for 2018
Sponsored by SuperValu
| Recipient | County | Award |
Ballincollig Cork Tidiest Large Town
SuperValu TidyTowns – Mid-West and South West – Ireland’s Tidiest Small Town for 2018
Sponsored by SuperValu
| Recipient | County | Award |
| Listowel | Kerry | Tidiest Small Town |
SuperValu TidyTowns – Mid-West and South West – Regional Award for 2018
Sponsored by Department of Rural and Community Development
| Recipient | County | Award |
| Listowel | Kerry | Regional Award |
SuperValu TidyTowns – South East region – Medallists in National Awards
Sponsored by SuperValu
| Recipient | County | Award |
| Ballincollig | Cork | Gold Medal |
| Carrigaline | Cork | Gold Medal |
| Clonakilty | Cork | Gold Medal |
| Cobh | Cork | Gold Medal |
| Coolagown | Cork | Gold Medal |
| Ennis | Clare | Gold Medal |
| Kenmare | Kerry | Gold Medal |
| Killarney | Kerry | Gold Medal |
| Kilrush | Clare | Gold Medal |
| Kinsale | Cork | Gold Medal |
| Listowel | Kerry | Gold Medal |
| Tralee | Tralee | Gold Medal |
| Youghal | Cork | Gold Medal |
| Adare | Limerick | Silver Medal |
| Bantry | Cork | Silver Medal |
| Macroom | Cork | Silver Medal |
| Mountshannon | Clare | Silver Medal |
| Rosscarbery | Cork | Silver Medal |
| Ardpatrick | Limerick | Bronze Medal |
| Ballydehob | Cork | Bronze Medal |
| Ballynacally | Clare | Bronze Medal |
| Bandon | Cork | Bronze Medal |
| Castleconnell | Limerick | Bronze Medal |
| Castletownroche | Cork | Bronze Medal |
| Eyeries | Cork | Bronze Medal |
| Galbally | Limerick | Bronze Medal |
| Innishannon | Cork | Bronze Medal |
| Knightstown | Kerry | Bronze Medal |
| Limerick City Centre | Limerick | Bronze Medal |
| Lislevane | Cork | Bronze Medal |
| Millstreet | Cork | Bronze Medal |
| Newcastle West | Limerick | Bronze Medal |
| Portmagee | Kerry | Bronze Medal |
| Quin | Clare | Bronze Medal |
| Rathbarry | Cork | Bronze Medal |
| Skibbereen | Cork | Bronze Medal |
| Sneem | Kerry | Bronze Medal |
| Timoleague | Cork | Bronze Medal |
SuperValu TidyTowns – South East region – County Awards
Sponsored by SuperValu
| Recipient | County | Award |
| Ennis | Clare | County Winner |
| Kilrush | Clare | Highly Commended |
| Mountshannon | Clare | Commended |
| Kilmurry | Clare | Endeavour * |
| Coolagown | Cork North | County Winner |
| Castletownroche | Cork North | Highly Commended |
| Kiskeam | Cork North | Commended |
| Berrings | Cork North | Endeavour * |
| Ballincollig | Cork South | County Winner |
| Cobh | Cork South | Highly Commended |
| Kinsale | Cork South | Commended |
| Bishopstown | Cork South | Endeavour * |
| Clonakilty | Cork West | County Winner |
| Rosscarbery | Cork West | Highly Commended |
| Rathbarry | Cork West | Commended |
| Drinagh | Cork West | Endeavour * |
| Listowel | Kerry | County Winner |
| Killarney | Kerry | Highly Commended |
| Kenmare | Kerry | Commended |
| Cloghane, Brandon | Kerry | Endeavour * |
| Adare | Limerick | County Winner |
| Ardpatrick | Limerick | Highly Commended |
| Galbally | Limerick | Commended |
| Garrinderk | Limerick | Endeavour * |
Endeavour Award winners are those who achieved the greatest improvement in score in 2017*
SuperValu TidyTowns – Mid-West and South West Region – Special Awards
| Recipient | County | Sponsor and Award |
| Public Clock Project – Scarrif National School | Clare | Supervalu School Award Regional Award Winner – sponsored by SuperValu |
| Public Clock Project – Scarrif National School | Clare | Supervalu School Award National Winner – sponsored by SuperValu |
| UL Kayak Club Riverpath Volunteers | Limerick | Waters & Communities Award sponsored by Inland Fisheries Ireland, Watersways Ireland and the Local Authority Waters & Communities Office Highly Commended |
| Glounthaune TidyTowns | Cork | Waters & Communities Award sponsored by Inland Fisheries Ireland, Watersways Ireland and the Local Authority Waters & Communities Office Regional Winner |
| Sneem TidyTowns | Kerry | Let’s Get Buzzing Pollinator Award – sponsored by Local Authorities |
| Ennis TidyTowns | Clare | Let’s Get Buzzing Pollinator Award – sponsored by Local Authorities |
| Ennis TidyTowns | Clare | Our Community Climate Action Award |
Winner Village Large Town/Urban Centre Category
Sponsored by Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
| Recipient | County | Award |
| Carrigaline TidyTowns | Cork | Clean Air Award Runner Up – sponsored by Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment |
| Ennis TidyTowns | Clare | Clean Air Award Winner – sponsored by Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment |
| Sherkin Island | Cork | Islands Award Highly Commended Winner – sponsored by Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht |
| Bere Island | Cork | Islands Award Winner – sponsored by Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht |