Press release
TidyTowns awards honour communities from Cavan, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Monaghan, Roscommon and Sligo
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 Tidy Towns awards for the North West and West region were presented today, Monday, 19 November, at a prize-giving ceremony in Castle Leslie in Glaslough, Co Monaghan.
SuperValu TidyTowns winners were presented with their awards by Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys TD and Eoghan Jones, SuperValu regional manager, long-time sponsors of the competition. Also joining the minister on stage was Colm Breheny of Fáilte Ireland.
At the ceremony, Minister Humphreys spoke of the grant scheme, recently announced by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring TD, which will enable TidyTowns committees to apply for a grant of between €1,000 and €4,000.
Minister Humphreys said:
“I am 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 his department 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 North West and West 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 Glaslough – congratulations on winning the regional title and being named as Ireland’s Tidiest Village for 2018 – 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 of the TidyTowns Competition, 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.
Glaslough won the regional title and a full list of all of today’s prize winners is attached.
ENDS
SuperValu TidyTowns – North West and West – Ireland’s Tidiest Large Town for 2018
Sponsored by SuperValu
| Recipient | County | Award |
| Westport | Mayo | Tidiest Large Town |
SuperValu TidyTowns – North West and West – Ireland’s Tidiest Village for 2018
Sponsored by SuperValu
| Recipient | County | Award |
| Glaslough | Monaghan | Tidiest Village |
SuperValu TidyTowns – North West and West Regional Winner
Sponsored by the Department of Rural and Community Development
| Recipient | County | Award |
| Glaslough | Monaghan | Regional Winner |
SuperValu TidyTowns – South East Region – Medallists in National Awards
Sponsored by SuperValu
| Recipient | County | Award |
| Buncranna | Donegal | Gold Medal |
| Carrickmacross | Monaghan | Gold Medal |
| Carrick On Shannon | Leitrim | Gold Medal |
| Castlebar | Mayo | Gold Medal |
| Castlecoote | Roscommon | Gold Medal |
| Coolaney | Sligo | Gold Medal |
| Glaslough | Monaghan | Gold Medal |
| Keadue | Roscommon | Gold Medal |
| Letterkenny | Donegal | Gold Medal |
| Roscommon | Roscommon | Gold Medal |
| Westport | Mayo | Gold Medal |
| Cavan | Cavan | Silver Medal |
| Galway City Centre | Galway | Silver Medal |
| Monaghan | Monaghan | Silver Medal |
| Sligo | Sligo | Silver Medal |
| Abbey | Galway | Bronze Medal |
| Ballina | Mayo | Bronze Medal |
| Ballintubber | Roscommon | Bronze Medal |
| Beal an Mhuirthead | Mayo | Bronze Medal |
| Carraig Airt | Donegal | Bronze Medal |
| Cloontuskert | Roscommon | Bronze Medal |
| Dromod | Leitrim | Bronze Medal |
| Glenties | Donegal | Bronze Medal |
| Malin | Donegal | Bronze Medal |
| Milltown | Galway | Bronze Medal |
| Mulranny | Mayo | Bronze Medal |
| Tarmonbarry | Roscommon | Bronze Medal |
SuperValu TidyTowns – South East region – County Awards
Sponsored by SuperValu
| Recipient | County | Award |
| Cavan | Cavan | County Winner |
| Redhills | Cavan | Highly Commended |
| Lough Gowna | Cavan | Commended |
| Dowra | Cavan | Endeavour * |
| Letterkenny | Donegal | County Winner |
| Buncranna | Donegal | Highly Commended |
| Carrig Airt | Donegal | Commended |
| Maghery | Donegal | Endeavour * |
| Milltown | Galway | County Winner |
| Abbey | Galway | Highly Commended |
| Monivea | Galway | Commended |
| Woodford | Galway | Endeavour * |
| Carrick On Shannon | Leitrim | County Winner |
| Dromod | Leitrim | Highly Commended |
| Drumshanbo | Leitrim | Commended |
| Tullaghan | Leitrim | Endeavour * |
| Westport | Mayo | County Winner |
| Mulranny | Mayo | Highly Commended |
| Castlebar | Mayo | Commended |
| An Geata Mor (Binghamstown) | Mayo | Endeavour * |
| Glaslough | Monaghan | County Winner |
| Carrickmacross | Monaghan | Highly Commended |
| Monaghan | Monaghan | Commended |
| Emyvale | Monaghan | Endeavour * |
| Castlecoote | Roscommon | County Winner |
| Keadue | Roscommon | Highly Commended |
| Ballintubber | Roscommon | Commended |
| Portrunny | Roscommon | Endeavour * |
| Coolaney | Sligo | County Winner |
| Riverstown | Sligo | Highly Commended |
| Ballintogher | Sligo | Commended |
| Bunnanaddan | Sligo | Endeavour * |
Endeavour Award winners are those who achieved the greatest improvement in score in 2017
SuperValu TidyTowns – South East region – Special Awards
| Recipient | County | Award |
| Athenry | Galway | The Tree Project Award sponsored by The Tree Council of Ireland |
| Loving Leftovers- Belmont National School & Milltown National School | Galway | Supervalu School Award – sponsored by SuperValu |
| Ballintubber TidyTowns | Roscommon | Diversity Award – sponsored by SuperValu |
| Portrun Development Association CLG | Roscommon | Waters & Communities Award sponsored by Inland Fisheries Ireland, Watersways Ireland and the Local Authority Waters & Communities Office Regional Highly Commended |
| Abbey TidyTowns | Galway | Waters & Communities Award sponsored by Inland Fisheries Ireland, Waterways Ireland and the Local Authority Waters & Communities Office Regional Winner |
| Abbey TidyTowns | Galway | Waters & Communities Award sponsored by Inland Fisheries Ireland, Waterways Ireland and the Local Authority Waters & Communities Office National Winner |
| Killeshandra TidyTowns | Cavan | Let’s Get Buzzing Pollinator Award – sponsored by Local Authorities –Small Town Category Regional Winner |
| Buncrana TidyTowns Initiative | Donegal | Let’s Get Buzzing Pollinator Award – sponsored by Local Authorities – Large Town Category Regional Winner |
| Tubbercurry TidyTowns | Sligo | Gum Litter Taskforce Award sponsored by the Gum Litter Taskforce – Village and Small Town Category |
| Tubbercurry TidyTowns | Sligo | Gum Litter Taskforce Award sponsored by the Gum Litter Taskforce – National Winner |
| Dromod TidyTowns | Leitrim | The Big Scoop Award- sponsored by Dogs Trust – Joint National Winner |
| Westport TidyTowns | Mayo | Our Community Climate Action Award |
Winner Young TidyTowns Committee Category – sponsored by Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
| Athleague TidyTowns | Roscommon | Sustainable Development Award Runner Up –sponsored by Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment |
| Castlecoote TidyTowns | Roscommon | Sustainable Development Award Runner Up –sponsored by Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment |
| Kilteevan TidyTowns | Roscommon | Sustainable Development Award Runner Up –sponsored by Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment |
| Raphoe TidyTowns | Donegal | Sustainable Development Award Third Place –sponsored by Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment |
| Milltown Heritage Food Project | Galway | Heritage Award – sponsored by the Heritage Council |
| Béal an Mhuirthead | Mhuigh Eo | The Gaeltacht Award – sponsored by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht – Highly Commended Award |
| Carraig Airt | Dún na nGall | The Gaeltacht Award – sponsored by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht – National Winner |