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Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys today (18 June) congratulated the winners of the all-island, Best Kept Town Competition. The results were announced at an awards ceremony in Riddel Hall, Belfast.
Ireland’s Best Kept Town is an all-island competition in which some of the best villages and towns participating in the SuperValu TidyTowns competition compete against their counterparts in Northern Ireland’s Best Kept competition.
Randalstown, County Antrim was named overall winner of Ireland’s Best Kept Town competition, 2024.
In other award categories Malin, County Donegal won the Best Kept Village category and Roscommon, County Roscommon won the Best Kept Large Town category.
Randalstown, County Antrim was also named the Best Kept Small Town category whereas Derry/Londonderry County Derry won the Best Kept Large Urban Centre category.
Speaking after the Awards were announced, Minister Humphreys said:
“I wish to express my heartfelt congratulations to all of the winners and nominees in the all-island Best Kept Town competition, and in particular Malin, the winners of the Best Kept Village Category, and Roscommon for the Best Kept Large Town.
“I would like to congratulate Randalstown, Irelands Best Kept Town for 2024 as well as being named Irelands Best Kept Small Town. Derry/Londonderry also deserves a special mention as the 2024 winner of the Best Kept Large Urban Centre category.”
Minister Humphreys continued:
“The all-island Best Kept Town Competition recognises the immense community spirit and pride people have in their own communities right across this island.
“All the groups nominated for these awards should be enormously proud of their achievements to date. Now in its 29th year, it is a fine example of a positive cross border initiative that brings great benefits to so many of our communities.
“I applaud the efforts made by all of the volunteers and local communities in the SuperValu TidyTowns competition and the Best Kept competition in Northern Ireland and wish all our community groups the very best in future competitions.”
Doreen Muskett, MBE, Chairperson of the Northern Ireland Amenity Council, the body that organises the Best Kept Awards speaking after the Awards noted that:
“The competition is designed to reward those who take great pride in their communities and those who work tirelessly to make their surroundings a nice place to work, live and play in.
“My sincere congratulations to all of this year’s awards recipients. The panel of esteemed judges from all over Ireland had a very difficult task in comparing and selecting the eventual winners, which is a testament to the stunning towns and villages that we are lucky enough to have here on the island of Ireland."
The Department of Rural and Community Development was established to promote rural and community development and to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland.
Its focus is on strengthening community resilience and social cohesion, supporting communities so that they are empowered to face current and future challenges.
The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Northern Ireland Amenity Council initiated the Ireland’s Best Kept Towns competition in 1995 to help raise the profile of both the SuperValu TidyTowns and Northern Ireland's "Best Kept" competitions, and therefore help to improve the standard of towns and villages across the island of Ireland.
All entrants were marked against strict adjudication criteria that included cleanliness, the outward appearance of buildings, the presentation of roads and public facilities and the natural environment.
Ballynure, Co Antrim
Malin, Co Donegal
Mulranny, Co Mayo
Randalstown, Co. Antrim
Royal Hillsborough, Co. Down
Kill, Co Kildare
Dromiskin, Co Louth
Cavan, Co Cavan
Holywood, Co Down
Roscommon, Co Roscommon
Antrim, Co. Antrim
Derry/Londonderry, Co Derry
Sligo, Co Sligo
Greystones, Co Wicklow
The Award winners are as follows: