Medal haul for county’s tidy towns

CLARE has cleaned up at this year’s national Tidy Towns Awards. The results of the 54th annual competition were announced on Monday by Phil Hogan, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government at the Helix in Dublin, with the Banner County featuring strongly.

According to Deputy Mayor of Clare Pascal Fitzgerald, who deputised for Mayor Pat Daly at the ceremony in Dublin, “The standards in County Clare were extremely high again this year and I am delighted to see that our county capital has received national recognition in numerous categories. I would like to congratulate all participants from Clare, who have done their county proud. There was unprecedented interest in Tidy Towns this year and I would urge everyone to participate in 2013.”

Ennis was the big winner for Clare, with the town named Ireland’s Tidiest Large Urban Centre. The county capital retained the County Award and received a gold medal. Ennis was named the urban centre winner of the Gum Litter Task Force Award, a category in which Newmarket-on-Fergus was the small town winner. Ennis also won the Mid-West Regional Award.
In the county awards, Ballynacally was highly commended, Mountshannon was commended, while Connolly was the recipient of the Endeavour Award.

There was further success for Clare when Ballynacally and Kilrush both received a gold medal. Mountshannon secured a silver medal, while there were bronze medals for Kilkee and Tuamgraney. Ballyvaughan was the winner of the Tourism Towns Award.

Welcoming the county’s success in this year’s awards, Dr Vincent Cunnane, chief executive of Shannon Development, said, “We are delighted with County Clare’s continuing excellent performance in the Tidy Towns Competition and would like to congratulate Ennis, which has yet again excelled, achieving the award of Ireland’s Tidiest Large Urban Centre, the Gum Litter Task Force National Award and several regional awards”.

He acknowledged the medal winners and continued, “We recognise the tremendous commitment and effort given by each Tidy Towns committee in County Clare to ensure their area achieves the highest possible standard. As the regional development agency, we know that the Tidy Towns effort helps tourism and industry by improving the environment in which businesses operate and enhancing the region’s reputation with tourists.

“We look forward to recognising the achievements of the various award winners by, once again, hosting the annual Shannon Region Tidy Towns Awards later in the year,” he concluded.

Clare TD Pat Breen commended communities across the county who took part in the competition.
“The naming of Ennis as Ireland’s Tidiest Urban Centre is a huge boost to the town and is due recognition to all those working in Tidy Towns for their efforts down through the years and congratulations to all involved for their hard work and dedication.
“At county level, I am delighted that my own parish of Ballynacally features again this year, capturing a gold medal. I have seen at first hand the commitment, dedication and enthusiasm that go into keeping our parish looking cared for and welcoming and I am pleased that the hard work of the Tidy Towns committee and local community is being recognised.”

He congratulated the other Clare winners and extended his appreciation to all those involved in Tidy Towns. “These volunteers are the unsung heroes and heroines of our communities and the Tidy Towns competition plays an important role in recognising this volunteerism.”

The Tidy Towns competition is organised by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Judging of entries takes place in June, July and August each year. This year 856 entrants, a record for the competition, participated.

The Tidy Towns competition is open to all areas, big or small, urban or rural, and each are entered under their respective population categories ranging from the smallest, Category A – Under 200, to the largest, Category H – 25,001 and over.

Meanwhile, there were celebrations in Ballina, Killaloe this week after the local Tidy Towns Committee captured their first award in the national competition.
Over eight years of hard work and endeavour were rewarded when Ballina Tidy Towns committee won a bronze medal and €400. The committee triumphed in Category C for towns with a population of between 1,001 and 2,500.

More details on the Tidy Towns competition can be found on our regional pages.

 

MARKS (by population categories)

Category A  (under 200)
Mountshannon 305
Ballyvaughan 291
Labasheeda 287
Ruan 277
Bridgetown 262
Cranny 254
Killimer 254
Cooraclare 252
Carrigaholt 243
Mullagh 230
Barefield 229
Connolly 224
O’Callaghan’s Mills 214
Bodyke 212

Category B  (201 to 1,000)
Ballynacally  307
Tuamgraney 297
Quin 290
Doonbeg 287
Kildysart 274
Kilmihil 265
Lissycasey 262
Corofin 254
Tulla 235
Whitegate 227

Category C  (1,001 to 2,500)
Kilkee  296
Newmarket-on-Fergus 274
Killaloe 266
Clarecastle 260
Scariff 248
Ennistymon 246

Category D (2,501 to 5,000)
Kilrush  304
Sixmilebridge 287

Category F (10,001 to 15,000)
Shannon  281

Category G  (15,001 to 25,000)
Ennis  311