“The TidyTowns Competition recognises and encourages the efforts of local people to bring huge benefits to their communities. Over the last three years over 800 cities, towns and villages throughout the country entered the competition and I hope that it will be even bigger and better this year,” so said Phil Hogan, Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government as he, along with Mr Martin Kelleher, Managing Director of SuperValu officially launched The SuperValu TidyTowns competition for 2014.
Minister Hogan mentioned the importance of us presenting our country in the best possible light, as a clean and green destination to live in, do business in and visit. “TidyTowns has been improving the environment in which we live for over 56 years and has helped to transform the appearance of our towns and villages and to foster Ireland’s image abroad. My Department has continued working in partnership with Volunteer Ireland to grow voluntary effort; their website www.volunteer.ie matches members of the public interested in volunteering with voluntary opportunities in their own areas. I would ask TidyTowns groups to take advantage of this initiative.”
Speaking at the launch, Martin Kelleher, SuperValu Managing Director said “We are incredibly proud that this is the 23rd year of our sponsorship of TidyTowns. We believe in local and TidyTowns is a perfect partnership for SuperValu, as our independent retailers similar to TidyTowns committees form part of the fabric of towns and villages across Ireland.
With an increase in store numbers this year to 223 stores nationwide, SuperValu retailers are uniquely positioned to work with TidyTowns committees to build sustainable communities throughout the country that we will be proud to pass onto generations to come.
There is tremendous work done by TidyTowns committees around Ireland and I would encourage people to get involved and help make that difference to their local area. We live in challenging times, economically and socially, but the SuperValu TidyTowns competition demonstrates the power of local and the value it brings to our communities and our country.”
The Minister expressed his gratitude to SuperValu, the competition’s sponsor for the past 23 years for their continued support. “I’d like to thank SuperValu for their unwavering support which has helped to sustain and grow this competition over the years. It must be one of the longest-running sponsorships of its kind in Ireland.”
As well as the main competition there are also eleven Special Competitions that you can enter. Welcoming these competitions Minister Hogan said “these competitions are an intrinsic part of the TidyTowns competition and I would like to encourage entrants to have a good look at them and endeavour to enter some as well as the main competition. I also thank the sponsors of these competitions for their support over the years.”
The closing date for receipt of entries for this year’s competitions is 22nd May 2014. Entry forms to the SuperValu TidyTowns competition can be obtained from the TidyTowns Unit in the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government – Phone (071-9186744) or by visiting www.tidytowns.ie or www.supervalu.ie. For entry to the Special Competitions please download your entry form at www.tidytowns.ie