Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys today (Friday, November 1) announced Ballincollig, Co. Cork as Ireland’s Tidiest Town for 2024.
Over 600 TidyTowns volunteers were present at the SuperValu TidyTowns awards ceremony at Croke Park in Dublin with the event live-streamed to many more online.
This year, 904 towns were competing for the prestigious awards demonstrating the continuing huge national interest in the SuperValu TidyTowns competition, which has been running since 1958.
Ballincollig Co. Cork was named as Ireland’s Tidiest Town as well as Ireland’s Tidiest Large Urban Centre.
Minister Humphreys also presented the Young Person in TidyTowns award to Ballyphehane TidyTowns, Co. Cork as well as the ‘Town Centre First National Award’ today to Carrickmacross TidyTowns, Co Monaghan recognising their great efforts to address vacancy and dereliction in line with the government’s ‘Town Centre First‘ policy.
Announcing Ballincollig as the overall winner, Minister Humphreys said: “I offer my warmest congratulations to Ballincollig and all of its TidyTowns volunteers for being crowned Ireland’s tidiest town for 2024.
“This is a truly great achievement and a special moment of immense pride for Ballincollig and indeed the wider county of Cork.
“Having first entered the competition in the 1960s, Ballincollig today continues to showcase all that is good about innovation, sustainability, community spirit and volunteerism. This is at the core of what the competition is all about.”
The minister said that the standard of competition was exceptional this year in all categories, with 904 entries received overall from the almost 1,000 active groups nationwide.
“I want to pay tribute to all the winners today across all the various categories,” she continued.
“In particular, I want to recognise the vital role of volunteers across the country who are working so hard all year round to ensure our communities are vibrant, sustainable places to live, work and visit.
“You are truly an inspiration, and the embodiment of everything that is good in our communities.
“Investment in our communities through this wonderful competition reaps long-term rewards for all, as showcased by the winning groups here today,” Minister Humphreys added.
She explained that the impact of Supervalu TidyTowns can be seen, particularly in fostering inclusion, sustainability and community engagement.
Other winners in Ireland’s Tidiest Town competition
SuperValu has been the competition’s main sponsor since 1991, and today Luke Hanlon, managing director of SuperValu, announced the results with Minister Humphreys.
Some of the other big winners on the day included:
- Ballinahown, Co. Westmeath awarded Ireland’s Tidiest Village;
- Blackrock, Co. Louth awarded Ireland’s Tidiest Small Town;
- Westport, Co. Mayo awarded Ireland’s Tidiest Large Town;
- Ballincollig, Co. Cork awarded Ireland’s Tidiest Large Urban Centre.
Meanwhile, Ballineen and Enniskeane Tidy Towns in Co. Cork have been announced as the overall winner of the Waters and Communities Special Award 2024.
Almost 50 applications were received for the award with the top cash prize of €2,000 for the group that demonstrated water stewardship in their local waterbody.
Luke Hanlon said: “I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Ballincollig on being crowned Ireland’s Tidiest Town for 2024 – an outstanding achievement that reflects the tireless dedication and hard work of the committee and volunteers.
“This award is a true testament to what can happen when individuals within a community come together with passion and commitment to make their towns and villages better places to live, work, and play.
“At SuperValu, we take immense pride in the communities we serve, and it’s fantastic to see that same pride shining through the efforts of TidyTowns committees across the country.
“The SuperValu TidyTowns competition has evolved into one of the most powerful community-led initiatives, driving the biodiversity and sustainability of our towns and villages.”
Minister Humphreys also announced a special allocation of €1.5 million in funding to support the work of TidyTowns groups in their continued efforts to make their towns and villages better places to live, work and visit.