Abbeyleix TidyTowns in Co Laois has encouraged other groups around the country to “never give up”, after being announced as the winners of the SuperValu TidyTowns competition for 2023.
Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys made the announcement at a ceremony in Croke Park, Dublin, describing the work of volunteers around the country as “nothing short of inspirational”.
More than 600 TidyTowns volunteers from all across Ireland attended the awards ceremony, with the event live-streamed to thousands more online.
“This is a truly great achievement and a special moment of immense pride for Abbeyleix and indeed the wider county of Laois,” the Minister said.
“Having first entered the competition in 1960, Abbeyleix 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.”
Speaking to RTÉ radio 1, secretary of Abbeyleix TidyTowns Mary White said the volunteers in her group were “in a state of disbelief and excitement”.
“It’s just absolutely extraordinary,” she said.
“It’s the first time we’ve ever won a national award. And I suppose if there are other groups out there that sometimes are disappointed, like we have been on a few occasions, their mantra should be never give up. It might happen. It sure did happen for us today.”
The group had been planting trees and focusing on biodiversity, climate action, circular economy.
“The days of hanging baskets and window boxes are long gone,” she said.
“The world is in crisis, so we have to do everything we can to try and encourage biodiversity, to encourage climate action.”
Ms White said she was “so proud” of all the volunteers in Abbeyleix.
Congratulating the winners, Ian Allen, managing director of SuperValu, said the achievement was “testament to the hard work and commitment of the committee and team of volunteers in the town”.
“Since the inception of SuperValu’s valued partnership with TidyTowns, the competition has grown significantly and meaningfully. There are now over 1,000 active committees backed by a powerful movement of almost 30,000 volunteers all of whom are highly committed to enhancing their towns and villages all around the country,” he said.
The competition has become “a powerful and uniting force, bringing together people from communities all over the country, working towards a common cause, and, critically, caring for our environment”, Mr Allen said.
The tidiest large town was named as Killarney, Co Kerry.
The award for tidiest large urban centre went to Ballincollig, Co Cork.
Volunteers in Geashill received the prize for tidiest village in Ireland, while the tidiest small town prize went to Abbeyleix in Co Laois.
This year marks the 65th anniversary of the prestigious competition and, with nearly 900 community groups involved, it attracted one of its highest level of entries to date.
Other prizes included the “young persons” national category, which went to Tipperary TidyTowns, and the school award, which went to Blessington Educate Together in Co Wicklow.
All groups who entered the competition in 2022 or 2023 will be eligible to apply for a grant of between €1,000 and €4,000. Pobal, who will be administering the grant on behalf of the Department of Rural and Community Development, will make contact will all eligible groups.
Full list of TidyTowns 2023 winners
The Heritage award went to Williamstown TidyTowns in Co Galway.
The SuperValu TidyTowns competition is organised by the Department of Rural and Community Development and sponsored by SuperValu.
Ms Humphreys said that the awards are a “huge event for community groups up and down the country”.
”Everybody has a favourite job, and this is mine,” the Minister said of announcing the TidyTown award.
More than €270,000 in award money will be distributed among various award categories, the Minister said.
Ms 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.
Since 2017, the department has provided €9.5 million in funding to support the important sustainability and other activities of these groups.
“Today is an opportunity for us to celebrate the work of our wonderful volunteers, the length and breadth of the country. And of course, these are volunteers who work tirelessly all year round to ensure their communities are looking their best,” she said.
“So as Minister for Rural and Community Development, I just want to pay tribute and say a big thank you to our wonderful TidyTowns groups.”
