THE WINNERS:THE STING of Sunday's All-Ireland defeat was soothed for some Tipperary visitors to the capital yesterday when the village of Emly came out tops in Ireland's Tidy Towns competition.
Emly, which also won in its category of Tidiest Village, was awarded 305 points out of 400.
It narrowly defeated Ireland’s Tidiest Large Town and last year’s overall winner, Westport, Co Mayo, by a single point. A single point also separated Emly and Ireland’s Tidiest Large Urban Centre, Ennis in Co Clare.
Tallanstown in Co Louth, which also entered for the Tidiest Village competition, was unlucky not to feature in its category with a score of 304 points, though it did collect the special Best Bring Bank Award, the Can It Award and the Endeavour Award in the midlands east category.
The category for Ireland’s Tidiest Small Town was won by Aughrim, Co Wicklow, which garnered 302 points.
The awards were presented at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham by Minister for the Environment John Gormley and Donal Horgan, managing director of competition sponsors Supervalu.
Some 720 areas entered for the competition this year and were judged by a panel of adjudicators appointed by the Department of the Environment.
The areas were inspected during June, July and August and assessed using 10 criteria, including overall development approach, wildlife and natural amenities, the built environment, litter control and tidiness.
More than 200 prizes from a fund of €250,000 are given in the competition, though only a fraction were presented yesterday.
Emly received €15,000 in total for its win as well as two silver trophies, while the winners of the three other categories got €5,000 each and a silver trophy.
The 51st year of the awards, one of the world’s longest running environmental competitions, also included an inaugural presentation, the Climate Change Award, sponsored by the Change Campaign. It was won by Rathangan, Co Kildare.
Regional award winners, who received a cheque of €2,000 each, included Killarney, Co Kerry, with 303 points, Letterkenny, Co Donegal with 300 points and Skerries, Co Dublin, with 297 points.
The Tidy Towns School Award went to Killtallagh National School,Castlemaine, Co Kerry.
Other special prizes included the Notice Nature Biodiversity Awards, which went to Lecarrow, Co Roscommon, the Gum Litter Taskforce Award, which went to Bangor Erris, Co Mayo, and the Sustainable Development Award, given to Glen Theatre, Banteer, Co Cork.
The Heritage Award of €1,000 from the Heritage Council went to Abbeyleix, while the Islands Award from the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs went to Bere Island, Co Cork.
Congratulating the winners, Mr Gormley said the Tidy Towns competition was a much respected and important part of Irish society. He also said volunteerism was alive and well in Ireland. “There have always been challenges for Irish people down through the decades since Tidy Towns was founded in 1958. But these challenges have not lessened the level of commitment that still continues to be demonstrated by Tidy Towns activists today,” he said.
“It is a tribute to you all here and to those at home that assist your efforts that you continue to accomplish so much.”
Mr Horgan said the competition was not just about improving local areas, it was about working together, building community spirit and making Ireland a better place to live.
“I am delighted to congratulate this year’s winners, but to also recognise the commitment and dedication of all Tidy Towns committees who make such a real difference in their local communities,” he said.
