THE WINNERS:A TIDYTOWN for Tallanstown was celebrated in style yesterday as the Co Louth village received the overall award for the first time in its 26 years entering the competition.
The adjudicators complimented the “idyllic rural charm” of the village, awarding it a winning 308 points in this year’s competition.
Having first taken part in the TidyTown awards in 1984 the committee edged ever closer to the top prizes and narrowly missed out on last year’s Tidiest Village Award when it was pipped at the post by Emly, Co Tipperary, which also took the overall 2009 award.
However, 2010 was Tallanstown’s time to shine and the village committee was not disappointed, bringing home both the title of Ireland’s Tidiest Village as well as the overall award, receiving €15,000 between the two award categories.
Other winners included Lismore, Co Waterford, which received the award of Ireland’s Tidiest Small Town, achieving 306 points in this year’s competition as well as receiving the Climate Change award worth €1,000.
The judges noted that, while Lismore was a “most distinguished town architecturally”, and set in a landscape of immense beauty, that it was hard work that had raised it to the category of “superb”.
Killarney, Co Kerry, was deemed Ireland’s Tidiest Large Town, scoring an impressive 307 points overall, just one point off Tallanstown’s tally, and was lauded for its “notable and unique features” and the continuity between the original, restored parts of the town and new buildings which brings out the best in architecture and planning.
Kilkenny city was named Ireland’s Tidiest Large Urban with the judges noting that it was “hard to find fault” with the city.
Minister for the Environment John Gormley said that the event, which has grown in size again this year to 764 entries, up from 720 participating towns last year, showed the sheer scale of the TidyTowns movement, a reflection of the community spirit present in Ireland, something he said we need to tap in on in these recessionary times.
“It’s like All Ireland Day, the sense of community spirit. If you want to see positivity and you want to experience really what community life is about you should come out to the TidyTowns competition because it means so much to them.”
He said that, while this was a competition, the winners were always willing to pass on their best techniques.
“That’s what I find most enjoyable about it, that sense that we are still a nation of people who have something to contribute. . .
“The people who are participating, they don’t do it for monetary gain, they do it because of pride of place, pride in their own community and it is about volunteerism, co-operation and I think it’s the sort of value system we’re going back to now.”
Ray Kelly, marketing director of SuperValu, which has sponsored the competition since 1992, said “TidyTowns is the public expression of the work countless individuals undertake to build community spirit and make their local area a better place to live.
“I am delighted to congratulate this year’s winners and to recognise the commitment and dedication of TidyTowns committees nationwide who make such a real difference at a local level.”
The regional awards, which are worth €2,000 each, went to Skerries, Co Dublin; Ennis, Co Clare; Tallanstown, Co Louth; Letterkenny, Co Donegal; Emly, Co Tipperary; Killarney, Co Kerry; and Westport, Co Mayo.
The winner of the SuperValu TidyTowns Schools Award was Ardee Educate Together National School in Co Louth.
A new Smarter Travel Award, sponsored by the Department of Transport, was won by the TidyTowns Committee in Ballymun, Dublin 9, and the Repak sponsored Best Bring Bank National Award was taken by Kill, Co Kildare.
The Don’t Let It All Go to Waste Recycle Initiative 2010 award went to Bangor Erris, Co Mayo, while the Can It award was taken by Ballon, Co Carlow. First established 52 years ago, TidyTowns is one of Ireland’s longest running environmental competitions.