'Islanders' admit clean-up is badly needed

The Bull Island Action Group was holding its head high last night on hearing that its entry came last in the Tidy Towns competition, with a score of 23.3 per cent.

Ms Úna Loftus, secretary of the group, said the committee had entered the competition to highlight the need for community action to clean up the north Dublin island.

This was the first time to enter in the competition, and she hoped it would encourage people to join in their efforts.

"We are doing all we can. We would like to do more, but it depends on the number of people who come forward to help," Ms Loftus said.

The Tidy Towns winners were announced by Mr Pat "the Cope" Gallagher, Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, at Dublin Castle yesterday.

He said the 45-year-old competition was now "the foremost environmental competition in this country" and was "a remarkable phenomenon".

But it was more than an environmental initiative, he said, as it encouraged a sense of community.

"Bonds between neighbours, old and new, are created and strengthened. New networks and friendships are formed, and a stronger sense of the community as a unified whole emerges."

A sister competition, City Neighbourhoods, was established in May to highlight the importance of creating communities in cities, Mr Gallagher said.

City councils in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford have been asked to nominate areas for the titles of Best Residential Area, Best Urban Village and Best City Street.

One community will win the Best City Neighbourhood in Ireland award when the results are announced in late October/early November.

Dublin towns and villages received an average score of 199 marks out of a possible 300 in this year's Tidy Towns competition. Malahide received the highest score in Dublin, with 259 marks or 86.3 per cent.

Despite complaints about the untidy state of Temple Bar at night, the area received an above-average mark of 206 points, or 68.7 per cent.