KILLARNEY WAS celebrating yesterday after being named the cleanest town in Ireland, in the Irish business against litter awards, conducted by An Taisce.
Mayor of Killarney Seán Counihan paid tribute to the work of the Killarney town council staff. The “looking good” idea which holds annual awards along with a “Keep Killarney Klean” campaign was a town council initiative sponsored by a local newspaper which has paid off in encouraging a sense of pride and ownership in a busy tourist town, Mr Counihan said.
Minister for Heritage Jimmy Deenihan yesterday said Killarney – which is headquarters to his department – should act as a template for other towns.
“When I am in the town, I see at first-hand how conscientious and diligent local people are in keeping their own business and street area clean.
“There is a sense of personal pride emanating from the people of Killarney and this is reflected in the hard work and dedication they display when it comes to keeping Killarney clear of unsightly buildings and litter on their streets. Additionally, the floral displays throughout the town are also further evidence if any was needed of just why Killarney has taken first place today,” the Minister said.
“In my opinion Killarney has the template now which other towns and bigger cities can use to create areas which will make all of us proud to live and work in,” he said
Killarney, which came within a mark of the overall title last year now hopes to take the separate competition for the Tidiest Town in Ireland this year.
“It’s lovely to live in a town like this. It’s a long way from when Killarney was described as full of honky tonk, litter and plastic signs,” said Yvonne Quill, a local business woman and chairman of the long established Killarney Looking Good committee.