After yesterday's double All-Ireland hurling disappointment in Croke Park, the west had a reason to celebrate today as Westport in Co Mayo took two of the top honours in the annual Tidy Town Awards.
Minister for the Environment Mr Dempsey presented an ecstatic Westport contingent with the overall winners' award and a cheque for £10,000 at a ceremony in Dublin Castle today. The planned 18th-century town also won the Best Small Tidy Town award.
Speaking at today's ceremony, Mr Dempsey congratulated Westport, which he said impressed the adjudicators as "a perceptibly tidy town with special character".
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Mr Noel Dempsey
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He said Westport had managed to develop and grow over the last 10 years without having an adverse effect on the surrounding environment and had in fact enhanced many of the natural amenities in the town.
This is the first time the overall winners' trophy has gone to Co Mayo and the first time since 1993 that it has gone west, with Keadue in Co Roscommon the winners then.
Castletown in Co Laois won the Tidiest Village category. Ennis, Co Clare, won the Tidiest Large Town award with 720 towns and villages taking part in this year's competition.
The Gold, Silver and Bronze medal scheme, which was introduced last year, was hotly contested with 33 medals handed out. Kenmare, Co Kerry, and Newtowncashel, Co Longford, were among the gold medal winners.