Abbeyleix has been named as Ireland’s Tidiest Small Town at the national awards event in Dublin today.
Ennis in Clare was Ireland’s Tidies Large Urban Centre and Cobh in Cork was Ireland’s Tidiest Large Town with Abbeyleix the winner of the prestigious Small Town category.
Geashill, just across the Offaly border, was named as Ireland’s Tidiest Village.
Abbeyleix Tidy Town stalwarts Mary White and Robbie Quinn were on hand to accept the award at the scaled-back event in the RDS.
The SuperValu TidyTowns competition is organised by the Department of Rural and Community Development and sponsored by SuperValu who have sponsored the competition since 1991. On had to present te awards was Minister Heather Humphreys and Ray Kelly, Marketing Director of SuperValu.
“The adjudicator comments that the volume of work that you have completed is absolutely outstanding,” said the presenter.
“Your shopfronts, as always, have impressed, so too do your actions with regards to the sustainable development goals.
“Congratulations on your designation as a cycling and walking friendly town. The Abbeyleix Bog, which is such a gem, features prominently in your work and rightly so as this is an EU habitat after all.
“The recently launched biodiversity action plan is excellent and well done on being asked to present your story to the Innovation Academy at UCD.
“Your recycling statistics increase year on year – keep this up. You are to be commended for your early morning clean ups at 5am. That is dedication indeed.”
Minister Humphreys used the event to announce a special allocation of €1.5 million in funding to support the work of individual TidyTowns Committees around the country to assist them in their continued efforts to enhance their towns and villages.
This is the fifth consecutive year that funding has been provided to support these Committees and brings the total allocated since 2017 to €6.7 Million.
“The sense of belonging and pride of place that is achieved by being part of a TidyTowns group creates a wonderful welcoming atmosphere for both residents and visitors alike,” said the minister.
“Given the challenges faced by TidyTowns groups during the pandemic and the way in which they moved to an online entry process, I am delighted to be able to announce that I have secured funding of €1.5 million to directly support the TidyTowns committees who, through their efforts, bring out the best in their towns and villages.
“In total, 1,022 TidyTowns groups across the country will be eligible to benefit from this investment.”
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