'It is a real team effort': Cork town named among big winners at TidyTowns awards

A Cork town has been named among the big winners at this year’s SuperValu TidyTowns awards.

This year, 887 towns competed for the prestigious awards demonstrating the continuing huge national interest in the SuperValu TidyTowns competition which has been running since 1958.

Ballincollig was awarded Ireland's Tidiest Large Urban Centre and has received a prize of €5,000.

Ballincollig Tidy owns Chairperson Tom Butler said that the award was evidence of what a community and volunteers can achieve. 

“We achieved our 11th gold medal today," he told The Echo. "We won the County Award for Cork South and we won the Tidiest Large Urban Centre in Ireland.

“The volunteers are an integral part of the whole thing. Our volunteers are the lifeblood of it. We have a huge crew who work 52 weeks of the year, and it never stops, it isn’t the case of turning it on for a competition.

“It is a real team effort between ourselves, Cork City Council, the schools and the businesses.

“It is a community award, it is not just down to ourselves because we wouldn’t be able to do it without the support of everybody else," he said adding, "It’s huge for Ballincollig. It just shows what a community and volunteers can do together; and the early mornings and late nights all pay off.”

Mr Butler said that the TidyTowns team were dedicating the award to former committee member, Tony Whelan. 

“As a committee, we lost a very important volunteer last November. He would have been a key member of our committee and a huge loss, so we are dedicating the award to Tony Whelan."

Abbeyleix in Co. Laois was named Ireland’s Tidiest Town as well as Ireland’s Tidiest Small Town.

Geashill, Co. Offaly was awarded Ireland’s Tidiest Village and Killarney, Co. Kerry was awarded Ireland’s Tidiest Large Town.

A number of Cork groups were recognised at this year's awards. 

Other Cork winners included:

• Ballyphehane TidyTowns received a special award in the Village and Small Town category of €2,000.
• Bere Island which was named national winner of the Island Award and received €1,000.
• Sherkin Island received ‘highly commended’ recognition in the Island Award category receiving €500.
• Ballineen and Enniskeane TidyTowns Association, Co. Cork was ‘highly commended' in the Waters and Communities awards category for the South West & Mid-West region, receiving €500.
• Cobh TidyTowns was recognised in the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan - Local Authority Pollinator Award category and named as large town regional winners, receiving €1,000.
• Timoleague National School was a regional winner in the SuperValu School Award category receiving €1,000.
• Fermoy was recognised in the Gum Litter Task Force Award category and was named as category winner (receiving €2,000) and national award winner (receiving €1,000).

A number of Cork TidyTowns groups were recognised in the county awards and received gold, silver and bronze medals, and endeavour awards.

The County Awards are awarded to the first, second and third placed entrants in each county, with Cork divided into North, South and West. 

In Cork South, Ballincollig was awarded County First title and received a gold medal, Cobh was County Second and also received gold while Kilbrittain was County Third and received silver. Other medal winners in Cork South included Carrigaline, Youghal and Kinsale who all received gold medals.

In Cork West, Rosscarbery was awarded the County First title, Clonakilty was County Second and Timoleague was County Third. All three also received gold medals. Other medal winners in the region included Bantry and Skibbereen who also received gold.

In Cork North, Coolagown was awarded County First title and received a silver medal, Castletownroche was awarded County Second and a bronze medal and Kildorrery was named County Third. Other winners included Millstreet and Knocknagree. 

'Extremely high' standard

The winners were announced at a special ceremony today by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys.

Speaking at the awards, Minister Humphreys said: “As always, the standard of competition was extremely high this year in all categories, with 887 entries received overall.

“I want to pay tribute to all the winners today across all the various categories.

“In particular, I want to recognise the vital role of TidyTowns volunteers across the country who are working so hard all year round to ensure our communities are vibrant, sustainable places to live, work and visit. You are truly an inspiration, and the embodiment of everything that is good in our communities.” 

The Minister also thanked SuperValu, the competition’s sponsor, adding: “SuperValu has been a loyal supporter and sponsor of the competition for over 30 years and continues to champion sustainability through their supportive network of retailers countrywide. Their team has worked very closely with my Department to make sure that this competition continues to be a success.” 

'A powerful and uniting force' 

Ian Allen, Managing Director of SuperValu commented after the awards: “For more than three decades, our teams and dedicated local SuperValu retailers have worked hand in hand with the Department of Rural and Community Development to develop and grow the SuperValu TidyTowns competition. The competition has become a powerful and uniting force, bringing together people from communities all over the country, working towards a common cause, and, critically, caring for our environment.

“SuperValu TidyTowns has succeeded in not only making our towns and villages more attractive but more sustainable too, and this is evident in the increased focus on initiatives that have a powerful impact on biodiversity such as the development of pollinator-friendly corridors and, rewilding outdoor areas. I would like to thank the TidyTowns Committees and volunteers for the relentless efforts, real action and huge contribution they make to our towns, villages and communities around the country. SuperValu is very proud to sponsor this SuperValu TidyTowns competition and of the fantastic support our retailers provide in helping make our local areas better places in which to live and work.” 

Minister Humphreys also announced a special allocation of €1.5 million in funding to support the work of TidyTowns groups in their continued efforts to make their towns and villages better places to live, work and visit. Since 2017, the Department has provided €9.5 million in funding to support the important sustainability and other activities of these groups.

Full details of all this year’s winners are available at www.tidytowns.ietarget="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> and at www.supervalu.ie.