Nine Cork towns, villages and islands recognised at Supervalu TidyTowns Awards
Rosscarbery has been named as Ireland's Tidiest Village at this year's Supervalu TidyTowns Awards.
West Cork’s Rosscarbery has been named as Ireland’s Tidiest Village out of nine Cork towns, villages and islands awarded at this year’s SuperValu TidyTowns competition.
The awards ceremony, held in Croke Park in Dublin this week, saw 600 TidyTowns volunteers from across Ireland in attendance, with 929 towns competing for the prestigious awards.
Organisers of the awards said this is the highest number of entries ever received since the competition’s inception in 1958.
Among the Cork winners at this year’s event, Rosscarbery was named as Ireland’s Tidiest Village for 2025, with a €5,000 prize fund.
Fermoy was also recognised under the large town/village urban centre category for the Gum Litter Taskforce Award, seeing €2,000 allocated to the Fermoy TidyTowns Association.
Glanworth TidyTowns was recognised as a regional runner up in the Waters and Communities Award, with a €500 prize fund allocated to the group; Kilworth TidyTowns received third place and €700 under the EPA Circular Economy Award; and the Coolagown Development Group received a highly commended certificate and €500 under the EPA Circular Economy Award.
Under the Island Award category, Sherkin Island received a highly commended certificate and €500, and Bere Island was crowned the national winner, with a €1,000 prize fund.
Further, Ballyphehane TidyTowns received a highly commended certificate under the Young Person in TidyTowns Award; and Boherbue TidyTowns was crowned the national winner under the Town Centre First Award, with a prize fund of €2,500.
The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary announced the awards, with Carrick-on-Shannon in Co Leitrim named as Ireland’s Tidiest Town overall, as well as Ireland’s Tidiest Small Town.
Mr Calleary said that the standard of competition was “exceptionally high this year in all categories, with a record 929 entries received overall from the almost 1,000 active groups nationwide”.
“I want to congratulate all the winners, across all the various categories,” said Mr Calleary.
“In particular, I recognise the vital role of 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.
At the awards ceremony, Mr Calleary additionally announced investment 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.
Luke Hanlon, managing director of SuperValu said the company is “inspired by the phenomenal pride and dedication of more than 30,000 volunteers across 929 committees, who together have given over one million hours to their communities this year alone”.
“It’s heartening to see that 70% of groups have been active for more than 10 years, demonstrating a remarkable legacy of commitment and civic engagement,” said Mr Hanlon.
“The commitment of volunteers and our independent retailers, who consistently go above and beyond for their local areas is proof that local action can create real lasting change, transforming our streets and protecting biodiversity.”
Gold medal status was awarded to: Coolagown, Glounthaune, Macroom, Youghal, Kinsale, Cobh, Ballincollig, Carrigaline, Rosscarbery, Timoleague, and Ballydehob.
Silver medal status was achieved by: Castletownroche, Kilbrittain, Innishannon, Douglas, Eyeries, Rathbarry, Glengarriff, Clonakilty, Bantry, and Skibbereen.
Bronze medals were awarded to: Kildorrery, Fermoy, Bandon, Ballingeary, Bere Island, and Dunmanway, while Endeavour Awards were given to Knockagree, Ballyphehane, and Cape Clear Island.
For more information, visit: www.tidytowns.ie.
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