Waterford has won big at this year’s Tidy Towns Awards - with two gold medals, three silver medals and a special recognition award.
Stradbally and Lismore took home gold from the ceremony which was held in Croke Park, while there was silver for Dungarvan, Ardmore and Ballymacarbry - and a special recognition award for Cappoquin.
Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, today (6 October) announced Abbeyleix, Co. Laois as Ireland’s Tidiest Town for 2023.
Over 600 TidyTowns volunteers were present at the SuperValu TidyTowns awards ceremony at Croke Park in Dublin with the event live-streamed to thousands more online.
This year, 887 towns were competing for the prestigious awards demonstrating the continuing huge national interest in the SuperValu TidyTowns competition which has been running since 1958.
Abbeyleix, Co. Laois was named as Ireland’s Tidiest Town as well as Ireland’s Tidiest Small Town.
Minister Humphreys also presented a new award today to Cappoquin, Boyle and Ballyshannon TidyTowns groups, recognising their tremendous efforts to address vacancy and dereliction in line with the Government’s Town Centre First policy.
Announcing Abbeyleix as the overall winner, Minister Humphreys said:
“I offer my warmest congratulations to Abbeyleix and all of its TidyTowns volunteers for being crowned Ireland’s tidiest town for 2023.
“This is a truly great achievement and a special moment of immense pride for Abbeyleix and indeed the wider county of Laois.
“Having first entered the competition in 1960, Abbeyleix today continues to showcase all that is good about innovation, sustainability, community spirit and volunteerism. This is at the core of what the competition is all about.”
The Minister continued:
“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.”
SuperValu have been the competition’s main sponsor for over 30 years, and Ian Allen, Managing Director of SuperValu, announced the results with Minister Humphreys.
Some of the other big winners on the day included:
- Geashill, Co. Offaly awarded Ireland’s Tidiest Village.
- Abbeyleix, Co. Laois awarded Ireland’s Tidiest Small Town.
- Killarney, Co. Kerry awarded Ireland’s Tidiest Large Town.
- Ballincollig, Co. Cork awarded Ireland's Tidiest Large Urban Centre.
