Letterkenny, Co Donegal is Ireland’s Tidiest Town for 2015. Letterkenny was today (28th September) named best of the 862 towns and villages throughout the country that entered this year’s SuperValu National TidyTowns competition. The announcement was greeted by great celebration at today’s awards ceremony at The Helix in Dublin.
On hand to present the prizes was Mr. Alan Kelly, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and Mr. Martin Kelleher, Managing Director of SuperValu, the competition’s main sponsor for the 24th year. The Helix was packed with representatives of TidyTowns groups, from all over the country, eagerly anticipating the announcement of the winners.
Clonegal Co. Carlow claimed the award of Ireland’s Tidiest Village. Other winners included Listowel, Co Kerry receiving the award for Ireland’s Tidiest Small Town, Westport Co. Mayo received the award of Ireland’s Tidiest Large Town, while Letterkenny was also declared as Ireland’s Tidiest Large Urban Centre.
Speaking after the awards ceremony Minister Kelly said: “This is a fantastic achievement for Letterkenny; a really worthy winner. This is the 8th time a town in Donegal has won the overall prize, but the first time for Letterkenny. Letterkenny have entered the competition every year since 1959 and their win today is testament to them consistently achieving high standards in the competition at local and regional level. It is recognition of a town that embraces all aspects of the SuperValu TidyTowns Competition, builds strong community links and has grown each year in the competition. So my congratulations to Letterkenny and all of the other deserving prize-winners announced today. The enthusiasm of all those involved in the TidyTowns effort results in the attractive, well cared-for towns and villages we see throughout the country. How a community lives together, strives to involve all of its members and makes the most of their abilities and interests is integral to the ethos of TidyTowns. In 2015 this spirit was recognised by the introduction of two new Special Awards sponsored by SuperValu, the Youth Award and the Diversity Award. It is clear that working together and getting things done increases peoples’ pride in where they live and helps to build vibrant communities. This is why I am delighted to see this competition continues to sustain great interest, even after 57 years.”
The Minister also thanked SuperValu, the competition’s sponsor. He said: “I would like to thank SuperValu for their continued sponsorship for the past 24 years. SuperValu has been integral to sustaining and developing the competition, not only through their financial sponsorship but also through the support provided to local TidyTowns groups by their network of local retailers.”
Martin Kelleher, Managing Director, SuperValu said: “At SuperValu we believe in building vibrant local communities and the SuperValu TidyTowns competition goes to the heart of what community is all about. The incredible dedication shown by the volunteers involved is truly admirable and continues to amaze us year after year. Their relentless commitment to working for the good of their local community is what makes this competition the success it is today.
This year marks the introduction of two new awards which demonstrate the breath of the competition – the SuperValu Diversity Award and the SuperValu Youth Award. The addition of these accolades is a real endorsement of the competition and its capacity to grow, attracting all age groups and embracing all cultures within our communities.
As Ireland’s leading community retailer, with 223 stores across Ireland and retailers embedded in communities around the country, SuperValu is extremely proud to have sponsored TidyTowns for the past 24 years, one of the longest running sponsorships in Ireland. I am delighted to congratulate this year’s winners and to recognise the dedication of all TidyTowns committees nationwide who make a real difference in towns and villages across Ireland.”
Interest in the SuperValu TidyTowns competition has been consistently high in recent times with the number of entries exceeding 800 each year for the last five years.
The TidyTowns competition is organised by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and sponsored by SuperValu. The TidyTowns competition has been sponsored by SuperValu since 1992.
Full details of all this year’s winners are available at www.tidytowns.ie and at www.supervalu.ie
