Tidy Towns (Ireland)

Tidy Towns (Irish: Bailte Slachtmhara) is an annual competition, first held in 1958, organised by the Department of Rural and Community Development in order to honour the tidiest and most attractive cities, towns and villages in the Republic of Ireland.[1]The competition is organised on a national basis, and entrants must complete modules including Overall Developmental Approach (5 Year Plan), The Built Environment, Landscaping, Wildlife & Natural Amenities, Litter Control, Tidiness, Waste Minimisation, Residential Areas, Roads and Streets & Back Areas.

Tidy Towns logo

The Competition is judged during the summer months (May to August) by an independent adjudicator, who issues each town with a written report complimenting positive development and actions and providing positive suggestions on how the community can improve their general surroundings.

This competition covers many aspects of environment and prizes are awarded to winners of all areas. Other than that, there's an overall winner which is named as "Ireland's Tidiest Town" which is announced at the end of competition every September.[2]

The 2020 competition was cancelled by Minister Michael Ring due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland for the first time in its history.[3]

Winners

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Tidy Towns monument in Westport
Moynalty won Gold Medal in 2006. It would go on to win the 2013 Tidy Towns competition.
Sign commemorating Adare's 1976 victory.
Sign in Lismore, commemorating the 2004 win.
Glenties (Na Gleannta), County Donegal, the only town to win the overall award on five occasions.
YearOverall WinnerVillageSmall TownLarge TownLarge Urban Centre
1958[4]GlentiesNot awardedNot awardedNot awardedNot awarded
1959Glenties (2)
1960Glenties (3)
1961Rathvilly
1962Glenties (4)
1963Rathvilly (2)
1964Virginia, County Cavan
1965Virginia, County Cavan (2)
1966Ballyjamesduff
1967Ballyjamesduff (2)
1968Rathvilly (3)
1969Tyrrellspass
1970Malin
1971Ballyconnell
1972Trim
1973Kiltegan
1974Ballyconnell (2) & Trim (2)
1975Kilsheelan
1976Adare
1977Multyfarnham
1978Glaslough
1979Kilsheelan (2)
1980Newtowncashel
1981Mountshannon
1982Dunmanway
1983Terryglass
1984Trim Here are Ireland’s newly-crowned Tidy Towns (irishcentral.com)
1985Kilkenny
1986Kinsale
1987Sneem
1988Carlingford
1989Ardagh, County Longford
1990Malahide
1991Malin (2)
1992Ardmore, County Waterford
1993Keadue
1994Galbally, County Limerick
1995Glenties (5)
1996Ardagh, County Longford (2)
1997Terryglass (2)
1998Ardagh, County Longford (3)
1999Clonakilty
2000Kenmare
2001Westport
2002Castletown, County LaoisCastletown, County LaoisLismore, County WaterfordEnnis
2003Keadue (2)KeadueKenmareWestport
2004Lismore, County WaterfordMoynaltyLismore, County WaterfordWestport
2005EnnisMoynaltyLismore, County WaterfordEnnis
2006Westport (2)BirdhillAughrim, County WicklowWestportEnnis
2007Aughrim, County WicklowBirdhillAughrim, County WicklowKillarneyLetterkenny
2008Westport (3)BirdhillKenmareWestportEnnis
2009EmlyEmlyAughrim, County WicklowWestportEnnis
2010TallanstownTallanstownLismore, County WaterfordKillarneyKilkenny
2011KillarneyEmlyLismore, County WaterfordKillarneyKilkenny
2012[5]AbbeyshruleAbbeyshruleClonakiltyWestportEnnis
2013[6]MoynaltyMoynaltyKenmareKillarneyEnnis
2014Kilkenny (2)ClonegalKilrushWestportKilkenny
2015LetterkennyClonegalListowelWestportLetterkenny
2016[7]SkerriesBirdhillListowelSkerriesEnnis
2017[8]BirdhillBirdhillClonakiltyWestportEnnis
2018[9]ListowelGlasloughListowelWestportBallincollig
2019[10]Glaslough (2)GlasloughBlackrock, County LouthWestportEnnis
2020[11]Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland
2021[12]Ennis (2)GeashillAbbeyleixCobhEnnis
2022[13]Trim (4)RosscarberyClonakiltyTrimEnnis
2023[14]AbbeyleixGeashillAbbeyleixKillarneyBallincollig

Summary map

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References

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  1. ^ Towns, Ballincollig Tidy (26 October 2020). "TIDY TOWNS - HOW IT ALL BEGAN - Ballincollig Tidy Towns %". Ballincollig Tidy Towns. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  2. ^ "Ireland's Tidiest Town Winner".
  3. ^ "Minister Ring confirms cancellation of 2020 TidyTowns". gov.ie. Department of Rural and Community Development. 21 April 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  4. ^ "Winner's list". Archived from the original on 18 July 2011.
  5. ^ Hogan, Treacy (10 September 2012). "Co Longford's Abbeyshrule claims Tidy Town award for 2012". Irish Independent. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  6. ^ "Town tidiest thanks to 6am sweeps". Irish Independent. 9 September 2013.
  7. ^ "2016 Tidy Town Winners". 26 September 2016.
  8. ^ "Revealed: These are Ireland's tidiest towns for 2017". Irish Independent. 25 September 2017. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  9. ^ "Listowel wins Tidy Towns top award for 2018". Irish Examiner. 24 September 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  10. ^ "Glaslough is the Ireland's Tidiest town for 2019". Retrieved 26 November 2019..
  11. ^ Lehane, Mícheál (21 April 2020). "Tidy Towns will not take place this summer". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  12. ^ Kane, Conor (12 November 2021). "Ennis in Co Clare named Ireland's tidiest town". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  13. ^ "Here are Ireland's newly-crowned Tidy Towns". IrishCentral.com. 30 October 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  14. ^ Fletcher, Laura (6 October 2023). "Abbeyleix named Ireland's Tidiest Town for 2023". RTÉ News.
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