Congratulations to the town of Killarney in County Kerry, which was named the best of the record 821 towns and villages that entered this year’s TidyTowns competition!
The announcement was greeted by great celebration at the awards ceremony in the Helix theatre in Dublin.
On hand to present the prizes was Mr. Phil Hogan, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and Mr. Martin Kelleher, Managing Director of SuperValu, the competition’s sponsor. The Helix was packed with representatives of TidyTowns groups, from all over the country, eagerly anticipating the announcement of the winners.
Killarney also claimed the award of Ireland’s Tidiest Large Town. Other winners included Kilkenny City, Co. Kilkenny which was named Ireland’s Tidiest Large Urban Centre, Lismore, Co. Waterford which received the award for Ireland’s Tidiest Small Town, and Emly, Co. Tipperary which received the award of Ireland’s Tidiest Village.
Speaking after the awards Minister Hogan said: “This is a fantastic achievement for Killarney; a great destination and a worthy winner. My congratulations to Killarney and all of the other prize-winners. I continue to be impressed by the dedication and enthusiasm of all those involved in the TidyTowns effort. These people volunteer their time and effort, year on year, in order to make their communities better places. The results of their efforts are to be seen in attractive, well cared-for towns and villages throughout the country. It is clear that working together, getting out there and getting things done increases peoples’ pride in where they live and helps to build stronger communities. This is why I am delighted to see this competition continue to grow even after 53 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 20 years. SuperValu have been integral to sustaining and developing the TidyTowns competition, through their financial sponsorship and the support provided to TidyTowns groups by their local stores. SuperValu’s sponsorship of this competition is a clear demonstration of their commitment to supporting local communities.”
Martin Kelleher, Managing Director, SuperValu, said: “TidyTowns is the public expression of the work countless individuals undertake to build community spirit and make their local area a better place to live. SuperValu together with its countrywide network of local retailers is – through the continued sponsorship of TidyTowns – committed to helping build and support vibrant local communities. I am delighted to congratulate this year’s winners and to recognise the commitment and dedication of TidyTowns committees nationwide who make such a real difference at a local level”.
Interest in the TidyTowns competition has been stronger than ever in recent times and the number of entries has been growing year on year. This year communities were encouraged to ‘Get Your Hands Dirty for TidyTowns’ in a promotional campaign by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and sponsor SuperValu. The response to this call was overwhelming with a record 821 communities entering the competition – an increase from 764 entries last year.
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.
Source: Tidy Towns – Congratulations to Killarney – Tidiest Town for 2011!
