Tidy Towns committees await results for 2015

Several-thousand members of Tidy Towns committees from across Ireland are gathering at Dublin City University to await the naming of Ireland’s Tidiest Town for 2015.

The competition, which has been running since 1958, offers awards for attractiveness and community effort in deciding Ireland’s Tidiest Small Town, Tidiest Village, Large Town, and Large Urban Centre

Last Year’s winner, Kilkenny, received a trophy and a €10,000 prize. The competition is sponsored by Supervalu and organised by the Department of Environment.

Initially perceived as a litter-picking initiative, the competition now recognises achievement in a range of categories including the use and development of natural amenities, waste and reduction and landscaping.

This year two new awards have been introduced; the Diversity Award and the Youth Award.

Supervalu managing director Martin Kelleher said the addition of these accolades was an endorsement of the competition’s capacity to grow and attract all age groups and embrace all cultures within our communities.

“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,” he added.

The Tidy Towns initiative was launched by Bord Fáilte, now Fáilte Ireland, as part of the ‘Tostal’, a nationwide festival celebrating all things Irish.

A step-up from the original National Spring Clean Campaign which ran between 1953 and 1957, Tidy Towns is now Ireland’s best known environmental initiative.

This year 862 towns and villages competed for the awards, the final results of which will be known by lunchtime.