Newcastle is named best kept town

NEWCASTLE, CO Down, has been named Ireland’s Best Kept Town in an all-island competition.

The competition awards, which were presented in Dublin Castle yesterday, also honoured Ennis, Co Clare, as the Ireland’s Best Kept Large Urban Centre; Loughgall, Co Armagh, as Ireland’s Best Kept Village; and Glenties, Co Donegal, as Ireland’s Best Kept Small Town.

The cross-Border awards were set up in 1995, arising from the Best Kept competition in the North established 52 years ago, and the Republic’s Tidy Towns competition, which this year marks its 51st anniversary.

The aim of the Best Kept awards is to improve the standard of towns and villages across the island. This year’s judges praised the cleanliness, outward appearance of buildings and the natural amenities of Newcastle.

The town lies on the Co Down coast, where the mountains of Mourne famously “sweep down to the sea”, as immortalised by the musician Percy French in 1896. Its five-mile beach is overlooked by Northern Ireland’s highest peak, Slieve Donard, which rises to 850 metres (2,796ft).

The same beach is also a step from the Royal County Down Golf Course and its easier companion course, while sailing boats ply the harbour and there is salmon fishing in the Shimna river. The town is also famous for a promenade.

Newcastle’s combination of mountains, beach and town has often been compared to that in east Wicklow.

Facilities include the Tropicana, which has outdoor pools and an adventure playground while exhibitions and films are shown at the adjacent Newcastle Centre. The recreation grounds include a bowling green, children’s boating pool, tennis and miniature golf, while Donard Park offers walks by the Glen River.

Ennis, Co Clare, is known for its narrow streets while Loughgall, Co Armagh, with its country park, is known as a pleasant family holiday destination. Glenties, Co Donegal, was the first winner of the Republic’s Tidy Towns competition.

This year’s participants also included: Coolagown, Co Cork; Emy, Co Tipperary; Clonakilty, Co Cork; Richhill, Co Armagh; Castlebar, Co Mayo; Holywood, Co Down; Westport, Co Mayo; Drogheda, Co Louth, and Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh.

At the awards ceremony yesterday, Minister of State for the Environment Michael Finneran said the competition represented some of the best of the Tidy Towns and Best Kept competitions.

Stephen Peover, permanent secretary at the Northern Ireland Department of the Environment, said the awards sent “an important environmental message to a range of audiences.

“It is unique in its ability to unite all sections of a neighbourhood, from very young schoolchildren to those involved in the business community.”