Westport, Co. Mayo has been named Ireland's Tidiest Town for the third time having previously won the title in 2001 and again in 2006.
The picturesque Co Mayo town achieved 303 points out of a possible 400 triumphing in its own category to eb named Ireland’s Tidiest Large Town, and pipping Birdhill, Co Tipperary, to the overall title by just one point. Birdhill was the winner of its own category Ireland’s Tidiest Village.
Other category winners for 2008, the 50th Anniversary of the Tidy Towns competition, were Kenmare, Co. Kerry ‑ Ireland's Tidiest Small Town, which received 301 points; and Ennis, Co. Clare - Ireland's Tidiest Large Urban Centre which received 300 points.
Minister for Environment John Gormley who was on hand to present the trophy at a gala dinner in Dublin’s Burlington Hotel tonight described Wesport as “a consistent performer in Tidy Towns for many years” and remarked that he was “delighted that they have taken the title in this historic 50th Anniversary year."
The competition has been sponsored by Supervalu supermarkets for the past 18 years and the company is committed to the competition until 2011.
The Schools Award, in its third year, was won by Duleek Boys National School, Co. Meath, with the Foras na Gaeilge sponsored, TidyTowns le Gaeilge award, which encourages the building of a bilingual society, being taken by Inis (Ennis), Co. an Chláir (Co. Clare). The Gum Litter Taskforce's Anti-Gum Litter award was secured by Carlow for the second year running. “Can it!”, a new award introduced this year, where entrants were encouraged to use aluminium cans and foils to create something innovative, was won by Drogheda Borough Council.
A special award was presented to Glenties, Co. Donegal for its outstanding contribution to the competition over 50 years. Glenties has been the overall TidyTowns winner five times since the competition first started, including scooping the title in 1958, the first year of the competition.
Full details of this year's winners are available at www.tidytowns.ie
Overall the leading scores were an improvement on last year when Aughrim, Co Wicklow, won the overall title with 299 points.
