Tidy Towns (Ireland) Explained
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.
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
| Year | Overall Winner | Village | Small Town | Large Town | Large Urban Centre |
|---|
| 1958[4] | Glenties | Not awarded | Not awarded | Not awarded | Not awarded |
| 1959 | Glenties (2) |
| 1960 | Glenties (3) |
| 1961 | Rathvilly |
| 1962 | Glenties (4) |
| 1963 | Rathvilly (2) |
| 1964 | Virginia, County Cavan |
| 1965 | Virginia, County Cavan (2) |
| 1966 | Ballyjamesduff |
| 1967 | Ballyjamesduff (2) |
| 1968 | Rathvilly (3) |
| 1969 | Tyrrellspass |
| 1970 | Malin |
| 1971 | Ballyconnell |
| 1972 | Trim |
| 1973 | Kiltegan |
| 1974 | Ballyconnell (2) & Trim (2) |
| 1975 | Kilsheelan |
| 1976 | Adare |
| 1977 | Multyfarnham |
| 1978 | Glaslough |
| 1979 | Kilsheelan (2) |
| 1980 | Newtowncashel |
| 1981 | Mountshannon |
| 1982 | Dunmanway |
| 1983 | Terryglass |
| 1984 | Trim Here are Ireland’s newly-crowned Tidy Towns (irishcentral.com) |
| 1985 | Kilkenny |
| 1986 | Kinsale |
| 1987 | Sneem |
| 1988 | Carlingford |
| 1989 | Ardagh, County Longford |
| 1990 | Malahide |
| 1991 | Malin (2) |
| 1992 | Ardmore, County Waterford |
| 1993 | Keadue |
| 1994 | Galbally, County Limerick |
| 1995 | Glenties (5) |
| 1996 | Ardagh, County Longford (2) |
| 1997 | Terryglass (2) |
| 1998 | Ardagh, County Longford (3) |
| 1999 | Clonakilty |
| 2000 | Kenmare |
| 2001 | Westport |
| 2002 | Castletown, County Laois | Castletown, County Laois | Lismore, County Waterford | Ennis |
| 2003 | Keadue (2) | Keadue | Kenmare | Westport |
| 2004 | Lismore, County Waterford | Moynalty | Lismore, County Waterford | Westport |
| 2005 | Ennis | Moynalty | Lismore, County Waterford | Ennis |
| 2006 | Westport (2) | Birdhill | Aughrim, County Wicklow | Westport | Ennis |
| 2007 | Aughrim, County Wicklow | Birdhill | Aughrim, County Wicklow | Killarney | Letterkenny |
| 2008 | Westport (3) | Birdhill | Kenmare | Westport | Ennis |
| 2009 | Emly | Emly | Aughrim, County Wicklow | Westport | Ennis |
| 2010 | Tallanstown | Tallanstown | Lismore, County Waterford | Killarney | Kilkenny |
| 2011 | Killarney | Emly | Lismore, County Waterford | Killarney | Kilkenny |
| 2012[5] | Abbeyshrule | Abbeyshrule | Clonakilty | Westport | Ennis |
| 2013[6] | Moynalty | Moynalty | Kenmare | Killarney | Ennis |
| 2014 | Kilkenny (2) | Clonegal | Kilrush | Westport | Kilkenny |
| 2015 | Letterkenny | Clonegal | Listowel | Westport | Letterkenny |
| 2016[7] | Skerries | Birdhill | Listowel | Skerries | Ennis |
| 2017[8] | Birdhill | Birdhill | Clonakilty | Westport | Ennis |
| 2018[9] | | Glaslough | Listowel | Westport | Ballincollig |
| 2019[10] | Glaslough (2) | Glaslough | Blackrock, County Louth | Westport | Ennis |
| 2020[11] | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland |
| 2021[12] | Ennis (2) | Geashill | Abbeyleix | Cobh | Ennis |
| 2022[13] | Trim (4) | Rosscarbery | Clonakilty | Trim | Ennis |
| 2023[14] | Abbeyleix | Geashill | Abbeyleix | Killarney | Ballincollig | |
Summary map
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Towns . Ballincollig Tidy . 2020-10-26 . TIDY TOWNS - HOW IT ALL BEGAN - Ballincollig Tidy Towns % . 2023-10-27 . Ballincollig Tidy Towns . en-US.
- Web site: Ireland's Tidiest Town Winner.
- Web site: Minister Ring confirms cancellation of 2020 TidyTowns. Department of Rural and Community Development. gov.ie. 21 April 2020. 21 April 2020.
- Web site: Winner's list. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110718035531/http://www.tidytowns.ie/interior.php?id=74&pid=2. 2011-07-18.
- News: Co Longford's Abbeyshrule claims Tidy Town award for 2012. Irish Independent. Hogan. Treacy. 10 September 2012. 15 September 2012.
- News: Town tidiest thanks to 6am sweeps. Irish Independent. 9 September 2013.
- Web site: 2016 Tidy Town Winners. 26 September 2016 .
- Web site: Revealed: These are Ireland's tidiest towns for 2017. 25 September 2017. Irish Independent. 26 September 2017.
- News: Listowel wins Tidy Towns top award for 2018 . 24 September 2018 . Irish Examiner . 26 November 2019 .
- Web site: Glaslough is the Ireland's Tidiest town for 2019. en. 26 November 2019. .
- News: Tidy Towns will not take place this summer. RTÉ News and Current Affairs. Mícheál. Lehane. 21 April 2020. 21 April 2020.
- News: Ennis in Co Clare named Ireland's tidiest town. RTÉ News and Current Affairs. Conor. Kane. 12 November 2021. 12 November 2021.
- Web site: 2022-10-30 . Here are Ireland's newly-crowned Tidy Towns . 2022-11-17 . IrishCentral.com . en.
- News: Fletcher . Laura . 6 October 2023 . Abbeyleix named Ireland's Tidiest Town for 2023 . .
