Adare’s Tidy Towns Win Augurs Well For National Tidy Towns Competition

Councillor John Gallahue made his comment just days after Adare was named as winner of the ‘Best Kept Small Town’ category in Ireland’s Best Kept Towns 2008 competition.

The competition, which is organised by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Northern Ireland Amenity Council, features towns that have reached the highest standards in Tidy Towns in the Republic of Ireland and Best Kept Awards in Northern Ireland. Participants are judged on criteria such as cleanliness, the outward appearance of buildings, the presentation of roads and public facilities and the natural environment.

Meanwhile, judging in the 50th annual National Tidy Towns Competition is currently underway in towns and villages across County Limerick.

"I have every confidence that Adare, with the support of Limerick County Council, can once again lead the way for County Limerick in this year’s competition", stated Councillor Gallahue.

Adare was awarded a Bronze Medal and the Limerick County Award in the National Tidy Towns Competition 2007. Knockainey picked up the Best New Entry (Category B) Award, Galbally received the County Highly Commended accolade, Ardpatrick won the County Commended award, Glenosheen received the County Endeavour Award, N. Rainsford in Doon won the Regional Shopfront Award, while Scoil Athain in Lisnagry received the Regional Schools Award.

The Cathaoirleach stressed the importance of the work done by Limerick’s Tidy Towns volunteers and the Council’s ongoing commitment to providing support to community and voluntary organisations.

"I have many years of experience of working with Voluntary Organisations and, therefore, I recognise the huge effort required by community groups to participate in and achieve success in such competitions. I believe that the Tidy Towns Competition is truly a celebration of community spirit, teamwork and an awareness of the natural environment", added Councillor Gallahue.

The Kilmallock Electoral Area Councillor continued, "I would like to congratulate all participants from Limerick who have done their county proud down in the National Tidy Towns Competition through the years and, in fact, during the last half-century. I would particularly like to acknowledge the efforts made by new entrants to the competition and urge each new committee to retain the motivation to keep going and recruit more volunteers."

The Tidy Towns competition is organised by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. SuperValu, and its 180 plus storeowners around the country, have sponsored the competition since 1992. The Tourism Division of Shannon Development administers and promotes the competition in the Shannon Region.

Judging of entries takes place in June, July and August each year and the results are announced at the National Awards Ceremony in Dublin Castle in September. Aughrim, Co. Wicklow was named as Ireland's Tidiest Town for 2007.

-ENDS-

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