Communities across the county were celebrating following the announcement of the national Tidy Towns awards winners.
Westport was named the cleanest town in the west and north-west region amassing 374 points from the competition judges. Westport was also crowned Mayo’s tidiest town.
There was a gold medal award for Mulranny which finished second in the county’s standings with 371 points.
Belmullet secured a Gaeltacht award and a prize of €1,500 while Castlebar was celebrating a fifth gold medal on the trot and Ballyhaunis collected a regional award worth €1,000 in the Water and Communities category.
The Ripple Project Team, on behalf of Greenhills Biodiversity Group and Residents’ Association, Ballina, was highly commended in the same section and took home a prize of €500.
Bullsmouth on Achill Island were awarded 220 points and received an Endeavour Award for their entry.
Abbeyleix was named Ireland’s Tidiest Town for 2023. The Co Laois town beat off competition from 886 other towns and villages to claim the title, which was announced at a ceremony in Croke Park.
Abbeyleix also claimed the award for Ireland’s Tidiest Small Town. The other big winners and finalists in the SuperValu Tidy Town competition were Geashill, Co Offaly, which claimed the award for Ireland’s Tidiest Village. Killarney, Co Kerry, received the award for Ireland’s Tidiest Large Town, and Ballincollig, Cork, was declared Ireland’s Tidiest Large Urban Centre.
This is the 65th year of the national Tidy Towns competition.
Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys said the standard of competition among the 887 entries was “extremely high” and congratulated all involved.
