Success for Tidy Towns Groups across County Galway

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 12:26:00 GMT

‌

Galway County Council offer huge congratulations to all our Tidy Towns Groups and their wonderful volunteers who have again done the County proud in the Supervalu National Tidy Towns Competition 2024. In announcing Ballincollig as the National Winner, Minister Heather Humphries acknowledged the role of Tidy Towns Volunteers saying; “You are truly an inspiration, and the embodiment of everything that is good in our communities”.  

Milltown keep up their amazing record in the competition by retaining First Place in County Galway and their Gold Medal status.Huge congratulations to Abbey who have become the second area in County Galway to achieve Gold Medal status in the competition, with the judges recognising the beauty and quality of their streetscape, green spaces and natural habitats, and local input by schools and businesses. A Gold Medal is awarded to entrants who are within 5 marks of the competition winner, with Milltown and Abbey being just 2 and 4 points short of the overall winner respectively.     

The Tidy Towns Committee in Tuam deserve a special mention and recognition for becoming the first town in County Galway to be awarded Medal Status in the National Competition. Their ongoing efforts over the last number of years to celebrate their local biodiversity and habitats, and their strong collaborations with other local groups, has seen them awarded Bronze Medal Status – well done to all involved in this County first!    

An Spidéal have maintained their excellent progress over the last number of years and retained Third Place in the County. The Endeavour Award is given to the Group who achieves the highest increase in marks since the previous year’s competition, and Tullycross Village has achieved this Award 2 years in a row, with their marks increasing by an amazing 69 marks in the process!

There are a number of Special Award categories in the National Competition which recognise excellence in particular areas, and County Galway groups have continued their excellent results in these areas with 2024 awardees as follows:

• Cuan Beo Environmental Group Kinvara were one of 4 National Winners of the Waters and Communities Award
• Oranmore Tidy Towns were the Regional Winner of the Pollinator Award for Large Towns.
• Kinvara Tidy Towns were one of 2 areas in the country who were Highly Commended under the EPA Circular Economy Award.
• Abbey Tidy Towns were the national winner of the Circular Economy Award.
• Abbeyknockmoy Parish Society were the national winner of the Gum Litter Task Force Award Village/Small Town Category and also won the overall award in this category. 

Congratulating the groups, Cllr Albert Dolan Cathaoirleach said “I want to congratulate all the Tidy Towns Committees and Volunteers for their tireless hard work and commitment to helping their communities improve their local environment. Their work has a hugely positive effect in their communities but also contributes to sustainable development and climate action for the County.”

Liam Conneally, Chief Executive added “My sincere congratulations to all the Committees and Volunteers involved in Tidy Towns across County Galway. Galway County Council is honoured to support the work of these voluntary groups. The work of these voluntary groups improves the physical environment and adds greatly to place-making in our towns and villages to make them more vibrant places to live in, work in, or visit. Galway County Council in the years ahead will continue to support these magnificent volunteers to make their own communities better places.” 

Jacqueline Carroll, Director of Services said “I am delighted to see the excellent marks achieved by Tidy Towns Groups from across the County, and our success in achieving 10 Special Awards and Medals this year. We are fortunate to have 45 towns and villages who enter the National Tidy Towns Competition with their volunteers investing huge time and effort to organise clean-ups, biodiversity and sustainability initiatives, environmental awareness workshops, and general improvement projects in town and village centres, housing estates, local amenities, and approach roads.”   

The points scored by the dedicated groups from across the County are:

Villages under 200 population		Villages 201–1,000 population
Abbey	382	Milltown	384
Monivea	357	An Spidéal	365
Na Forbacha	357	Clarinbridge	365
Williamstown	357	Ballygar	363
Caltra	344	Woodford	347
Lawrencetown	335	Mountbellew	346
Creggs	329	Kinvara	332
Letterfrack	327	Glenamaddy	330
Newbridge	321	Dunmore	328
Glinsk	318	Castleblakeney	325
Kilkerrin	313	Carna	322
Ballymoe	300	Leenane	320
Tullycross Village	278	Lettermullen-Ballinakill	313
Ardrahan	264	Cill Chiaráin	308
		Cleggan	292
		Abbeyknockmoy	276
		Corofin	258
		Rosscahill	256

 

Towns 1001-2500 population		Towns 2501-5000 population		Towns 5000-10000 population
Clifden	356	Athenry	352	Tuam	361
Portumna	347	Moycullen	309	Ballinasloe	345
Oughterard	341	Gort	247	Oranmore	344
Claregalway	337			Loughrea	299
Bearna	317
Headford	312

 

For full details and to read the individual reports visit: https://www.tidytowns.ie/