Latest news with #BestKeptTown


RTÉ News
18-06-2025
- General
- RTÉ News
Naas named Ireland's Best Kept Town in countrywide competition
Naas in Co Kildare has been named Ireland's Best Kept Town, in a competition that spanned the breadth of the country. The town beat out competition from Carrigaline, Co Cork, Buncrana, Co Donegal and Derry, and received their award at a ceremony in Farmleigh House, Phoenix Park, Dublin. Now in its 30th year, Ireland's Best Kept Town is a countrywide competition that evaluates the cleanliness and presentation of towns, including public facilities, the outward appearance of roads and buildings and the quality of local wildlife. Each year, the winners of the SuperValu TidyTowns competition compete against their counterparts in the Northern Ireland Amenity Council's Best Kept competition. Naas also took home the gong in the Large Urban Centre category. The town is enjoying a good news week it seems, as it was also named the cleanest town in Ireland by the Irish Business Against Litter association, a title it has won three times since 2020. Buncrana in Co Donegal was named Ireland's Best Kept Large Town, which comes after being named Donegal's tidiest town in 2024 for the third successive year. Both Rush, Co Dublin, and Comber, Co Down were nominated in that category. Donaghmore, Co Tyrone was crowned the winner of Ireland's Best Kept Village category, beating out competition from Eyeries, Co Cork, and Riverstown, Co Sligo. Royal Hillsborough, Co Down was named the winner of Ireland's Best Kept Small Town category, coming out on top against fellow nominees Carlingford, Co Louth, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, and Randalstown, Co Antrim. Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary, congratulated the winners of 2025 Competition, saying: "Now in its 30th year, Ireland's Best Kept Town Competition recognises the great pride people have in their own communities, both in Ireland and Northern Ireland". He added: "Investment in our communities through this wonderful competition reaps long-term rewards for all, as showcased by the winning groups here today. It is testament to how local volunteers take ownership of their local area and work to improve them, for now and into the future. "Being nominated for these awards is an achievement in itself. It is a recognition of the efforts made by volunteers and local communities in the SuperValu TidyTowns competition and the Best Kept competition in Northern Ireland."


Irish Independent
18-06-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
Town in Donegal scoops ‘Best Kept Large Town' at national competition - ‘A proud day for Buncrana'
The seaside town on the Inishowen Peninsula was announced as the winner at an awards ceremony for Ireland's Best Kept Town Competition in Farmleigh House on Tuesday afternoon. Comber, Co Down and Rush, Co Dublin were also in the Best Kept Large Town category. Naas, County Kildare was announced as the overall winner of the competition also scooping the prize for Best Kept Large Urban Centre category. Ireland's Best Kept Town is an all-island competition in which some of the best towns in the SuperValu TidyTowns competition compete against their counterparts in Northern Ireland's Best Kept competition. Donegal Minister of State, Charlie McConalogue congratulated the town's volunteers on the impressive win. "Congratulations to Buncrana which has been named Ireland's Best Kept Large Town. 'Great credit goes to Buncrana Tidy Towns and all involved in the local community who work so hard to keep the Inishowen's biggest town looking so well at all times of the year. 'In 2024, Buncrana was crowned Donegal's tidiest town for the third successive year.' Local Councillor Joy Beard said it is a proud day for Buncrana. "Buncrana has been officially named the Best Kept Large Town in Ireland at the national awards ceremony in Dublin earlier today. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more 'This award recognises the incredible dedication, teamwork, and community pride that makes our town shine – from local volunteers and tidy towns groups, to council workers, schools, businesses, and every resident who helps keep Buncrana clean, green, and welcoming,' said Cllr Beard. The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary, also congratulated the winners of 2025 Competition. "I want to pay tribute to all the winners today in the Ireland's Best Kept Town competition, and Naas, Co Kildare for winning the overall title along with the title of Best Kept Large Urban Centre and Buncrana, Co Donegal, the winners of the Best Kept Large Town category. 'I also want to congratulate Donaghmore, Co Tyrone the winner of Ireland's Best Kept Village category and Royal Hillsborough, Co Down the winner of Ireland's Best Kept Small Town category. 'Now in its 30th year, Ireland's Best Kept Town Competition recognises the great pride people have in their own communities, both in Ireland and Northern Ireland. "Investment in our communities through this wonderful competition reaps long-term rewards for all, as showcased by the winning groups here today. It is testament to how local volunteers take ownership of their local area and work to improve them, for now and into the future,' said Minister Calleary.


Irish Times
17-06-2025
- General
- Irish Times
Naas named Ireland's Best Kept Town in all-island competition
Naas, Co Kildare, has been named Ireland's Best Kept Town, beating competition from Derry, Omagh in Co Tyrone, and Carrigaline in Co Cork in the large urban centre category. Towns and villages across the island were assessed on the level of public cleanliness and facilities, the outward appearance of roads and buildings and the quality of local wildlife. Earlier this week Naas was named the cleanest town in Ireland by the Irish Business Against Litter association, a title it has won three times since 2020. The survey, conducted by An Taisce, made reference to a 'spotless' Naas plaza and 'a much cared for' canal bank. This year marks the 30th anniversary of Ireland's Best Kept Town competition, a cross-Border initiative between the Supervalu TidyTowns competition in the Republic and the Northern Ireland Amenity Council's Best Kept awards. READ MORE Buncrana, Co Donegal, was named the island's best kept large town, beating Rush, Co Dublin and Comber, Co Down. Royal Hillsborough, Co Down, won the small town category ahead of Carlingford, Co Louth; Bagenaldstown, Co Carlow; and Randalstown, Co Antrim. Donaghmore, Co Tyrone, was named the best kept village – Eyeries, Co Cork and Riverstown, Co Sligo were nominees in the category. Winners were announced today at a ceremony in Farmleigh House in the Phoenix Park, with Minister for Rural and Community Development Dara Calleary saying 'being nominated for these awards is an achievement in itself. It is a recognition of the efforts made by volunteers and local communities'. 'It is a testament to how local volunteers take ownership of their local areas and work to improve them,' he said. Doreen Muskett, chairperson of the Northern Ireland Amenity Council, said 'these competitions continue to demonstrate the great pride that people have in their communities, North and South, and the hard work that is carried out by volunteers'.