News Release -
Clean sweep for Shannon Region in the National Tidy Towns Competition
Tidy Towns’ voluntary workers commended as Shannon Region scoops 26 Awards
Tidy Town’s Committees throughout the Shannon Region were honoured today (Monday 5th November ‘07) for their tireless commitment to enhancing the environment, when they were officially presented with a total of 26 Tidy Towns Awards, by Mr Tony Killeen, T.D., Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, SuperValu Director John O’ Callaghan, the overall competition sponsor, and John King, Director Heritage and Tourism Shannon Development.
In congratulating everyone involved, the Minister pointed out that there was unprecedented interest in Tidy Towns this year, and he urged all those who contacted the Department to take the next step and participate in 2008, the 50th anniversary of the competition. He also stressed the importance of the work done by Tidy Towns volunteers and the Government’s commitment to providing support to community and voluntary organisations.
The Awards ceremony, at the Radisson Hotel, Limerick, was organised by the Tourism Division of Shannon Development, who administer and promote the National Tidy Towns Competition in the Shannon Region.
Congratulating all the Shannon Region Tidy Towns Committees on their success in the Competition Mr. John King, Shannon Development, paid them glowing tributes for their wonderful achievements saying, “Shannon Development has long and well established roots in the Shannon Region, and we know that the most successful way of effecting real, lasting benefits for the Region is to forge strategic partnerships with people across all communities. The tremendous success of Tidy Towns Competition and the selfless work of countless Shannon Regional Tidy Towns Committees over the years exemplifies what can be achieved when people work together in this way.”
North Tipperary Tidy Towns Award Winners:
The Shannon Region scooped the award for Ireland’s Tidiest Village for the second time in a row, with Birdhill, Co. Tipperary taking this title (with an award of €4,000 and a trophy), and the overall Shannon Region Tidy Towns Award (with an award of €2,000 sponsored by Repak). Birdhill also won a gold medal in the 2007 European Entente Florale Competition. Co. Tipperary also won the Landscape Award for the Shannon Region for the picnic area in Silvermines, Co. Tipperary (with an award of €1,000 sponsored by the Tree Council of Ireland).
In the County Awards section of the Competition - Birdhill was the overall County winner in North Tipperary (receiving an award of €1,000 from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government), Terryglass was Highly Commended (receiving an award of €800 from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government), and Silvermines Commended (receiving an award of €500 from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government). This year’s SuperValu Endeavour Award of €1,000 went to Ballina, Co. Tipperary. In the Medal Awards, Birdhill won a Gold medal and Terryglass was a Bronze medal winner.
Co. Clare Tidy Towns Awards Winners:
Ennis, Co. Clare won awards in two new categories of the Competition, the Notice Nature Biodiversity Award (with an Award of €1,000 sponsored by the Dept. of Environment Heritage and Local Government) and a Building a Bilingual Society Award, (an Award of €2,000) sponsored by Foras Na Gaeilge.
In the County Awards section, Ennis was the winner in Co. Clare (receiving an award of €1,000 from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government), with Kilrush winning a Highly Commended Award (receiving an award of €800 from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government), and Mountshannon receiving a Commended Award of €500 from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. This year’s SuperValu Endeavour Award of €1,000 went to Ballynacally, Co. Clare. In the Medal Awards, both Ennis and Kilrush won Gold Medal Awards.
Co. Limerick Tidy Towns Award Winners:
County Limerick faired well in the Competition. Knockainey, Co. Limerick won Best New Entry Award with a prize of €1,000 sponsored by SuperValu. James and Betty Carew from Doon, Co. Limerick scooped the Best Shopfront Award with a prize of €1,000 sponsored by SuperValu. Scoil Athain, Lisnagry, Limerick, won the Shannon Region Schools Award for the second year in a row. This entry was inaugurated last year to allow schools to get directly involved in the National Tidy Towns Competition. The School receives an award of €750 sponsored by SuperValu.
In the County Awards section, Adare again came out as overall Co. Limerick Award winner (receiving an award of €1,000 from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government), with Galbally receiving a Highly Commended Award (receiving an award of €800 from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government), and Ardpatrick Commended (receiving an award of €500 from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government). This year’s SuperValu Endeavour Award of €1,000 went to Glenosheen, Co. Limerick. In the Medal Awards, Adare Co. Limerick won a Bronze medal.
Commenting on the Awards, Donal Horgan, Managing Director, SuperValu said “Tidy Towns embodies all that is good about Irish society and most importantly Irish communities. These awards are an endorsement of the great work done by the 850 Tidy Towns committees up and down the country and to the 70,000 volunteers who make this competition the success it continues to be each year. It is not just about the process of improving our local areas; it is about building community spirit, team work and a sense of pride in our community.
SuperValu prides itself on representing community spirit with SuperValu stores at the heart of 186 communities around the country. SuperValu retailers both live and work in the communities in which they operate. They are actively involved in supporting local initiatives and take great pride in their stores acting as community hubs where people meet neighbours and are greeted on a personal level, particularly in an age when supermarkets are becoming increasingly anonymous.
We have been involved in this competition for over 17 years and are delighted to have renewed our sponsorship for another five years.”
The Shannon Region Tidy Towns ‘Personality Award’, always a closely guarded secret until the presentation, was unveiled at the event by Jimmy O’Loughlin, Visitor Services Manager Shannon Development who was the MC for the Awards ceremony. This special Award was instigated in the Millennium year by Shannon Development to acknowledge long-service and commitment by an individual working voluntarily for the benefit of their community.
“This year Shannon Development chose Máire Ní Chearmada, Secretary of Templeglantine, Tidy Towns Committee in Co. Limerick, secretary of their Tidy Towns Committee. She received the award for her long service to the Tidy Towns effort in Templeglantine where she has been the back bone of the team for many years. Máire’s commitment to Tidy Towns has been superb and she is the ideal role model for Tidy Towns volunteers throughout the country,” said Mr. O’ Loughlin.
The Tidy Towns Competition is organised nationally by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and it is co-ordinated in the Shannon Region by Shannon Development.
Tidy Towns voluntary workers commended as Shannon Region scoops 26 Awards
Tidy Towns Committees throughout the Shannon Region were honoured today for their tireless commitment to enhancing the environment, when they were officially presented with a total of 26 Tidy Towns Awards, by Mr Tony Killeen, T.D., Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, SuperValu Director John O’ Callaghan, the overall competition sponsor, and John King, Director Heritage and Tourism Shannon Development. The Event was organised by Shannon Development our picture shows from Left: Mr. John King, Shannon Development Tourism Director, Minister of State at the Dept of Environment, Heritage & Local Government, Mr. Tony Killeen, T.D., Matt Lynch, Birdhill Tidy Towns Committee accepting the national Award for Ireland's tidiest village and Mr. John O'Callaghan, Director, Supervalu.
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