Abbeyshrule in CountyLongford is the winner of the SuperValu TidyTowns Award for 2012, from among a record level of 855 entries. Abbeyshrule also claimed the award for Ireland’s Tidiest Village. Other winners included Clonakilty,CountyCorkwhich received the award for Ireland’s Tidiest Small Town; Westport, CountyMayo which received the award of Ireland’s Tidiest Large Town; and Ennis, County Clare which was named Ireland’s Tidiest Large Urban Centre.
Additionally, in a first for the competition, 13 SuperValu TidyTowns ‘Local Community Heroes’ were also honoured and presented with a specially commissioned commemorative pin. It is hoped this recognition programme will grow and develop over the coming years, to recognise the people who are the backbone of many of the TidyTowns committees around the country.
Interest in the SuperValu TidyTowns competition has been stronger than ever in recent times and the number of entries has been growing year on year. This year communities were again encouraged to ‘Get Your Hands Dirty for TidyTowns’ in a promotional campaign by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and sponsor SuperValu. The response to this call was overwhelming with a record 855 communities entering the competition – an increase from 821 entries last year.