Clean sweep: National prize for Limerick at Tidy Towns awards

KILMALLOCK could be celebrating on the double this weekend if their hurlers win the county final on Sunday as they have already claimed a big win at the Tidy Towns awards.

Kilmallock Tidy Towns was named the national winner of the Town Centre First Award, receiving €2,500.

The announcement was made at the awards ceremony in Croke Park, Dublin this Friday.

Kilmallock weren’t the only Limerick towns and villages to be honoured for their volunteerism, community spirit and hard work.

Adare were named first in County Limerick and took home a gold medal; Castleconnell was second in County Limerick and also won a gold medal while Galbally were third and claimed a bronze medal.

A number of other accolades were also handed out - Pallaskenry received an endeavour award, Newcastle West a bronze medal and Limerick city a gold medal.

This year, 936 towns were competing for the prestigious awards, demonstrating the continuing huge national interest in the SuperValu TidyTowns competition which has been running since 1958. This is the highest number of entries ever received in the competition’s history and shows the competition’s reach within communities across the country.

Ballinahown, Co. Westmeath was named as Ireland’s Tidiest Town for 2026 and overall winner of Ireland’s Tidiest Village.

Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary congratulates all the winners.

“The standard of competition was exceptionally high this year in all categories, with a record 936 entries received overall from 1,000 active groups nationwide.

“In particular, I recognise the vital role of TidyTowns volunteers across the country who are working so hard all year round to ensure our communities are vibrant, sustainable places to live, work and visit. The passion and dedication of these volunteers is the embodiment of everything that is good in our communities.

“Investment in our communities through this wonderful competition reaps long-term rewards for all, as showcased by the winning groups here today. The impact of the Supervalu TidyTowns competition is clear to see, particularly in fostering inclusion, sustainability and community engagement,” said Mr Calleary.

The minister also thanked SuperValu, the competition’s sponsor, adding: “SuperValu has sponsored the competition for 35 years and continues to champion sustainability through their supportive network of retailers countrywide.

“The team has worked very closely with my department to make sure that this competition continues to thrive. Many Tidy Towns groups have entered the competition consecutively for over 60 years – demonstrating a great example of dedication to their communities.”

Margaret Barron, Chief Marketing Officer at Musgrave commented after the awards: “I want to extend my sincere congratulations to Ballinahown on being named Ireland’s Tidiest Town for 2026. This remarkable achievement reflects the dedication, passion and commitment of the committee and volunteers. The award is not only a recognition of their tremendous efforts, but also a shining example of what can be achieved when communities come together with a shared sense of pride and a commitment to making a lasting, positive difference to their local area.

“At SuperValu, we continue to be inspired by the phenomenal pride and dedication of more than 31,000 volunteers across 936 committees, who together have given over one million hours to their communities this year alone. Our research shows that over 70% of groups have been active for more than 10 years, demonstrating a remarkable legacy of commitment and civic engagement. Perhaps most striking is the intergenerational reach of the TidyTowns initiative. This year, one third of volunteers were under 45, with 11% being under 14, demonstrating that everyone has a stake in the place where they live and can play a role in making their community a better place to work, live and play.”

Ms Barron continued: “I also want to acknowledge the Department’s continued dedication and commitment to the programme, and the important role that our strong partnership has played in its success.

“Finally, I’d like to highlight the unwavering commitment of volunteers and our independent retailers, who consistently go above and beyond for their local areas to create real lasting change, transforming our streets and protecting biodiversity. To all those who have contributed this year, thank you for your outstanding efforts, you are the driving force behind this initiative.”

The SuperValu TidyTowns competition is organised by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht and sponsored by SuperValu who have sponsored the competition since 1991.