Communities across Limerick honoured at Tidy Towns awards

COMMUNITIES across Limerick have won prizes at the annual Tidy Towns awards, which were presented today for the Mid-West and South regions.

Limerick TD and Minister of State Kieran O'Donnell was on hand to hand out the awards at a ceremony in Clonakilty.

Leading the way were the Adare Tidy Towns volunteers who again won a gold medal for their efforts.

Bronze medals were given to volunteers in Ardpatrick, Castleconnell, Galbally, Newcastle West and Limerick City.

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Adare's Tidy Towns group also won a county award, while the Ardpatrick community were highly commended, as were those in Galbally.

There were also celebrations in Athea, with the west Limerick village's volunteers landing the 'Endeavour' award. This is a prize reserved for those communities which record the greatest percentage increase in judges scoring year-on-year.

Outside Limerick, Shannon's Tidy Towns team won a bronze award, while those in Cratloe were given a best newcomers award.

Labasheeda in Clare's Tidy Towns volunteers were recognised for their bat conservation efforts.

Volunteers from the host town for the awards Clonakilty won the county and regional title, collected a gold medal. Their community was named as Ireland’s tidiest small town.

Roscarberry in Cork was named Ireland's tidiest village, while the country's cleanest urban centre prize went to Ennis.

There were more than 880 entries to this year's Tidy Towns contest, sponsored by Supervalu, which started back in 1958.

Mr O'Donnell, who deputised for Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys, said: "In recent years, thousands of individuals have volunteered with Tidy Towns groups and in doing so have made our country a place that we can all be proud of. I have such admiration for the volunteers here tonight from the four counties in the southwest and Mid-West region and for all the volunteers who have given of their time and skills so generously over the last 65 years."