‘Truly outstanding’ results in Tidy Towns competition

Nenagh increased its score in this year’s National SuperValu Tidy Towns Competition, retaining its Bronze Medal status and emerging with the highest marks in its category for towns of its size in North Tipperary. The town increased its score by 17 to 353, thanks to a hard-working local committee which was supported by Tipperary County Council in ensuring the town was looking its best when the adjudicators visited over the summer.

Like Nenagh, Roscrea also retained its Bronze Medal in the category for towns with populations between 5,000 and 10,000, scoring 349 marks. Roscrea increased its score on last year by 13 points.

Extremely high standards were anticipated from former national competition winners Terryglass and Birdhill, and they delivered. Terryglass scored 370 marks to emerge the overall winner in North Tipperary and gain a national Silver Medal in the category for villages with populations under 200.

Not far behind was Birdhill which was placed second overall in NorthTipperary with 363 marks. The local committee was highly commended and the village awarded a Bronze Medal nationally.

Silvermines, with 361 points, also did wonderfully, coming out in third place overall in Tipperary in the competition for villages with a population of 200 and 1,000 and in doing so also win a Bronze Medal and was commended for its efforts.

‘TRULY OUTSTANDING’

Administrator of the Nenagh Municipal District authority, Rosemary Joyce said a total 26 towns, villages or communities in the District entered the competition this year and she described the results as “ truly outstanding”.

Ms Joyce  said all centres showed an increase in the marks awarded with Ballinahinch, Ballinderry and Rathcabbin showing “a whopping” additional 19 marks each this year.

“Nenagh Town, Ballina-Boher and Riverstown-Killeen received an additional 17 marks and no centre received less than an increase of seven marks,” she said.

Paying tribute to the strong spirit of volunteerism across the Nenagh area, the District Cathaoirleach Cllr John ‘Rocky’ McGrath said: “Each year we see continuous improvement across the District with communities working together to make their areas better places to live, work and visit.  It is truly astounding the work that is being done by volunteers.  This inspires and motivates others to do likewise”.

Marcus O’ Connor, Director of Services with responsibility for the Nenagh Municipal District, said that the Tidy Towns competition has evolved and is no longer only about litter picking and planting.  “It is now an important component in the efforts of communities to meet environmental challenges in areas such as sustainability and biodiversity. The combined effect of the measures undertaken by communities will help us all in achieving our environmental goals.”

PRAISE FOR TOWN

A press release from the council noted that Nenagh retained the  Bronze Medal it was first awarded in 2015.  “The Adjudication Report in respect of Nenagh Town commented favourably on a number of items including the proposals in relation to The Rialto, the public realm, the shopfronts, the grounds of the Civic Offices and the John’s Lane car park of which, the adjudicator said: ‘This is excellent and a standard that other local authorities should look to for car parking in similar towns’.”

The adjudicator for Nenagh also said that the mural projects were an excellent use of wall space in wise locations and that the Town Park was just gorgeous – he/she loved the bike rack, the sandy paths (beautiful for running on), the playground, the raised exploration areas, the pollinator-friendly planting and the developing trees.

The council said that while there are many challenges facing the committees and a never-ending need for vigilance in relation to litter, this was a time to celebrate all the positive results that have been achieved and to say well done to all.

The overall national winner was Abbeyleix in Co Laois.

RESULTS IN FULL

CATEGORY A (under 200 population)

Terryglass 370

Birdhill 363

Inch/Bouladuff 338

Lorrha 348

Killoscully 351

Ballingarry 328

Carrig 326

Clonmore 322

Ballinahinch 316

Rearcross 313

Ballinderry 311

Kilcommon 311

Toor 310

Capparoe 305

Ballycommon 303

Ballycahill 293

Shallee 281

Ardcroney 279

Dromineer 271

Ballysloe 267

Ballyboy 249

Moyglass 249

Littleton 250

Aglish 232

CATEGORY B (200 -1,000 population)

Silvermines 361

Portroe 347

Holycross 336

Cloughjordan 333

Puckane 323

Riverstown-Killeen 300

Castleiney 280

Horse and Jockey 273

Rathcabbin 261

CATEGORY C (1,000 -2,500 population)

Templemore 319

Newport 301

CATEGORY D (2,500 – 5,000 population)

Ballina-Boher 347

CATEGORY E (5,000 – 10,000 population)

Nenagh 353

Roscrea 349

Thurles 320