Ballincollig, Co Cork, won a €10,000 prize after being named Ireland’s cleanest town for 2024 on Friday 1 November.

Not only is Ballincollig Ireland’s cleanest town for the year, it has also been named winner of Ireland’s Cleanest Large Urban Center for 2024.

Irish Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, announced the winners of the Irish Tidy Town Awards on Friday 1 November.

More than 600 TidyTowns volunteers were at the SuperValu TidyTowns awards ceremony in Croke Park in Dublin on Friday, with the event broadcast live to many others online.

This year, 904 cities competed for these prestigious awards, demonstrating the growing national interest in the SuperValu TidyTowns competition, held since 1958.

Congratulations to @BallincolligTTCo Cork Irelands Tidiest Town 2024. This is the first time Ballincollig has been crowned Irelands Tidiest Town, previously it held the title of Ireland’s Cleanest Large Urban Center in 2023 and 2018.#supervalutidytowns24@SuperValuIRL pic.twitter.com/TfFgE15bZL

– TidyTowns Ireland (@TidyTownsIre) November 1, 2024

Announcing Ballincollig as the overall winner on Friday, Minister Humphreys said: “I offer my warmest congratulations to Ballincollig and all its TidyTowns volunteers for being crowned Ireland’s Cleanest Town for 2024.

“This is a truly great achievement and a special moment of immense pride for Ballincollig and the whole of County Cork.

“Having first entered the competition in the 1960s, Ballincollig today continues to showcase all that is good about innovation, sustainability, community spirit and volunteering. This is at the heart of the competition.

Ireland’s cleanest city for 2024 is…

Ballincollig Co. Liège!!!!

@TidyTownsIre @SuperValuIRL @DeptRCD has the pic.twitter.com/Z2PMMc6PFT

– Heather Humphreys (@HHumphreysFG) November 1, 2024

The Minister continued: “As in previous years, the level of competition this year was exceptional in all categories, with 904 entries received in total from almost 1,000 active groups across the country.

“I would like to pay tribute to all the winners today in all the different categories.

“In particular, I want to recognize the essential role of volunteers across the country who work so hard all year round to ensure our communities are vibrant and sustainable places to live, work and visit.

“You are truly an inspiration and the embodiment of all that is good in our communities.

“Investing in our communities through this wonderful competition pays long-term dividends for everyone, as demonstrated by the winning groups here today.

“The impact of Supervalu TidyTowns is visible, particularly in promoting inclusion, sustainability and community engagement. »

Minister Humphreys also announced a special allocation of €1.5 million to support the work of TidyTowns groups in their ongoing efforts to make their towns and villages better places to live, work and visit.
Since 2017, the department has provided nearly 11 million euros in funding to support the activities of these groups.

The Minister said: “The focus on sustainability and biodiversity is particularly impressive and important for us all. Funding from my department will help groups continue their inspiring efforts to transform their communities and the local environment.

2024 SuperValu TidyTowns Award Winners

The tidiest village in Ireland 2024

• Ballinahown, County Westmeath

Ireland’s cleanest small town 2024

Cleanest big city in Ireland 2024

Ireland’s cleanest major urban center 2024

Special Prize: Tree Project Prize

Sponsored by the Tree Council of Ireland

• Portlaoise TidyTowns Co Laois

Special Prize: Climate Action Prize

Sponsored by the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Communications

• Youth Awards: Bettystown TidyTowns Co Meath
• Runner-up: Castlegregory TidyTowns Co Kerry
• Village and small town: Ballymore Eustace TidyTowns, Co Kildare
• Large city and major urban centre: Raheny TidyTowns, Co Dublin

Special Prize: Youth Prize in TidyTowns

Sponsored by the Ministry of Rural and Community Development

• National Winner: Ballyphenane TidyTowns, Co Cork
• Regional winners: Balbriggan TidyTowns, Co Dublin; Ballinrobe TidyTowns, County Mayo; Cahir TidyTowns, County Tipperary; Ballyphenane TidyTowns, Co Cork

Special Prize: Downtown First Prize

Sponsored by the Ministry of Rural and Community Development

• National Winner: Carrickmacross TidyTowns, Co Monaghan
• 2nd Prize: Carlingford TidyTowns, Co Louth
• 3rd prize: Balla TidyTowns, Co Mayo

Special Prize: Island Prize

Sponsored by the Ministry of Rural and Community Development

• National Winner: Bere Island, Co Cork
• Highly recommended: Sherkin Island, Co Cork

Special Prize: Gaeltacht Prize

Sponsored by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media

• National Winner: Beal an Mhuirthead, Co Maigh Eo
• Highly Commended: Carraig Airt, Co Dún Na nGall

Special Prize: The Water and Communities Prize

Sponsored by Inland Fisheries Ireland, Waterways Ireland and the Local Authority Water Program

• National Winner: Ballineen and Enniskeane TidyTowns Association, Co Cork
• Winners: Bettystown TidyTowns, Co Meath; Cuan Beo Environmental CLG, County Galway; Cahir TidyTowns, County Tipperary; Ballineen and Enniskeane TidyTowns Association, Co Cork
• Highly Commended: Ballinahown Community Development, Co Westmeath; Emyvale TidyTowns, County Monaghan; Durrow TidyTowns, Co Laois; Castleconnell TidyTowns Co Limerick

Special Prize: Leave No Trace Prize

Sponsored by Leave No Trace Ireland

• National Winner: Kilsheelan TidyTowns, Co Tipperary

Special Prize: Heritage Prize

Sponsored by the Heritage Council

• National Winner: Ardmore TidyTowns, Co Waterford

Special Prize: All-Ireland Pollinator Plan – Local Authority Pollinator Prize

Sponsored by local authority heritage offices and biodiversity offices across Ireland, in partnership with the National Biodiversity Data Center

• National Winner: Sneem TidyTowns, Co Kerry
• Big City Regional Winners: Raheny Tidy Village Group, Co Dublin; Oranmore TidyTowns, County Galway; Clonmel TidyTowns, County Tipperary
• Small town: Athboy TidyTowns, Co Meath; Beal an Mhuirthead, Co Maigh Eo; Kilsheelan TidyTowns, County Tipperary; Sneem TidyTowns, County Kerry
• Best Newcomer: Ballymun TidyTowns, Co Dublin
• Highly Recommended Certificate: Ardmore TidyTowns, Co Waterford; Balbriggan TidyTowns, County Dublin; Buncrana TidyTowns, County Donegal; Castlegregory TidyTowns, County Kerry; Cavan TidyTowns, Co Cavan; Dalkey TidyTowns, County Dublin; Rathmore TidyTowns, County Kerry; Tullahought TidyTowns, County Kilkenny

Special Award: EPA Circular Economy Award

Sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency

• National Winner: Rush TidyTowns Co Dublin
• Highly recommended: Swords TidyTowns, Co Dublin; Kinvara TidyTowns, County Galway

Special Prize: Circular Economy Prize

• Sponsored by the Clean Technology Center of the Technological University of Munster
• Winner: Abbey TidyTowns, Co Galway

Special Prize: SuperValu School Prize

Sponsored by SuperValu

• Overall Winner: Dunboyne Senior NS, Co Meath
• Regional winners: Ballintleva NS Curraghboy, Co Roscommon; Scoil San Isadóir Cashel, County Tipperary; Holy Family NS Tralee, Co Kerry

Special Prize: SuperValu and AsIAm Inclusive Communities Prize

Sponsored by SuperValu

• National Winner: Balla Community TidyTowns, Co Mayo

Special Prize: Gum Litter Task Force Prize

Sponsored by the Gum Litter Taskforce (GLT)

• National Winner: Abbeyknockmoy Parish Society, Co Galway
• Large Town and Large Urban Center Winner: Sligo TidyTowns, Co Sligo
• Village and Small Town Category Winner: Abbeyknockmoy Parish Society, Co Galway

Special Award: Bat Conservation Ireland Award

Sponsored by Bat Conservation Ireland

• Playground Sculpture Winner: Castlegregory TidyTowns, Co Kerry
• Bat Mural Winner: Sligo TidyTowns, Co Sligo