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Today, Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, announced Ballincollig, Co. Cork, as Ireland’s Tidiest Town for 2024, marking a significant achievement for the community. Ballincollig not only claimed the top national title but also the award for Ireland’s Tidiest Large Urban Centre, showcasing its commitment to innovation, sustainability, and community spirit.
Held at Dublin’s Croke Park, the SuperValu TidyTowns awards ceremony saw over 600 volunteers from around the country gather to celebrate their communities’ achievements. The event, which has been an annual highlight since 1958, included live-streamed coverage to accommodate the large number of participants.
With 904 towns competing this year, Minister Humphreys praised the exceptional standard of entries, highlighting the dedication of volunteers nationwide:
Heather Humphreys, Minister for Rural and Community Development:
“I offer my warmest congratulations to Ballincollig and all of its TidyTowns volunteers for being crowned Ireland’s tidiest town for 2024. This achievement is a testament to the tremendous community spirit that keeps the TidyTowns initiative thriving across the nation.”
The Minister also acknowledged the broader positive impact of the TidyTowns competition, noting its role in fostering inclusion, sustainability, and community engagement.
Heather Humphreys:
“The efforts of TidyTowns groups have long-term benefits for our communities. They’re truly an inspiration, embodying the best of what it means to come together to improve our shared spaces.”
Ballyphehane, also in Co. Cork, received the Young Person’s Award, recognising the involvement of young people in community initiatives. Meanwhile, Carrickmacross in Co. Monaghan won the ‘Town Centre First National Award,’ honouring their work in addressing vacancy and dereliction.
SuperValu, the competition’s primary sponsor since 1991, remains deeply involved in supporting communities across Ireland. Luke Hanlon, Managing Director of SuperValu, celebrated the achievement of Ballincollig and the TidyTowns initiative overall:
Luke Hanlon, Managing Director of SuperValu:
“Congratulations to Ballincollig for this outstanding achievement. This award highlights the powerful impact of community collaboration, making our towns and villages better places to live, work, and play.”
Minister Humphreys also announced €1.5 million in grant aid to support the work of nearly 900 TidyTowns groups nationwide, adding to the nearly €11 million invested since 2017 to support these transformative community efforts.
For more details on all of this year’s winners, visit www.tidytowns.ie and www.supervalu.ie