TidyTowns in Ireland 2024 – Ballincollig, Cork Overall Winner

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

Not only was Ballincollig crowned Ireland’s tidiest town this year, but it was also named overall winner of Ireland’s Tidiest Major Town Center 2024.

Ireland’s 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 attended the SuperValu TidyTowns awards ceremony in Croke Park, Dublin on Friday, with the event broadcast live to many more people.

This year, 904 cities competed for the prestigious awards, demonstrating the continued strong national interest in the SuperValu TidyTowns competition, which has been running since 1958.

Congratulations @BallincolligTTCork, Ireland’s tidiest city in 2024. This is the first time Ballincollig has been voted Ireland’s tidiest town, having previously held the title of Ireland’s tidiest major 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 tidiest town for 2024.

“This is a truly great achievement and a very proud moment for Ballincollig and all 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 the essence of the competition.”

Ireland’s tidiest city for 2024 is…

Ballincollig Company, Cork!!!!

@TidyTownsIre @SuperValuIRL @DeptRCD has 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 a total of 904 entries received from almost 1,000 active groups across the country.

“I want to pay tribute to all of today’s winners in all categories.

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

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

“Investing in our communities through this wonderful competition will have long-term benefits for everyone, as demonstrated by the winning groups today.

“The impact of Supervalu TidyTowns can be seen, particularly in promoting inclusion, sustainability and community participation.”

Minister Humphreys also announced €1.5 million in dedicated funding to support the work of TidyTowns groups in their ongoing efforts to transform their towns and villages into better places to live, work and visit.
Since 2017, the agency has allocated almost 11 million euros in funding to support the activities of these groups.

The Minister said: “The focus on sustainability and biodiversity is particularly exciting and important to us all. My department’s funding will help groups continue their inspiring efforts to transform their communities and local environments.”

2024 SuperValu TidyTowns Award Winners

Ireland’s neatest village 2024

• Ballinatown, County Westmeath

Ireland’s neatest small town 2024

Ireland’s tidiest major city 2024

Ireland’s neatest major urban center, 2024

Special Award: Tree Project Award

Sponsored by Tree Council of Ireland.

• Portlaoise TidyTowns Co Laois

Special Award: Climate Action Award

Supported by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications.

• Youth Award: Bettystown TidyTowns Co Meath
• Runner up: Castlegregory Tidy Towns Co Kerry
• Village and small town: Ballymore Eustace TidyTowns, County Kildare
• Large town and major urban centre: Raheny Tidy Towns, County Dublin

Special Award: “Young People at the TidyTowns Awards”

Supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development

• National Winner: Ballyfenan Tidy Towns, County Cork
• Regional winners: Balbriggan TidyTowns, Dublin; Ballinrobe TidyTowns, Co Mayo; Cairo TidyTowns, Co. Tipperary; Ballyphenane TidyTowns, Cork

Special Award: First Downtown Award

Supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development

• National Winner: Carrickmacross Tidy Towns, Co. Monaghan
• 2nd Prize: Carlingford Tidy Towns, County Louth
• 3rd place: Balla Tidy Towns, Co Mayo

Special Award: Island Award

Supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development

• National Winner: Bere Island, County Cork
• Highly rated: Sherkin Island, County Cork.

Special award: Gaeltacht Prize

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

• National Winner: Beal an Mhuirthead, Ko Mae Eo
• Highly commended: Carraig Airt, Ko Dun Na nGall

Special Award: Water and Communities Award

Supported by Inland Fisheries Ireland, Waterways Ireland and the Local Authority Water Resources Programme.

• National Winner: Ballineen and Enniskeen Tidy Towns Association, County Cork
• Winners: Bettystown TidyTowns, Co. Meath; Cuan Beo Environment Group, Co. Galway; Cairo TidyTowns, Co. Tipperary; Ballineen and Enniskeen Tidy Towns Association, County Cork
• Highly Commended: Community Development Ballynahone, Co. Westmeath; Amyvale TidyTowns, Co. Monaghan; Darrow TidyTowns, Colorado; Castleconnell TidyTowns Co Limerick

Special Award: Leave No Trace Award

Sponsored by Leave No Trace Ireland

• National Winner: Kilsheelan TidyTowns, County Tipperary

Special Award: Heritage Award.

Supported by the Heritage Council

• National Winner: Ardmore Tidy Towns, County Waterford

Special Award: All Ireland Pollinator Plan – Local Authority Pollinator Award

Supported by the Heritage Office and the Biodiversity Office of local authorities across Ireland in partnership with the National Biodiversity Data Centre.

• National Winner: Sneem Tidy Towns, County Kerry
• Regional winners in major cities: Raheny Tidy Village Group, County Dublin; Oranmore TidyTowns, County Galway; Clonmel TidyTowns, Co. Tipperary
• Small Town: Athboy TidyTowns, Co. Meath; Beal an Mhuirthhead, County Mae Eo; Kilsheelan TidyTowns, County Tipperary; Sneem Tidy Towns, County Kerry
• Best Newcomer: Ballymun TidyTowns, Dublin
• Certificate of Excellence: Ardmore TidyTowns, County Waterford; Balbriggan TidyTowns, Dublin; Buncrana TidyTowns, County Donegal; Castlegregory Tidy Towns, County Kerry; Cavan TidyTowns, County Cavan; Dalkey Tidy Towns, Dublin; Rathmore TidyTowns, County Kerry; Tallahut Tidy Towns, County Kilkenny

Special Award: EPA Circular Economy Award

Sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency

• National Winner: Rush TidyTowns Co Dublin
• Highly commended: Swords TidyTowns, Dublin; Kinvara Tidy Towns, County Galway

Special Award: Circular Economy Award

• Supported by the Clean Technology Center of the Münster University of Technology.
• Award Winner: Abbey TidyTowns, County Galway

Special Award: SuperValu School Award.

Powered by SuperValu

• Overall Winner: Dunboyne Sr. NS, Co. Meath
• Regional winners: Ballintleva N.S. Curraghboy, Co Roscommon; Scoil San Isadoir Cashel, County Tipperary; Holy Family N.S. Tralee, County Kerry

Special Award: SuperValu and AsIAm Inclusive Communities Award.

Powered by SuperValu

• National Winner: Balla Community TidyTowns, Co Mayo

Special Award: Anti-Chewing Gum Task Force Award

Sponsored by the Gluttony Task Force (GLT)

• National Winner: Abbeyknockmoy Parish Society, County Galway.
• Winner: Large Town and Major Town Centre: Sligo TidyTowns, County Sligo
• Village and Town Winner: Abbeyknockmoy Parish Society, County Galway

Special Award: Irish Bat Conservation Award.

With support from Bat Conservation Ireland.

• Playground Sculpture Winner: Castlegregory Tidy Towns, County Kerry
• Bat Mural Winner: Sligo TidyTowns, County Sligo