Whole host of Kildare winners at SuperValu Tidy Towns Competition 2024

There was a whole host of Kildare winners at the SuperValu Tidy Towns awards for the Midlands East region, held at a prize-giving ceremony in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel, Athlone, Co Westmeath on Monday March 10.

Months of anticipation and preparation paid off as Kildare towns were awarded Bronze, Silver and Gold medals for all their hard work.

The Kildare medals were awarded as follows:

A Special Climate Action Award - sponsored by The Department of Environment, Climate & Communications - also went to Ballymore Eustace Tidy Towns.

Ballinahown, the winner in this region was presented with their awards by Minister of State Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran and Yvonne O’Brien, Community & Sponsorship Assistant Brand Manager with SuperValu, who are this year celebrating their 34th year of partnership and sponsorship of the competition.

Ballinahown also won the title of Ireland’s Tidiest Village 2024.

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At the ceremony, Minister Moran congratulated all of the winners and referenced the huge interest in the competition, which this year celebrates 67 years of environmental and community initiatives. The 2024 SuperValu TidyTowns competition received over 900 entries.

Minister Moran said: “I am delighted to attend these awards on behalf of Minister Calleary and I encourage all voluntary committees to continue with their efforts in making their towns and villages better places in which to live and work and for all of us to visit.”

Minister Moran also referenced the €1.5 million in grant aid that previous Minister Humphreys announced at the results ceremony of the 2024 competition last November.

This funding is to assist committees with their various projects and initiatives ahead of this year’s competition. It is the seventh consecutive year that funding has been provided to support local Tidy Towns gowns groups and brings the total amount allocated since 2017 to over €11 million.

He added: “In recent years, thousands of individuals have volunteered with TidyTowns groups. I have the greatest respect for the volunteers here tonight from the nine counties in the Midlands and East region and for all the volunteers who have given of their time and skills so selflessly over the last 67 years”.

Minister Moran also thanked SuperValu who this year celebrate 34 years of sponsorship of the competition. He applauded the support SuperValu show at a local and national level and for the initiatives they have brought about in recent years, helping to ensure that, in collaboration with the Department of Rural and Community Development, the competition thrives and continues to have a real impact on communities throughout the country.

Speaking at the event, Yvonne O’Brien, Community & Sponsorship Assistant Brand Manager said:

“On behalf of SuperValu, I want to congratulate and thank the TidyTowns committee volunteers for the wonderful work they do, week in week out, all year long. You have shown that local action makes a global impact.

“I would also like to acknowledge the fantastic support from our SuperValu retailers right across the region. We cannot underestimate the lasting impact committee volunteers and retailers have on the sustainable development of every community in the county.

“Every year we can see the impactful and lasting changes that are being made nationwide and we thank you for your contributions.”

She added: “As a proud sponsor of the competition for 34 years, I would like to congratulate all SuperValu TidyTowns winners and committees in the Midlands & East region on the tremendous hard work, commitment and effort shown by them, all year round, to make our towns and villages more attractive places to live, work and play.”

“SuperValu TidyTowns is a unique community movement, that has developed into the largest sustainability community-led initiatives in Ireland, if not in Europe, and it’s heartening to see the collective climate action being taken by all committees to protect the environment and promote biodiversity in their local areas.”

Interest in the SuperValu TidyTowns competition has increased year on year with over 900 entries received for the competition in 2024.

The competition has been running since 1958 and is administered by the Department of Rural and Community Development.

The competition has been sponsored by SuperValu since 1991.