Ennis retains 'Cleaner than European Norms' status in latest IBAL Anti-Litter League survey

Ennis has narrowly missed out on top spot in the latest IBAL Anti-Litter League survey, with nine out of the ten sites in the town getting the top litter grade.

The busy Clare town has been categorised as being 'Cleaner than European Norms' and was ranked second in the league table, just behind Naas in Kildare.

In the report, which has just been published, the recent enhancement works at O’Connell Street and Henry Street were noted with inspectors from An Taisce commenting on the "lovely streetscapes" on both streets.

Significant improvements were also noted at the Dunnes Stores car park, which was found to be littered in previous IBAL surveys. This time around, it achieved the top litter grade.

Overall, two-thirds of towns across Ireland were found to be clean during the survey period, which was up on 2024.

READ NEXT: Lift-Off for Clare students following victory in prestigious NASA space design competition

Nationally, only four areas were branded littered or seriously littered – the lowest number for 5 years. Both Dublin and Cork city centres have improved in advance of the peak season for visitors.  

“It is encouraging to see that our main city centres – Dublin and Cork – have improved as we welcome summer visitors to our country. Clean streets are imperative, given the challenges facing Ireland as a high-cost destination,” said IBAL’s Conor Horgan.

Dublin’s North Inner City, seriously littered, remains rooted to the foot of the rankings.

One year on from the introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme, plastic bottle and can litter is down 50% on previous levels but was still found in 20% of the 500-plus sites surveyed across the country. "We hope that the scheme will see the disappearance of this litter, but statistics so far do not bear this out. Cans and plastic bottles are far from a rare sight on our streets and in our hedgerows," commented Conor Horgan.

The survey found the main streets of towns to be generally clean, as were heritage and amenity sites. Residential areas, bus and train stations and recycle facilities were most likely to be littered.

WHAT THE REPORT NOTES ABOUT ENNIS

N85 Approach Road: Grade A. (from M18 to Clareabbey Roundabout) An exceptionally freshly

presented route with road surface / markings / signage in excellent order and a complete absence of

litter throughout. It was pristine, creating a very positive first impression of Ennis – this high standard

was sustained for the almost all of the remaining sites surveyed.

Friar’s Walk Car Park: Grade A. Signage associated with the use of the facility was in very good

order and the overall impression was of a well-attended environment with grass, car park surface and

shrubs / trees in good order.

Dunnes Stores Car Park: Grade A. In recent IBAL surveys this site had been littered – not so, this

time around, very much deserving the top litter grade.

O’Connell Street: Grade A. O’Connell Street was looking exceptionally fresh after extensive works –

paving, planted areas, wooden seating were all lovely features. While it was typically a high ranking

site in previous surveys, this time around the overall presentation of same is at another level.

Wood Quay – Riverwalk: Grade B. Overall impression created along this riverside environment was

a positive one with paving, seating, and litter bins in very good order. Site was let down by the very

deliberate ‘stuffing’ of cardboard boxes behind the black street bin.

Deposit Return Scheme, Aldi: Grade A. (Kilrush Road) An immaculate site, template for Grade A.

Area immediately surrounding the facility was spotless.

College View / Kilrush Road: Grade A. A very freshly presented and maintained environment with

freshly cut grasslands, clean pavements / parking spaces and road surfaces. Well done to all

concerned.

Abbey Court: Grade A. There was lovely tree planting throughout this residential area. All was in very

good condition, with no visible litter issues.

High Street: Grade A. Recent paving / stone planter boxes / wooden seating has resulted in a lovely

pedestrian shopping environment. There was no litter directly associated with closed down / vacant

outlets. The relatively recent issue of ‘vape stickers’ on litter bins have made their way to the street

bins.

Place de Paul De Fenouillet: Grade A. An attractively presented town centre environment with good

visitor information noticeboard / sculpture / tree planting / seating / ‘olde’ style street lamps etc, all of

which were in very good order. The whole area was excellent with regards to litter.