'Just stay plugging away' Laois winners of Ireland's Tidiest Small Town celebrate

Abbeyleix has done it again, winning the title of Ireland’s Tidiest Small Town, for the third time in five years.

The SuperValu TidyTowns Awards 2026 were held in Croke Park on Friday, where not just Abbeyleix but Portlaoise, Durrow, Ballinakill and Ballacolla all won awards for Laois.

Robbie Quinn spoke to the Leinster Express / Laois Live from the happy atmosphere of the bus en route home from Croke Park, laid on by the council for the Laois winners.

“Feeling good, it was a shock. We won it in ‘21, again in 2023 when we also took the overall award so we didn’t think we’d be back there again so soon.

“What was even more amazing is we were only one point behind Ballinahown, I’d like to congratulate them. It’s a great win for them as well, well deserved, they’ve been there or thereabouts for the last couple of years.

“We are being pressed now on all sides because Durrow were only one point behind us at 411 and Portlaoise were one point behind them again at 410. So it’s neck and neck now in relation to Laois competition which is great for everybody. It’s raising everybody’s interest which is amazing.

“Then Ballacolla got Bronze which is a fabulous result and Ballinakill got the Endeavour award. Laois was definitely boxing above its weight today in Croke Park.

“We haven’t won as much in Croke Park since the Joe McDonagh,” Robbie quipped.

A team of six travelled to represent Abbeyleix Tidy Towns, including Cllr John Joe Fennelly, Mary White, secretary Jackie Walsh, Treasurer Kathleen O’Connor and Sam McElode from Laois County Council.

He said they are willing to give advice to other Laois towns.

“We’re all about sharing our information, we keep back a bit of secret sauce. We are open to people contacting us. Everything we do is transparent, it’s up on our website.

“There’s no great secret, just stay plugging away. The fact that Ballacolla won Bronze and Ballinakill won the Endeavour award justs shows you the level of work going on in the county. There’s 34 or 35 towns and and villages all doing amazing work, so just stay going.

“We want to say thanks to all our supporters, all our volunteers, this one is for them.

“It goes to show you, there’s nobody standing on ceremony, if you’re asked to do a job, you just get out and do it. Everybody has a job to do, everybody knows what to do. We’ve had amazing support in the last few years. We’re a small committee but we call on people to come out. The community garden has been amazing, we want to thank them. The bog has been amazing, we want to thank them, Fr Breen Park.

“They’re all playing their part in their own corners of the town, and it all feeds in.

He thinks that their strong focus on biodiversity and climate action is what swung the magic extra score this year.

“Our green and sustainable initiatives is what really drives us on and maybe sets us apart a little bit. The fact that we’re trying to make our town self sustainable, that we’re looking after our built heritage through the Abbeyleix House and Farm’s support with the shop enhancement scheme.

“All those little things make a massive difference, and then the support we get from the county council, whether its through funding for our conservation of the fountains, all that feeds into what we are about.

“It’s a bank holiday so we’ll mark the occasion in a week’s time, we’ll get everybody together maybe in the community garden, weather permitting, to get all our supporters together to share in the success. It’s not about the six people who travelled today, this is a community award,” the chairperson said.

Abbeyleix also won the village/small town regional award and €1,000, in the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan Local authority award, sponsored by heritage offices and biodiversity offices of local authorities, in partnership with the National Biodiversity Data Centre.

Portlaoise won county third and a gold medal. Durrow won county second and a Gold medal and Abbeyleix won county first and gold medal.

Minister Calleary congratulated all the winners.

“The standard of competition was exceptionally high this year in all categories, with a record 936 entries received overall from 1,000 active groups nationwide.

“In particular, I recognise the vital role of TidyTowns volunteers across the country who are working so hard all year round to ensure our communities are vibrant, sustainable places to live, work and visit. The passion and dedication of these volunteers is the embodiment of everything that is good in our communities.

“Investment in our communities through this wonderful competition reaps long-term rewards for all, as showcased by the winning groups here today. The impact of the Supervalu TidyTowns competition is clear to see, particularly in fostering inclusion, sustainability and community engagement.”

Over 600 TidyTowns volunteers were present at the SuperValu TidyTowns awards ceremony at Croke Park in Dublin. The annual event was also livestreamed to large online audience.

This year 936 towns were competing for the prestigious awards, demonstrating the continuing huge national interest in the SuperValu TidyTowns competition which has been running since 1958. It was the highest number of entries ever received in the competition’s history.