5.
Pictured: Mountrath Tidy Town represented by Bernie Weldon and Dervla Grehan accept their award from Cllr Thomasina Connell The judges said planting on the approach roads, the Amenity Park and the ongoing maintenance of the Community orchards at the White Horse River has contributed much to biodiversity in the area. They also found that the provision of the beautiful carved seat on the banks of the White Horse River for walkers’, writers or those who just wish to sit and contemplate was much admired. The Amenity Park has many features including a playground, a picnic area, outdoor gym, wildlife park, and a dedicated area for commemorative plaques and is a wonderful achievement for the community groups that made it happen.
6.
Pictured: Stradbally Tidy Towns represented by Ann Simpson and Emer Liston accept their award from the Cathaoirleach Laois County Council. Photo: Michael Scully. The judges said Stradbally is a very busy town with a long wide main street. All the businesses and residential properties are very well presented with colourful floral displays in the hanging baskets and tubs dotted throughout the town. Stradbally is well known for hosting the Steam Rally that has been running very successfully for almost 60 years and for the widely acclaimed Electric Picnic. The Judges found a town that was a hive of activity on the day of adjudication, in preparation for the Electric Picnic. Stradbally Tidy Towns mission is to make Stradbally a better place to live. Look out for all the volunteers in their yellow vests working hard to make Stradbally a better place to enjoy.
7.
Pictured: Portlaoise Tidy Towns - represented by Catherine Donlon and Stephen Connolly with Cllr Thomasina Connell The judges said litter control is a universal problem in towns and villages and requires daily vigilance. The judges found that Portlaoise Tidy Towns have a litter control plan that seems to be working well as you regularly see volunteers conducting litter picks all around the town. The judges also felt that having been declared Irelands cleanest town by IBAL in 2021 is a major achievement for a town of its size with an ever-expanding population and so many side streets to patrol.
8.
Pictured: Ballacolla Tidy Town represented by Ann Talbot and Noreen Byrne with the Cathaoirleach. Up the hill and down the hollow. That’s the way, according to the judges, to Ballacolla and to discover all the great sporting and recreational facilities in the village which have been delivered down through the years and continue with the recently installed walkway around the state-of-the-art football pitch. The walkway has ten solar panel lights and a safety fence installed to ensure that no walkers are in danger of getting injured by wayward footballs from the nearby pitch. This is a great Tidy Towns and community initiative, concluded the judges.