See points scored by all Laois Tidy Towns groups as €35,000 announced
Laois TidyTowns success led by Abbeyleix with Durrow and Portlaoise topping points scored
Laois Tidy Towns groups are to share in state grants totalling €35,000 towards their good works.
Portarlington will get the largest share of the grant from the Government, at €4,000.
Out of 25 Laois Tidy Towns groups, 18 villages will receive €1,000 each, 5 towns receive €2,000 each, Portarlington receives €4,000 and Portlaoise receives €3,000.
The allocations are based on population size for each Tidy Towns group.
The announcement was made after Abbeyleix was chosen as Ireland’s Tidiest Small Town with 412 points, one behind the overall winner Ballinahown, at the SuperValu TidyTowns awards held in Croke Park on October 23.
The award comes with a €5,000 prize along with a trophy. Abbeyleix also won an award and €1,000 in the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan category.
Other Laois award winners this year include Durrow (411 points) with a County Second and Gold Medal, Portlaoise (410 points) with a County Third and Gold Medal, Ballinakill with an Endeavour Award and Ballacolla (393 points) with a Bronze Medal.
There were 23 Laois Tidy Towns groups competing this year.
They include the villages Clough (383 points), Emo (380 points), Cullohill (368), Killastmeestia (341), Spink (316) and Pike-of-Rushall (297). Larger villages of Durrow (411), Clonaslee (383), Castletown (378), Borris-in-Ossory (360), Errill (338), Ballinakill (285), Ballybrittas (272), Killeshin (267) and Rosenallis (254).
Small towns taking part are Abbeyleix (412 points), Stradbally (374), Mountrath (372), Rathdowney (267), with Mountmellick (348), Portarlington (351) and finally Portlaoise (410 points) each representing larger populated towns.
Nationally the grants total €1.5 million, the same as last year, issued by the Minister for Rural and Community Development Dara Calleary to help groups prepare for the annual competition.
Fianna Fáil TD Sean Fleming has welcomed the allocation of €35,000 funding for 25 Tidy Towns groups in Laois to support them in their work in their local communities.
“These tidy towns groups are made up of local volunteers who work year-round on visual and ecological improvements and care for their physical environment, wildlife, and overall appearance of the communities in which they live.
“This funding is to support the work of the tidy towns groups in their communities in an effort to make their towns and villages better places to live, work and visit.
“All the volunteers who are to be highly commended work very hard year round which ensures that our local communities are vibrant, sustainable places to live, work and raise our families,” Dep Fleming said.