Geashill and Terryglass retain top spots in Tidy Towns competition
Birr picks up gold medal for first time as all centres see increase in marks
GEASHILL and Terryglass have retained their number one spot at the top of the ranks in Offaly and North Tipperary in this year's SuperValu TidyTowns competition.
Birr picked up a gold medal for the first time and moved to second place in the Offaly rankings this year.
The overall award went to Ballincollig in Cork with Ballinahown claiming the title of Ireland's tidiest village just one point behind them.
Geashill were just one point further back with 384 to claim the top spot in Offaly and a gold medal, while Birr (376) and Tullamore (375) finished in second and third spots and both claimed gold medals as well. Clonbullogue received a bronze medal while the Endeavour Award for the county went to Kilcormac.
In North Tipperary Terryglass held on to its rank as number one with 376 marks and claimed a silver medal. Birdhill and Silvermines were ranked second and third and both were awarded bronze medals with Nenagh and Roscrea also receive bronze medals. Rathcabbin picked up the Endeavour Award for the county.
Overall there was good news for centres in both counties with marks increasing from last year, a just reward for all the hard work put in by committees throughout the year.
Here is how all the Offaly entrants scored (last year's marks in brackets):
Category A
Ballyboy – 314 (304); Horseleap – 279 (274).
Category B
Geashill - 384 (375) County First & Gold Medal; Clonbullogue – 374 (363) Bronze Medal; Ballycumber – 363 (350); Crinkill – 345 (333); Rhode – 333 (323); Moneygall – 328 (318); Pullough – 326 (315); Shannonbridge – 319 (-); Kinnitty – 315 (308); Cadamstown 310 (-); Killeigh – 285 (277); Kilcormac – 2364 (224) Endeavour Award.
Category C
Ferbane – 343 (332); Daingean - 337 (327); Belmont – 303 (298).
Category D
Birr - 376 (361) County Second & Gold Medal; Clara – 263 (252).
Category G
Tullamore - 375 (362) County Third & Gold Medal
The North Tipperary groups scored as follows:
Terryglass – 376 (370) County First & Silver Medal; Birdhill – 372 (363) County Second & Bronze Medal; Lorrha – 359 (348); Inch-Bouladuff-Ragg – 350 (338); Ballingarry – 338 (328); Carrig – 335 (326); Clonmore – 330 (322); Ballinahinch – 326 (316); Ballinderry – 323 (311); Rearcross – 323 (313); Toor – 322 (310); Kilcommon – 321 (311); Capparoe – 316 (305); Ballycommon – 313 (303); Ballycahill – 301 (293); Shallee – 295 (281); Ardcroney – 290 (279); Ballysloe – 285 (267); Dromineer – 283 (271); Moyglass – 264 (249); Ballyboy – 256 (249); Aglish 250 (232).
Silvermines – 371 (361) County Third & Bronze Medal; Killoscully – 362 (351); Portroe – 358 (347); Cloughjordan – 343 (333); Holycross – 343 (336); Puckane – 334 (323); Upperchurch 320 (-); Riverstown-Killeen – 311 (300); Two Mile Borris – 307 (-); Castleiney 295 (280); Horse and Jockey – 289 (280); Rathcabbin – 282 (261) Endeavour Award.
Templemore – 328 (319); Newport – 313 (301).
Ballina Boher – 354 (347)
Category E
Nenagh – 353 (362) Bronze Medal; Roscrea – 356 (349) Bronze Medal; Thurles 333 (320).