Buncrana crowned as Donegal's tidiest town for the third year in succession

Buncrana has been named Donegal’s tidiest town for the third year in a row at the SuperValu Tidy Towns Awards.

With a total of 382 points, Buncrana was named as the county winner with a gold medal, one point ahead of Letterkenny in second, and also a gold medal status. Carrigart (375) was awarded highly commended in the Gaeltacht Award and was the county’s third tidiest town.

Raphoe (373), Moville (371) also picked up silver medals, and other bronze medals went to Glenties (374), Malin (372) in the categories grouped by population, with Donegal Town (359) getting an Endeavour Award.

Ballincollig in Cork has been named the overall winner. Westport in Mayo was named Ireland’s tidiest large town, while Ballincollig also received the award for tidiest large urban centre, securing the award for the second year running.

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Blackrock in Louth received the award for tidiest small town while Ballinahown in Westmeath, which has a population of just 75 people, was named Ireland’s tidiest village.

In the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan - Local Authority Pollinator Award with a prize fund of €10,000 - sponsored by heritage offices and biodiversity offices of local authorities across Ireland, in partnership with the National Biodiversity Data Centre, Buncrana also picked an award in the Highly Commended Category, alongside Ardmore, Co Waterford; Balbriggan, Co Dublin; Castelgregory, Co Kerry; Cavan, Co Cavan; Dalkey, Co Dublin, Rathmore, Co Kerry and Tullahought, Co Kilkenny.

This year, 904 towns were competing for the prestigious awards demonstrating the continuing huge national interest in the SuperValu TidyTowns competition, which has been running since 1958.

“Delighted to have won the gold medal again,” Buncrana Tidy Towns Initiative posted. “Also, we are County winners and highly commended for our pollinator plan. It feels amazing to represent our fantastic community and citizens and bring home the gold. Thank you to everyone who helped, donated, championed and supported us throughout the year, we couldn't have done it without you.

“Well done and super congratulations to overall winners Ballincollig Tidy Towns, also regional winners Westport Tidy Towns. Also, well done to Letterkenny Tidy Towns and all the other gold medal winners. Onwards and upwards, the future is bright.”