'We clean 365 days a year': The dedication behind Buncrana’s TidyTowns

Buncrana has been crowned Ireland’s Tidiest Large Town for 2026, with Buncrana Tidy Towns chairperson Rena Donaghey describing the achievement as the culmination of almost three decades of dedication, hard work and community spirit.

The Inishowen town scored an outstanding 412 points at the SuperValu TidyTowns awards in Dublin on Friday, October 23, finishing just one point behind overall national winners Ballynahown, Co Westmeath, which secured 413 points.

Despite narrowly missing out on the overall title, Buncrana celebrated an extraordinary four-award haul, including the Tidiest Large Town title, the first time winning the North West and West regional award, a Waters and Communities Award and its 11th consecutive Gold Medal.

Following the announcement, Rena Donaghey said the town was “absolutely delighted” with the result and “honoured” to receive the national recognition.

“Winning Ireland's tidiest and cleanest large town is an absolutely outstanding accomplishment, and it's something that we're extremely proud of,” she said.

“This is the result of hundreds and hundreds of hours of voluntary work by our committee, by the volunteers, by residents, businesses, community groups, and, of course, Donegal County Council, who are very, very supportive of us.”

Ms Donaghey established Buncrana Tidy Towns in 1997, and said winning the award had been a long-held ambition.

“When I set up Buncrana Tidy Towns in 1997, and that's a long time ago, I had hoped that someday Buncrana could win this award. It did take a long time.”

Buncrana’s score increased by 14 points this year, a significant improvement in a competition where even gaining a single additional point can prove difficult.

“It's a fantastic recognition of the efforts that have gone into improving our town year after year, day after day.”

Ms Donaghey said the success reflects the commitment of volunteers who work throughout the year to maintain and improve Buncrana.

“We clean 365 days a year. There's always somebody out every day. It just shows and demonstrates what can be achieved when a community comes together with pride, enthusiasm, and a shared vision.”

The Buncrana Tidy Towns Chairperson emphasised that the competition recognises far more than clean streets and attractive flower displays, with marks awarded for heritage, sustainability, biodiversity, environmental awareness and community involvement.

Among Buncrana's achievements was the Waters and Communities Award, which Ms Donaghey said recognised a project involving pupils from Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana Tidy Towns and Buncrana GAA club.

“We also won the Waters and Community Award, and that award was for the children from Scoil Mhuire and the Tidy Towns, and we got permission from Buncrana GAA to clean and tidy a pathway from the Mill Bridge down to the Victoria Bridge,” she explained.

“So, that's a lovely walkway that we have down there now that we didn't have before, so we got a special award for that as well.”

Involving young people in environmental projects was particularly important for the future, she said.

“We're particularly proud that the judges recognised the work for the water and communities, particularly for the students, because protecting the natural environment and encouraging young people to value our waterways is something that will benefit future generations.

“It's great to get the young people involved, and we involve the schools and the younger groups.”

Ms Donaghey said the committee would consider establishing a junior Tidy Towns group as it looks towards future projects.

With Buncrana finishing just one point behind the national winners, Ms Donaghey said the overall title remained an ambition for the future.

“It's our goal that someday we will win the overall award. But we're more than happy with the four major awards that we got last Friday.”

Looking ahead, she said sustainability was one area where the tidy towns committee hoped to gain further points.

“I would love to gain a few more points in sustainability. I would love to see someone setting up a men's or women's shed or whatever. It's a great way of upping your points for sustainability.”

She highlighted the work carried out by men's sheds in Moville and Carndonagh, particularly their recycling and restoration projects, as examples of initiatives that could benefit a community.

Following Buncrana’s success, Ms Donaghey hopes more residents will be encouraged to get involved, even if they can only spare a short amount of time each week.

“We're hoping now that because of this achievement it may motivate people to come out, maybe even if you give half an hour a week,” she said.

“If people even cleaned outside their own boundary wall, and did a little bit of painting, just a general bit of tidying that brings it all together.”

Ms Donaghey is keen to emphasise that the awards belong to everyone who has contributed to improving Buncrana over the years, rather than just the committee members who travelled to Dublin to collect them.

“The award doesn't belong to us,” she said. “The award belongs to the community in Buncrana. It belongs to the people, the businesses, the volunteers. The council, who are very helpful to us. Well done to everybody, and from here, we will move forward and keep going.”

Ms Donaghey also acknowledged the support of local businesses, including Buncrana SuperValu, the initiative's main sponsor, and McKenna's Londis, which welcomed the volunteers home with a celebration on Saturday morning following their trip to Dublin.

Buncrana's success will also see the town host the regional prizegiving for the North West and West region, bringing together representatives from across the region who have received awards this year. Ms Donaghey said the town would be delighted to host the event, although a date has yet to be confirmed.

Reflecting on Buncrana's achievement, Ms Donaghey said the awards recognise not only the beauty of the town but also the character of its people.

“Buncrana has always been a special place. These awards recognise not just the beauty of our town, but the spirit of the people and welcoming nature that they have.”