Our Rural Future: Minister Humphreys announces Trim Co. Meath as Ireland’s Tidiest Town for 2022
- €1.4 million announced in grant aid for over 930 SuperValu TidyTowns groups nationwide
- Rosscarbery in Co Cork named Ireland’s Tidiest Village; Cahir in Co Tipperary wins Young Person’s Award
- Minister Humphreys hails third highest number of entries ever as full awards ceremony returns to RDS
- Minister also confirms new sponsorship deal with SuperValu until 2027
Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, today (28th October) announced Trim, Co. Meath as Ireland’s Tidiest Town for 2022.
Over 750 TidyTowns volunteers were present at the SuperValu TidyTowns awards ceremony at the RDS in Dublin – with thousands more watching online.
It was the first full-scale Awards Ceremony since the onset of the Pandemic.
This year’s competition received the third highest number of entries in its almost 65-year history.
Rosscarbery, Co Cork was named as Ireland’s Tidiest Village.
Cahir, Co. Tipperary was named as the overall winner of the Young Persons in TidyTowns Award and also the overall winner of the SuperValu AsIAm Inclusive Communities Award.
Announcing Trim as the overall winners, Minister Humphreys said:
“I want to sincerely congratulate Trim and all of its TidyTowns volunteers for being crowned Ireland’s tidiest town for 2022.
“This is a moment of great pride for Trim and indeed the wider county of Meath. Having first entered the competition in 1959, Trim today continues to showcase all that is good about community and volunteerism.
“I have no doubt that the TidyTowns Group in Trim will receive a warm and deserving homecoming as they celebrate this wonderful occasion.
“The level of competition was extremely high this year with the third highest number of entries ever recorded.
“I want to pay tribute to all the winners today but, above all, I want to say a huge thank you to the thousands of TidyTowns volunteers across the country.
“The time and effort that you put in to making your town or village a better place says so much about your commitment and dedication to your community.
“Your hard work and enthusiasm is nothing short of inspiring.”
The SuperValu TidyTowns competition has been in existence since 1958 and Trim (Baile Átha Troim, Co Mí) was judged to be the best from a number of 882 entries to the competition this year.
On hand to announce the results of the 2022 competition with Minister Humphreys was Mr. Ian Allen, Managing Director of SuperValu, the competition’s sponsor for over 30 years.
Some of the other big winners on the day included:
- Rosscarbery, Co. Cork (Ros Ó gCairbe, Co Corcaigh) awarded Ireland’s Tidiest Village.
- Clonakilty, Co Cork (Cloch Na Coillte, Co Corcaigh) awarded Ireland’s Tidiest Small Town.
- Trim, Co Meath (Baile Átha Troim, Co Mí) awarded Ireland’s Tidiest Large Town.
- Ennis, Co Clare (Inis, Co Clár) awarded Ireland’s Tidiest Large Urban Centre.
Mr. Ian Allen, Managing Director, SuperValu commented after the awards:
“On behalf of SuperValu, I would like to congratulate Trim for being named Ireland’s tidiest town for 2022, fifty years since the town first won the competition in 1972. It’s a wonderful achievement and a testament to the hard work and commitment of the committee and team of volunteers involved. It’s also important to acknowledge the extraordinary achievement and efforts of the category winners. This year marked another milestone year for the SuperValu TidyTowns competition, with a record 1,000 groups engaging in the competition, and an incredible 882 entries. Congratulations to all the incredible committee members, who, in collaboration with our network of independent retailers, share our desire to build thriving, sustainable communities.”
Minister Humphreys also announced a special allocation of €1.4 million in funding to support the work of individual TidyTowns Groups around the country to assist them in their continued efforts to enhance their towns and villages. This is the sixth consecutive year that funding has been provided to support these Groups and brings the total allocated since 2017 to €8.1 million.
The Minister said:
“The creation of a sense of place that our groups achieve through their efforts makes our towns and villages the wonderful places they are to live in, to work in and indeed to visit.
“The initiatives taken by volunteers in areas of Climate Action, Sustainability and Inclusivity are most encouraging and as such I am very pleased to be able to announce this funding today to support them in bringing about even greater change into the future.
“In total, 935 TidyTowns groups across the country will be eligible to benefit from this investment.”
The SuperValu TidyTowns competition is organised by the Department of Rural and Community Development and sponsored by SuperValu who have sponsored the competition since 1991.
Full details of all this year’s winners are available at www.tidytowns.ie and at www.supervalu.ie
ENDS
Contact:
The Department of Rural and Community Development Press Office
01-773 6843 / 087-173 4633