Ballincollig celebrates major award at SuperValu Tidy Towns competition

BY EMMA CONNOLLY 

WEST Cork cleaned up in traditional style at this year’s national Tidy Towns awards, with one of the top accolades going to Ballincollig. 

Local communities committed to the task of keeping their areas clean were rewarded by securing gold, bronze and silver medals, as well as other distinctions. 

Ballincollig was deemed the country’s tidiest large urban centre and was just one point behind overall national winners, Listowel. 

Among those recognised was Ted McNamara of Kinsale’s committee, who was highly commended as a Community Hero at the awards which celebrated its 60th anniversary.

Ted was nominated by Michael Smith of Smith’s SuperValu Kinsale, for his commitment to making the local community a better place to work and live in.

Meanwhile, Bere Island earned the top island title, while Sherkin was runner-up in this category. 

Drinagh won an Endeavour award for improving by 6% on last year and in the Cork West county category it was the ever-successful Clonakilty which took the top spot, winning €1,000; highly commended was Rosscarbery winning €800, followed by Rathbarry which went home with €500.

Our gold medal winners were: Clonakilty, Kinsale and Carrigaline; with silver going to Rosscarbery, Bantry and Macroom. 

Bronze medals went to Rathbarry, Eyeries, Lislevane, Innishannon, Ballydehob, Timoleague, Bandon and Skibbereen. 

In Cork South, the population category winners were: Kilbrittain; Kinsale, Innishannon, Ballincollig, Rathbarry, Rosscarbery and Skibbereen. 

 For a full list of winners and marks see tidytowns.ie