Prizes

SuperValu TidyTowns National Awards Ceremony

Each year, the main winners of the National SuperValu TidyTowns competition and the Special Awards are announced at the annual SuperValu TidyTowns Awards ceremony. This is normally held in October and is the main event in the SuperValu TidyTowns Competition calendar.

At the ceremony, all results are displayed on screens throughout the venue, including medal, county, regional, special award and the national winners. Results are then published online immediately after the ceremony and are available via QR code on the day.

At the event, 4 special awards, the 4 category winners and the overall winner receive their prizes on stage. Presentations are made by the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht and the Managing Director of SuperValu, our main sponsor.

Members of award winning TidyTowns committees are invited to attend the awards ceremony.  In addition, sponsors, representatives from each Local Authority and the TidyTowns adjudicators are also invited. It is a great social occasion and an opportunity to meet with other committees from across the country.

The RTÉ Nationwide team record the event, and a special programme is broadcast after the awards focussing on the National award-winning groups. (watch on RTE player)

Following the awards, prize winning groups are contacted, and their prize money is paid. This is administered by the TidyTowns Unit of the Department.

Regional Award Ceremonies

All other awards are presented to groups at Regional award ceremonies, which take place after the national awards ceremony, usually early the following year.

These regional awards ceremonies are organised by the Department’s TidyTowns Unit in conjunction with the Regional award-winning groups and SuperValu. They too are great social occasions and allow groups to meet more locally to celebrate their achievements.

The ceremonies allow for the presentation of all the prizes, medals and certificates announced at the National ceremony.

In most cases, a government Minister and the sponsors attend to make the presentations. Photographers capture the presentations, and the photos are circulated to all the local newspapers and are also featured in our newsletter and on our social media channels.

What prizes can TidyTowns groups win?

On average there are over 220 prizes given out each year, with approximately €270,000 awarded under the main competition. Over €70,000 is awarded in special prizes outside the main competition.

All main prizes are based on the scores achieved by entrants in the competition as follows –

Endeavour Awards for the biggest improvement by an entrant in each county from the previous year.

County Awards for the top three entrants in each county.

Regional Awards for the top-scoring entrant in each region.

Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals for entrants with scores that fall within a set range from that year’s winning score.

Category Awards for the highest scoring entrants in the Village, Small Town, Large Town and Large Urban Centre categories.

Ireland’s Tidiest Town Award for the highest scoring entrant in the whole competition.

There are also separate awards sections for Island entrants and Gaeltacht entrants.