{"id":237,"date":"2024-11-01T12:36:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-01T12:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tidytowns.ie\/?p=237"},"modified":"2025-09-17T12:48:41","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T11:48:41","slug":"our-rural-future-minister-humphreys-announcesballincollig-co-cork-as-irelands-tidiest-town-for-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tidytowns.ie\/ga\/our-rural-future-minister-humphreys-announcesballincollig-co-cork-as-irelands-tidiest-town-for-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Rural Future: Minister Humphreys announces Ballincollig, Co. Cork as Ireland\u2019s Tidiest Town for 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ballincollig in Co. Cork named Ireland\u2019s Tidiest Town and Overall winner of Ireland\u2019s Tidiest Large Urban Centre; Ballyphehane, Co. Cork also wins Young Person\u2019s Award<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minister announces \u20ac1.5 million in grant aid for circa. 900 TidyTowns groups nationwide<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, today (Friday, 1st November) announced Ballincollig, Co. Cork as Ireland\u2019s Tidiest Town for 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over 600 TidyTowns volunteers were present at the SuperValu TidyTowns awards ceremony at Croke Park in Dublin with the event live-streamed to many more online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ballincollig Co. Cork was named as Ireland\u2019s Tidiest Town as well as Ireland\u2019s Tidiest Large Urban Centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minister Humphreys also presented the Young Person in TidyTowns award to Ballyphehane TidyTowns, Co. Cork as well as the \u2018Town Centre First National Award\u2019 today to Carrickmacross TidyTowns, Co Monaghan recognising their tremendous efforts to address vacancy and dereliction in line with the Government\u2019s \u2018Town Centre First\u2018 policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Announcing Ballincollig as the overall winner, Minister Humphreys said: \u201cI offer my warmest congratulations to Ballincollig and all of its TidyTowns volunteers for being crowned Ireland\u2019s tidiest town for 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a truly great achievement and a special moment of immense pride for Ballincollig and indeed the wider county of Cork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHaving first entered the competition in the 1960s, Ballincollig today continues to showcase all that is good about innovation, sustainability, community spirit and volunteerism. This is at the core of what the competition is all about.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Minister continued: \u201cAs in previous years, the standard of competition was exceptional this year in all categories, with 904 entries received overall from the almost 1000 active groups nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I want to pay tribute to all the winners today across all the various categories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In particular, I want to recognise the vital role of volunteers across the country who are working so hard all year round to ensure our communities are vibrant, sustainable places to live, work and visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are truly an inspiration, and the embodiment of everything that is good in our communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Investment in our communities through this wonderful competition reaps long-term rewards for all, as showcased by the winning groups here today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The impact of Supervalu TidyTowns can be seen, particularly in fostering inclusion, sustainability and community engagement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SuperValu has been the competition\u2019s main sponsor since 1991, and today Luke Hanlon, Managing Director of SuperValu, announced the results with Minister Humphreys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the other big winners on the day included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n