The Tidy Towns Competition has been inspiring volunteers to care for their local areas for fifty years.
This year, 712 committees from around Ireland have entered their towns for the awards. Over the years, local environments in many areas have been greatly improved through successive efforts to win the Tidy Towns title.
For 50 years, the Tidy Towns Competition has successfully inspired enthusiastic volunteers around the country to beautify their areas and to compete for national recognition of their efforts.
Yvonne Quill of Killarney Tidy Towns Committee and Eithne Larkin of Westport Tidy Towns Committee describe the efforts their towns have made to compete for the title of Ireland's Tidiest Town.
There are five main awards ranging from the tidiest village to the tidiest large urban area as well as the overall title for Ireland's Tidiest Town. The award winners will be announced at an event in the Burlington Hotel this evening and will be on an hour long 'Nationwide' special on RTÉ television.
The 2008 Tidiest Town Award was won by Westport in County Mayo. Additional awards were given to Kenmare in County Kerry, Birdhill in County Tipperary and Ennis in County Clare.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 8 September 2008. The reporter is Joe Mag Raollaigh.
