Laois winners announced in national SuperValu Tidy Towns awards

The national Tidy Towns awards in Dublin has seen Laois has win several medals and strong performances though hopes for a big win did not materialise.

Abbeyleix was Ireland's Tidiest Small Town in 2021 at the national awards event and came with in a whisker of winning the overall prize. Hopes were high that they'd go one better in 2022 but that was not to be.

• Abbeyleix won a Gold medal and was Laois County winner.
• Portlaoise won Silver medal, also retaining its status.
• Durrow won a County Commended award.
• Ballacolla won a Highly Commended award. 
• Portarlington won a Special Endeavour award which was given for having the biggest score improvement in Laois.

Tidy Towns team members from Abbeyleix, Durrow and Portlaoise travelled to the RDS for the announcement.

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys announced Trim, Co. Meath as Ireland’s Tidiest Town for 2022. 

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.

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 with 882 entries to the competition this year.