Abbeyshrule scoops county's top TidyTowns award as dedicated Longford groups increase marks

Abbeyshrule's dominance of the county's TidyTowns awards haul continued last Friday (November 1) when they were crowned the county winner at the SuperValu TidyTowns awards ceremony in Croke Park.

The labours of the last 12 months saw the committee rewarded with an increase of eleven marks on their 2023 performance.
Abbeyshrule were elevated to 384 marks, just two behind the 2024 National Award Winner Ballinacollig and one point off Ballinahown, Blackrock and Westport, the Tidiest Village, Tidiest Small Town and Tidiest Large Town winners, respectively.

Longford town continues to vie for that top spot, but took home both a gold medal and a highly commended award from the judging panel. Drumlish, Newtowncashel and Tarmonbarry all received bronze medals.

Also Read: Man pleads guilty to 'serious assault' that left then-girlfriend with broken ribs and eye socket

Abbeyshrule, the 2012 National Award Winners, have maintained a particularly high standard as committee chair Philip Butler explained: “There's a lot of work to it,” he said, “It all stems from some good advice we got from a man from Cork, Frank Donaldson.”

Back in 2008 Longford County Council invited the Town Planner and Tourism and Heritage consultant to give a talk to local Tidy Towns groups.

“After that we hired him and he did a magical job. He made everything look simple. He gave us great advice and helped us develop a three-year plan,” Philip recalls, “Every year we were moving on different projects. Lo and behold, when 2012 came, he was absolutely spot on.”

The Abbeyshrule team has between 10 to 20 volunteers actively participating in projects. There's a tremendous amount of dedication involved.

“There's a fierce commitment. Every year we know the standard we have to get to. That covers everything from form filling, to planning to picking up litter,” Philip tells.

Also read: Tributes paid as young Cork boy dies from sudden brain aneurysm on holidays on France

The Abbeyshrule TidyTowns team captain says the emergence of new groups is a positive thing: “It is always brilliant to see new faces coming through. It is great to see Drumlish getting the bronze medal, because they've been beavering away equally as hard as ourselves down through the years.”

Philip highlighted the role of the local authority in the Abbeyshrule success: “Longford County Council, the county engineers and Paddy Mahon have been an absolute and utter pleasure to work with. They're so good at reaching out.”

As county first place and gold medal winners Abbeyshrule will receive €1,000 and €900.

Longford town built on last year's success and their 374 marks saw them clinch second place in County Longford and also secure a Gold Medal. In 2023, Longford finished 19 marks behind the overall winners - this year the gap was down to 12 marks.

Incredibly, inside three years, the dedicated Longford TidyTowns committee has seen their marks increase by 39. They were award 357 marks in 2023 and jumped by 17 marks inside twelve months which represented a massive improvement.

Also Read: PICTURES | Stellar line up of speakers and lots of networking at Longford business lunch gig

Michael Keenan of the Longford Town TidyTowns committee gave an insight to the significance of the achievement: “When the gang were leaving Croke Park there on Friday, one of the adjudicators said it's extremely rare for any town in Ireland to move from silver to gold in the space of one year. To have moved from bronze to gold in the space of 24 months, is an even rarer achievement.”

The result is the end product of a lot of hard work, a lot of people pitching in. One feature of the Longford group is the number of new Irish people out and about in high viz vests working on maintaining the town: “I'd say nearly one-third of the volunteers are new residents.

“We met up on Saturday and they were so pleased about how well we did,” Michael told the Leader.

Longford's steady progress is incremental: “When we started out people laughed at us, I said our ambition over 20 years ago was to win the overall title. I still have that ambition.”

Also Read: Longford Pride: Clonbalt Woods honoured at prestigious Pride of Place community awards

Michael believes the TidyTowns result has wide ranging benefits: “The town used to get some negative coverage. What pleases me most is that people of Longford Town and Longford County can now talk very positively and talk with pride about our town, which was always a good town. But you always have the minority talking it down.”

As County Second and Gold Medal winners Longford TidyTowns will receive €800 and €900.

Newtowncashel's 371 marks (an increase of 10 on the 2023 score) secured the county third place slot and along with Drumlish, on 367 marks, were awarded bronze medals. In their comments the judges said: “It was absolutely wonderful and a major surprise to enter the quarry park to see the transformation of this area that you now own and manage. The sculptures were amazing.”

Michael Casey Newtowncashel spoke of the delight of the volunteers: “We are pleased with the judges comments and we could do much more if we had extra members. Our AGM will be coming up soon and anyone who would like to join and help will be most welcome.

Also Read: ALERT: Manhunt underway as pensioner is tied up in his home and large sum of money is stolen

“The TidyTowns committee would like to thank all who helped them throughout the year to keep the village looking beautiful, especially our one CE worker.”

Newtowncashel, as the county third and bronze medallists, will receive €500 and €400 for their achievements.
Annette Kane, Chair of Drumlish TidyTowns, was delighted with Friday's announcement: “I am so pleased, because we didn't have the best year. We lost community workers and the weather was difficult.”

The Drumlish TidyTowns Chair says the volunteers have seen the fruits of their labour: “It's about sustainability. They were very impressed with our planning and involvement. We are very inclusive. There is a great integration of the people who now make up the community of Drumlish. We have a core of about 12 to 14 members, but when we put the call out for a Meitheal we could have up to 30.”

Also Read: American Travel Agent walks in her ancestors footprints by renewing wedding vows in Longford

Drumlish TidyTowns will also receive €400.

Stonepark TidyTowns were chosen to receive an Endeavour Award and €500, while Tarmonbarry Village, who are marked in Roscommon, increased their markings this year by 11 to 367 and are now just 19 marks behind the national winners Ballincollig, Cork at 386 marks.