Westport wins Tidiest Large Town award

MORE SUCCESS Pictured at the National SuperValu TidyTowns Awards ceremony were members of the winning committee from Westport who received the award for Ireland’s Tidiest Large Town on stage with Mr Phil Hogan, TD, Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and Mr Martin Kelleher, Managing Director of SuperValu, the competition sponsor.?Pic: Maxwells

Westport wins Tidiest Large Town award


Bridie Moran honoured for years of dedication

Áine Ryan
aineryan@mayonews.ie

THERE was only one point between Westport and the overall winner but the heritage haven has received a bouquet of category awards in the 2012 SuperValu Tidy Towns Awards.
This year’s overall winner, the County Longford village of Abbeyshrule, just pipped the three-times winner to the post. The towns of  Belmullet, Castlebar, and the scenic villages of Murrisk, as well as Bonniconlon, were also feted among the record 855 entries in the competition.
Speaking to The Mayo News shortly after yesterday’s announcement, in the Helix, Dublin, Tidy Town’s committee chairman, Frank Dolan confirmed Westport had received six separate awards. They were for the Tidiest Large Town, the SuperValu Hero award, presented to longtime volunteer, Bridie Moran; a Gold Medal award; a regional and county award; as well as inclusion on the shortlist for a special Bord FΡilte Tourism Award to be announced later in the year.
“We are absolutely thrilled that we received so many awards. We congratulate the other main category winners, Clonakilty (Tidiest Small Town), Ennis (Tidiest Urban Centre) and, of course, the village of Abbeyshrule in County Longford. We are particularly thrilled that Bridie Moran, who was the chairwoman the first time we won the overall competition, was honoured with the Hero accolade; she has been an inspiration to us all over the years,” Frank Dolan said.
Westport has won the overall award on three occasions: 2001, 2006 and 2008.
Responding to yesterday’s announcement, Minister for State, Michael Ring said ‘the people of Westport take huge pride in the appearance of the town and it is wonderful to see their work being rewarded’.
“I was delighted to learn that Westport has been named Ireland’s Tidiest Large Town in the 2012 Tidy Towns Awards. This award is richly deserved following the endless work and dedication involved in keeping Westport tidy. I wish to take this opportunity to highly commend the Chairperson of Westport Tidy Towns, Mr Frank Dolan, the committee itself and the large number of volunteers. I also want to compliment Mr Martin Keating, Director of Services, the indoor and outdoor staff of Westport Town Council, FÁS and Mayo County Council.”
He also praised all the other towns and villages in Mayo that had achieved gongs in the awards, which were presented yesterday by Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan. Martin Kelleher, Managing Director of SuperValu, said: “SuperValu TidyTowns is the public expression of the work countless individuals undertake to build community spirit and make their local area a better place to live.”

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