Westport’s Clean Sweep: the volunteers behind Ireland’s third cleanest town

Westport has been ranked the third cleanest town in Ireland by IBAL with local volunteers credited for a year-round effort that has helped maintain the town’s high standards.

The recognition highlights the work of Westport Tidy Towns and the wider community, whose consistent approach to litter control, environmental protection and presentation has placed the town among the top performers nationally.

Eithne Larkin, chair of Westport Tidy Towns, said the ranking was welcome recognition of long term consistent work rather than a short-term achievement.

“We were obviously delighted,” she said. “It’s an acknowledgement of all the hard work that goes on throughout the year. Being ranked third cleanest town in Ireland is an incredible achievement, but Tidy Towns is a twelve-month commitment, not just a summer project.”

Westport Tidy Towns operates a year-round programme involving planting, maintenance, environmental protection and sustainability initiatives, including recycling, upcycling and plastic reduction. The group also plays a role in major town events, such as the St Patrick’s Day parade. Clean-up operations are carried out with volunteers giving their own time on a regular basis.

“Every Sunday morning there are volunteers out ensuring the town is clean,” Ms Larkin said. “From early May, we move to weekly clean-ups, usually on Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings, and at busy times up to 30 people can be involved.”

She added that significant planning takes place behind the scenes, with a dedicated subcommittee coordinating summer clean-ups and assigning areas based on volunteer numbers.

“It’s quite an organisation logistically,” she said. “There are hours of work involved in planning before anyone even arrives on the street.”

Ms Larkin said no single area of the town presents greater challenges than another, noting that cleanliness must be maintained consistently throughout Westport.

“It all needs attention,” she said. “Different areas have different issues, so it’s about being consistent everywhere.”

She credited Westport’s strong sense of community for helping to maintain standards, describing local pride of place as a key factor.

“We live here and we want to live in a nice place, we are lucky enough to be living in a nice place and we want to keep it that way,” she said. “People care about Westport and want young people to learn to take care of it as well. There’s also a social element to volunteering, people enjoy meeting like-minded individuals.”

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Local businesses also play a significant role, with close cooperation between Westport Tidy Towns, the Chamber of Commerce and the hospitality sector. Many businesses participate in projects such as window boxes and take responsibility for maintaining their shopfronts.

Ms Larkin said the dedication of volunteers can be seen even during holiday periods, with members often out cleaning the town early on New Year’s Day.

While high rankings can bring pressure, she said the recognition has helped reinforce Westport’s long-term approach.

“Westport is one of the most consistent towns in Ireland in the Tidy Towns competition,” she said. “That consistency comes from people respecting Westport, caring for Westport, striving to do better.”

She added that Tidy Towns has played a major role in Westport’s national and international reputation.

“There’s no question about its importance in the success of Westport,” she said. “It is known nationally and internationally as a beautiful place to visit.”

Looking ahead, Westport Tidy Towns will focus on maintaining existing project. The group’s annual general meeting will take place on February 7 at 2pm in Westport Town Hall.