Tipperary community scoops South East Regional Award in national Tidy Towns Contest

Three south Tipperary Tidy Towns groups won coveted Gold medals in the national Tidy Towns Competition awards in Dublin last Friday with Emly adding to its already packed prizes cabinet by scooping the South East Regional title.

Emly Tidy Towns was also the overall South Tipperary Tidy Towns winner securing an impressive 384 points, just two points below the overall national Tidy Towns winner, Ballincollig in county Cork.

Kilsheelan Tidy Towns was a close second place in South Tipperary with 383 points while Clonmel was in third place with 367 points.

These three Tidy Towns groups won Gold medals in the national competition.

Emly Tidy Towns, a previous overall national Tidy Towns title winner, said it was overwhelmed by the result it achieved in the competition this year.

In a message posted on its Facebook page, Emly Tidy Towns thanked all the community for their hard work and for doing their village proud.

“We feel so honoured to have received such a high accolade,” the group said.

A celebration was held in Byrne’s Tavern in Emly over the weekend to honour the village’s Tidy Towns volunteers.

Tipperary County Council said a total of 12 Tidy Towns medals were awarded to towns and villages across the county and special awards went to Cashel, Cahir, Kilsheelan and Clonmel Tidy Towns groups.

Cahir Tidy Towns won the Young Person in Tidy Towns Award for the South East and The Waters & Communities Award while

Cashel’s Scoil San Isadoir was the regional winner of the Supervalu Schools Award.

Kilsheelan Tidy Towns was the national winner of the Leave No Trace Tidy Towns gong and the Local Authority Pollinator Award for Small Towns.

Clonmel Tidy Towns, meanwhile, was the regional winner of the Local Authority Pollinator Award for Large Towns.

The County Council paid tribute to all the Tidy Towns volunteers across the county for their tireless hard work and commitment in helping their communities improve their local environment and making the county a better place to live, work and visit.

“This year there was 80 entrants from Tipperary and we congratulate all Tidy Town groups on their wonderful results and wish them all continued success for 2025,” the local authority added.

Minister for Rural & Community Development Heather Humphreys announced the Tidy Towns competition winners at a ceremony attended by more than 600 Tidy Towns volunteers in Croke Park.
She also announced €1.5 million in grant aid for around 900 TidyTowns groups nationwide at the ceremony.

South Tipperary Tidy Towns Medals

• Emly – County First & Gold Medal
• Kilsheelan – County Second & Gold Medal
• Clonmel – County Third & Gold Medal
• Cahir – Bronze Medal
• Cashel – Bronze Medal
• Grangmockler – Endeavour Award
  Regional Award
•  South East Regional Winner - Emly Tidy Towns
  Special Awards
•  Young Person in Tidy Towns Award South East – Cahir
• The Waters & Communities Award – Cahir
• Leave No Trace Tidy Towns Award National Winner – Kilsheelan
• Local Authority Pollinator Award Small Town – Kilsheelan
• Local Authority Pollinator Award Large Town Regional Winner – Clonmel
• Supervalu School Award Regional Winner -Scoil San Isadóir, Cashel.