The Thurles best presented shop front competition is always keenly contested!

Refresh Thurles Tidy Towns recently launched its annual “Best Presented Shop Front Competition”. This competition aims to acknowledge businesses in the town making an effort to improve the external appearance of their premises.

All businesses in the town are deemed to be entered into this competition. The winner will receive the Kathleen Wright Perpetual Trophy. Past winners of this award include: Bookworm, Ryan’s Daughter Restaurant, Liam Campion Quality Meats, Liberty Pharmacy and Rusticafe.

The judge will be looking out for some of the following: A clean shop front and clean footpath in immediate vicinity, attractive painting scheme, effective signage and in good condition, window displays, flowers in window boxes/baskets to make location more inviting.

The judge will also pay attention to businesses using their outdoor space effectively. Judging will take place over the coming weeks and Refresh Thurles will announce the winner in August. A presentation will then follow to this year’s winner and the judge’s full report will be published in the Tipperary Star.

The competition judge had the following to say about last year’s winner: “The outstanding winner for 2022 has to go to Ryan’s Daughter situated on Rossa Street Thurles, this family run business is shortlisted every year and has previously won the award back in 2017.

Ryan’s Daughter has a great track record of keeping up a strong business identity, on one of the main street entrances to the town. The fresh unique look of Ryan’s Daughter ,with its fabulous window displays, hanging baskets and hand written menu boards offering what home cooked delights are available in the restaurant serving dinners daily, breakfast ,sandwiches, deserts and more.

Ryan’s Daughter is a well worth a visit. A big congratulations again to Gary and Geraldine Roche and all the staff on winning the Kathleen Wright perpetual trophy and for the amazing work involved in keeping Ryan’s Daughter Restaurant one of the top businesses in Thurles”.

Tommy Barrett of Thurles Tidy Towns explains the focus of this competition “It is vital that we put our best foot forward in Thurles and businesses play a key role in how their premises are presented. We want to raise awareness of the importance of attractive shop fronts not just in Liberty Square but throughout the town.

I also believe that it is in the interest of all businesses to have an attractive shopfront to increase their footfall. It is great to see so many businesses making a great effort this year and we look forward to the awards ceremony in a few weeks.”