Tipperary locals striving to keep local Tipperary town clean and fresh

Refresh Thurles was founded in 2013 to focus on improving town presentation and completes the Thurles entry for the national Tidy Town’s competition each year.

The feedback received in the adjudicators report is invaluable for the committee in focusing efforts on areas that need more attention.

The group works closely with Thurles Municipal District Council on various projects within the town. An example of this is the installation of two nature boards on the River Suir walk in recent weeks.

This project was completed with input from Refresh Thurles, Thurles Municipal District Council, Designedly and a local ecologist.

The committee runs various competitions each year in a bid to get local people involved in
keeping the town clean and tidy.

Firstly the best presented estate and street competition has taken place for the last seven years.

Each estate that enters receives a report from the judge and a donation to put towards future projects within the estate.

Ryan’s Cleaning have sponsored this competition for the last few years and this support makes this competition possible each year.

The Kathleen Wright Perpetual Trophy is awarded to the business with the Best Presented shopfront each year.

In 2023, this was won by Hayes Hotel, with the judge impressed with the summer flowers and the new outdoor seating area provided by the hotel.

The group runs various clean ups throughout the year with the Railway Field, Mill Road and
Dublin Road all tackled in recent times.

Refresh Thurles also plants flowers and shrubs in the planters outside the Premier Hall and the flower beds at Castle Avenue and across from St Patrick’s Cemetery.

Refresh Thurles Tidy Towns have compiled a handbook offering advice to those wishing to start residents associations within their estates.

It contains useful information for example on holding an AGM, group constitutions, funding streams and useful contacts.

It has proved a useful guide for groups within the town, and the group has also shared it with other groups throughout the county. A copy of this booklet is available in Thurles Library and Premier Credit Union.

The national Tidy Town’s competition is sponsored each year by SuperValu.
In Thurles, the committee receive support from Tom Barry and all the team at Barry’s Supervalu.

Refresh Thurles say they are delighted with the support of Barry’s SuperValu, who recently sponsored two litter bins that were installed to help reduce litter at the railway field.

Refresh Thurles also had an information day recently in Barry’s SuperValu, where they had the opportunity to meet locals to inform them of the work the group undertakes and to encourage more members to join the group.

They are keen to highlight that everyone can play a part in keeping our town clean and tidy.

The group would be delighted to have more members to help with litter picks and planting throughout the town, and ask that anyone interested in helping please contact 0894487657 if you would like to be added to the WhatsApp group to keep up to date on their latest projects.

The group can also be contacted through their Facebook page.