Tidy Towns 2011

Tidy Towns 2011

05 September 2011

Media Statement from Killarney, Overall Winner of the 2011 Tidy Towns Competition - Monday 5th September 2011

Statement from Yvonne Quille, Chairperson, Killarney Tidy Towns Committee

Last year we were pipped at the post by just one point and this year the whole community came out in amazing numbers to support the Tidy Towns drive and get Killarney well and truly over the line.Everyone has played their part, from the Town Council, the fantastic Killarney Looking Good Committee, the groups of volunteers who have been out every evening after work for the past 6 months, painting, planting and picking up litter, and of course the business community who ensured that their shop fronts and grounds were all looking well throughout the 12 months of the year.  

We were so thrilled last week when Killarney was voted “Ireland’s Cleanest Town” by Irish Business Against Litter and with today’s accolade just shows how communities working together can really achieve something special.  

I would like to sincerely thank the sponsors of the Tidy Towns competition, Super Valu, who ensure that this fantastic event can continue year on year and to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government for their continued support for the contest.

Statement from Tom Randles, President – Killarney Chamber of Tourism & CommerceWords can’t describe the feeling of jubilation and pride we all are experiencing in Killarney right now having been awarded the accolade of Ireland’s Tidiest Town. This is the accumulation of many years of work by so many people, in particular a labour of love for Yvonne Quille, Chairperson of the Tidy Towns Committee and Fr Michael Murphy, both of whom kept everyone motivated for years and years.  Both Yvonne and Fr Michael will be bringing the trophy home tonight in very safe hands!Through the award we can prove that the unique natural beauty of the area is matched by the love, dedication and pride everyone in Killarney has for the area.  We will be celebrating this achievement for many months to come and we want everyone to come and celebrate with us.  

Over the coming days and weeks we will be announcing some fantastic initiatives to encourage people to come and visit Ireland’s Tidiest Town.  These will be announced on our website www.killarney.ie and I hope as many people as possible join us over the coming weeks and months to celebrate with us.

Message from Cllr Sean Counihan – Killarney Town MayorWinning the title of Ireland’s Tidiest Town has been the pinnacle of an amazing couple of years for us.  We are now on the international stage once again, thanks to two successive Irish Opens which beamed Killarney into billions of homes across the world.  It heralds a bright new future for Killarney.  

This is a team effort, and every person in Killarney has played their part in today’s success in the Tidy Towns. I would like to pay tribute to the community spirit that is constantly on display in Killarney. Working together, the Town Council, businesses, communities and residents are helping Killarney prosper.

Tonight we will have a Killarney Tidy Towns Home Coming Celebration, welcoming the Trophy and the Winning Team to Killarney, gathering at Killarney Town Hall at 6:15pm.  We hope that the whole community who have been a major part of the success story will join us tonight to celebrate this great victory that belongs to everyone in Killarney.