Ennis has been named Ireland's Tidiest Large Urban Centre for the fifth time in the 55-year history of the National TidyTowns Competition.

The result was announced by Mr. Phil Hogan, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government at the 2013 National SuperValu TidyTowns Awards Ceremony in Dublin.

Ennis, which finished joint third place overall, was marked against strict adjudication criteria and beat off stiff competition from other large urban centres such as Kilkenny City. The Clare County capital has previously won the award in 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2012.

Other competition winners included Moynalty, Co Meath (Tidiest Village and overall winner), Kenmare, Co Kerry (Tidiest Small Town), and Killarney, Co Kerry (Tidiest Large Town). Ennis received 314 points out of a maximum of 400, just 2 points less than the overall winner. Ennis TidyTowns Committee was presented with a trophy commemorating their win along with a cheque for €5,000.

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Meanwhile, Ennis has won this year's Midwest Regional Award and has also retained the Clare County Award for the 15th successive year, while it has received its 13th Gold Medal in as many years. Kilrush was commended in the County Award category.

Ennis was, again, named amongst 10 towns to receive a Tourism Towns Award, a category sponsored by Failte Ireland. The other winning towns were Cobh, Drogheda, Westport, Tralee, Murrisk, Mulranny, Kilkenny, Kenmare and Letterkenny.

There was further success for County Clare when Mountshannon and Kilrush both received a Gold Medal. Meanwhile, Kilkee and Tuamgraney both secured Bronze Medals. Tulla picked up the County Endeavour Award after it recorded a 5% mark-up on its score from 2012. Sean Lenihan, member of the Miltown Malbay Tidy Towns Committee and an employee of Clare County Council, was one of 10 individuals nationwide to receive a Supervalu TidyTowns Heroes award.

Mayor of Ennis Councillor Mary-Coote Ryan noted that the award successes for Ennis were based on a collaborative approach adopted by community groups, schools, residents associations, businesses and State agencies, in partnership with Ennis Town Council.

Mayor Coote-Ryan added: "The year-round work that has been put in by the TidyTowns Committee and the wider community has reaped dividends and Ennis has reaffirmed its status as one of the best performing TidyTowns participants in the country. The success is testament to the spirit of volunteerism and pride of place that exists in Ennis and as Mayor I am honoured to have been present at today's awards ceremony."

(CD/JP)