Aughrim, Co.Wicklow has been awarded the title of Ireland’s Tidiest Town 2007. Aughrim came close last year when they won the Tidiest Small Town category and were just one point behind the overall winner, Westport.

The County Wicklow town was chosen from over 800 other competitors in this year’s National Tidy Towns Competition. Other winners included Birdhill, Co. Tipperary - Ireland’s Tidiest Village for the second time in a row, Killarney, Co. Kerry which received the Ireland’s Tidiest Large Town award and Letterkenny Co. Donegal was named Ireland's Tidiest Large Urban Centre. Aughrim also received the award of Ireland’s Tidiest Small Town.

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The winner of the Tidy Towns Schools Award, which was launched last year, was St. Mary’s National School, Enfield, Co. Meath.

On hand to present the prizes in St. Patrick’s Hall in Dublin Castle was Mr John Gormley, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Mr Donal Horgan, Managing Director of SuperValu, the competition’s national sponsor. Representatives of hundreds of Tidy Towns Committees from around Ireland travelled to Dublin to see Minister Gormley present the overall prize - a perpetual trophy and a cheque for €15,000 - to the Aughrim Tidy Towns Committee.

Minister Gormley said after the awards ceremony: "Aughrim have been consistent performers in Tidy Towns for many years, they have advanced steadily and I am delighted that they have now taken the overall title for the first time this year."

(CD)