Loo-king good ... hunt on for top toilet

MEMBERS of the public are about to go potty about the state of our toilets.

A nationwide outbreak of toilet humour is expected following yesterday’s announcement of the first-ever competition to find the country’s best public lavatory.

In other words, voters will be asked to give their number one to the best venue for doing their number two. The competition is being launched by pharmaceutical firm Pharmacia in conjunction with the Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland to raise awareness of bladder control.

Only public toilets are eligible, with entrants encouraged to take a colour photograph of the interior and exterior of their favourite loo. Competitors will be judged on the basis of cleanliness, accessibility and structural design. and overall impression in order to find the best loo-king toilet.

The winner will be awarded a prize of 2,000 towards the continued enhancement of the town’s public facilities. Four regional runners-up will also receive an Ireland’s Top Toilet plaque. Although anecdotal evidence would suggest many people’s experiences of public toilets would be akin to that of Ewan McGregor in the film Trainspotting, the organisers hope some five-star lavish lavs will be identified.

Pharmacia marketing director Siobhan Dee said: “We are delighted to be involved with this initiative as having a bladder control problem may mean needing to go to the toilet more than eight times a day. This means that clean and accessible public toilets are a vital party of daily life.”

Entry forms are available from Ireland’s Top Toilets, 5th Floor, Huguenot House, 35-38 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin.