Tidy Towns: Kilkenny City is the tidiest of them all

They might have to wait another three weeks to learn their fate on the hurling pitch, but Kilkenny folk are celebrating victory in another field after winning the national Tidy Towns contest.

Kilkenny City was declared tidiest of them all after beating 848 other towns and villages across the country to claim the top title for the first time in almost 30 years.

Success was all the sweeter for the fact that the award was presented by Tipperary man Alan Kelly, the environment minister, who graciously put aside county loyalties to sing his rival’s praises.