Clonakilty on Europe's ‘Great Places’ shortlist

The West Cork town of Clonakilty has been shortlisted for a top international award which celebrates Europe’s ‘Great Places’.

Shortlisted for The Great Town award by The Academy of Urbanism, it will be competing with Blackpool in Lancashire and Todmorden in West Yorkshire.

A panel of five judges will visit all three centres this summer, using a range of assessment criteria from community, character, amenities and public spaces to connectivity, commercial success, local governance and viability.

Giulia Vallone, town architect and senior executive architect with Cork County Council, said yesterday: “The award is a great benchmark for vitality and commercial success.

“Clonakilty was first nominated for this award with nine others in the UK and Ireland a few weeks ago, but we have heard it has just been shortlisted.

”This is a very good award to get, because it is an international benchmark for people in terms of where to live, work and visit. It looks at every part of a town’s life.”

Cork city previously won the Great Town award some years ago.