Westport and Kilkenny win awards

Westport in Co. Mayo has been named the Best Town in Ireland, while Kilkenny has been named the best city.

The award has been given by Retail Excellence Ireland following a survey it conducted with more than 16,000 citizens and stakeholders in over 100 towns and cities in the country.

The survey is part a Retail Excellence Ireland (REI) initiative to encourage all business owners to work together to form a “Town Team”, design and implement a “Town Plan” which will reinvigorate towns and cities, and re-engage with customers.

Cormac Kennedy, Head of Property, Eason and Chairman REI Town and City Revival Committee said: "It is critically important that the report and the survey results are used to help improve our towns and cities. This should act as a road map for towns and cities to help them focus on areas that they can improve on.

"As retailers, we need to invest into our shops, and as customers, we need to visit our local towns and cities more often and remind ourselves what great things they have to offer."