Westmeath village wins overall Tidy Towns award as Cork volunteer gets special mention

The awards, announced at Croke Park on Friday, were presented by RTÉ's Marty Morrissey and attended by minister Darragh Calleary.

Ballinahown in Westmeath has been named Ireland’s Tidiest Town for 2026 ending a 40-year campaign by its volunteers to secure the title.

The village, with a population of just 160 people, was also named Ireland’s Tidiest Village, having won that title before in 2024.

Tralee in Co Kerry was named Ireland’s Tidiest Large Urban Centre, with judges praising its inclusive approach to projects and the time and attention devoted to designing, developing and maintaining its landscape.

Also in Kerry, Kenmare was named Ireland’s Tidiest Small Town, continuing a remarkable run of success in the competition, having won medals for 25 consecutive years.

The awards, announced at Croke Park on Friday, were presented by RTÉ's Marty Morrissey and attended by minister Darragh Calleary.

They recognised the work of thousands of volunteers who collectively contribute an estimated 1.1 million hours annually to improving their communities.

The ceremony was told around 31,000 volunteers are involved in TidyTowns groups nationwide, with their work equivalent to approximately 600 people working full-time and the estimated value of this contribution has been put at €36m.

Among the other winners, Bere Island received the Best Island award, while Kilmallock in Co Limerick won the national Special Awards category.

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The competition also acknowledged the long-standing commitment of 95-year-old Noreen Minihan from Clonakilty, who received a special mention for her involvement in TidyTowns since the 1970s, when she began volunteering in the area where she grew up.

The town has received 25 gold medals over the years.

This year’s competition attracted a record 936 entries, proving it's popularity for the event which has been running since 1958.

The awards recognise the appearance of towns and villages, as well as the contribution of volunteers to sustainability, social inclusion and community spirit.

Well-maintained public spaces can also help people feel safer, the event heard.