Cork's Lord Mayor honours Tidy Towns winners, with volunteers from nine to 90

The members of Ballincollig Tidy Towns were praised by the Tidy Towns committee for its 'truly exceptional level of community involvement'

Cork City Council chief executive Valerie O'Sullivan, nine-year-old Dominik Wachta, Ballincollig Tidy Towns chairman Tom Butler, Lord Mayor councillor Dan Boyle, Cork City Council assistant chief executive Brian Geaney, and 90-year-old Jacqueline Cullinane. Picture: Brian Lougheed

From nine to 90 — the devoted inter-generational volunteers behind Ireland’s tidiest town have been honoured with a civic reception in Cork.

Jacqueline Cullinane, 90, and Dominik Wachta, aged nine, the oldest and the youngest members of Ballincollig Tidy Towns, were among the group hosted by the Lord Mayor, Dan Boyle, in City Hall on Tuesday night, to mark their town winning the national SuperValu Tidy Towns Competition last month.

The town was also named Ireland’s Tidiest Large Urban Centre for the second year in a row, and it won its 12th Gold Medal in the national competition.

In their report, Tidy Towns judges referenced the town’s charming tree-lined streetscape, its impressive approach to litter control and its ‘spray-free’ policy on weed control, its use of strategically placed seating areas, hanging baskets and planters, its beautifully maintained regional park, and its raft of inspiring biodiversity and sustainability projects.

But they specifically mentioned the Tidy Towns committee's “truly exceptional level of community involvement” and the involvement of all ages in the overall efforts.

Mr Boyle said the national title is so well deserved.

“Ballincollig Tidy Towns is a shining example of community spirit, collaboration, perseverance, and civic pride,” he said.

“They have done fantastic work around greening, fostering biodiversity and are trailblazers in terms of community climate action.

Ballincollig Tidy Towns youngest member, nine-year-old Dominik Wachta, shows off the group's Tidy Towns trophy. Picture: Brian Lougheed

“Their success is testament to the efforts of an army of volunteers who work week-in, week-out on litter picks, environmental projects, floral and landscaping projects and much, much more.” 

The Ballincollig Tidy Towns organisation first took part in the national Tidy Towns competition in 1965, but the group was rejuvenated in 1999 under the chairmanship of Tom Butler, who has been chairman ever since.

He praised the teamwork, the civic pride and the selfless dedication of everyone involved to a singular aim — to make the town the best it can be.

“I’m delighted for all our volunteers, and I’m delighted that they are getting the recognition they deserve,” he said.

“A lot of work goes on behind the scenes, quietly, week-in, week-out, 52-weeks of the year, year after year, to get to where we are now.

“In the 25 years I’ve been involved, we’ve never had to take a vote on anything because everyone has the same goal. Everything we do is for the betterment of Ballincollig and for the pride in our town.

“We are all part of the jigsaw. And like any jigsaw, each part is the same size as the next part, we are all equal, we are inclusive, and without every single part of the jigsaw, it just doesn’t work.” 

Cork City Council chief executive Valerie O’Sullivan said the town’s national award is testament to the fantastic community spirit and great pride of place in Ballincollig, and she thanked the council teams that support the town’s voluntary efforts.

The SuperValu Tidy Towns competition began in 1958 and has become Ireland’s best-known sustainability and environmental initiative.