Makeover of towns inspiring

TIME was leading tourist towns like Westport, Co Mayo, and Killarney, Co Kerry, were criticised for not being attractive in themselves, despite their exquisite surrounds.

However, they and many other urban areas have been transformed, thanks largely to the efforts of local people.

Plastic signage has been largely banished, trees and flowers have been planted and traditional shopfronts restored. Unsurprisingly, both the Mayo and Kerry towns have won the Tidy Towns award and are thriving tourist centres. Now, the buzzword is “greentown’’.