Mayo shines at 2025 Tidy Towns Awards
Tidy Towns groups across County Mayo are celebrating following their success at the 2025 SuperValu Tidy Towns Awards ceremony.
Ballina, Belmullet, Castlebar, Mulranny, and Westport were all awarded Gold Medals at this year’s ceremony, while Cong earned a Silver Medal, and Balla received a Bronze Medal.
It was an exceptionally successful year for Westport Tidy Towns, who won multiple awards, including the national EPA Circular Economy Award, the Large Town and Large Urban Centre Climate Action Award, and the title of Overall County Winner for Mayo.
The group was also highly commended in the Young Persons in Tidy Towns Awards, recognising the dedication of vice chairman Patrick Ryder.
Throughout the ceremony various Tidy Towns groups were recognised for their outstanding commitment to making Mayo’s towns greener and more eco-friendly.
Belmullet Tidy Towns won the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan Local Authority Pollinator Award and received a Highly Commended mention in the Gaeltacht Award.
Ballyhaunis emerged as the Regional Winner for the Waters and Communities Award, while Balla Tidy Towns took home the Tree Project Award.
Claremorris Tidy Towns were honoured with the Endeavour Award for County Mayo, while Mulranny claimed second place in the county rankings and Castlebar was highly commended in third, earning a special mention for their ongoing efforts.
The awards were presented by Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, alongside SuperValu Managing Director Luke Hanlon, with Marty Morrissey serving as MC for the evening in Croke Park’s Hogan Suite.
Mr Hanlon gave a special mention to Castlebar Tidy Towns for welcoming volunteers from over 30 different nations.
Castlebar Tidy Towns said they were “over the moon” and proud to have received their seventh consecutive Gold Medal.
“It has been our privilege keeping Castlebar clean and green since 1994,” the group said.
Mr Hanlon also highlighted Kavanagh SuperValu in Westport, saying the store truly embodies the spirit of community. Since 1998, he said, their unwavering dedication to Tidy Towns has been central to Westport’s transformation.
Minister Calleary said he was especially proud to present awards to five groups from his home county: “A brilliant achievement for our wonderful volunteers - míle buíochas. A real honour to present the awards today at Croke Park. Congratulations everyone.”
He also commended Ballina Tidy Towns and the wider community for coming together in the true spirit of meitheal following the theft of tools and equipment earlier this year.
The Ballina community gathered together and organised fundraisers to help the Tidy Towns group replace their stolen items.
During the ceremony, special praise was given to Niamh Gorman, Manager of the Tidy Towns Department within the Department of Rural and Community Development, for her leadership and dedication.
She was described by Mr Morrissey as “a great Mayo woman” before he added a quick “Mayo for Sam 2026”.
This article has been funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.