Ballineen and Enniskeane Tidy Towns wins the Waters and Communities Special Award as sponsored by the Local Authority Waters Programme, Waterways Ireland and Inland Fisheries Ireland
Friday, 1st November 2024: Ballineen and Enniskeane Tidy Towns in Co. Cork have been announced as the overall winner of the Waters and Communities Special Award 2024 at the SuperValu TidyTowns awards ceremony held in Croke Park on Friday the 1st of November.
Almost 50 applications were received for the award with the top cash prize of €2,000 for the group that demonstrated water stewardship in their local waterbody. Ballineen and Enniskeane Tidy Towns members participated in Water Biodiversity Training and went on to work with an ecologist to create a Biodiversity Action Plan for their local waterbody – the River Bandon and carried out significant studies on various species living on the river. The group conducted a citizen science study on the flora and fauna of the river and engaged a green solution to dealing with invasive species – renting goats. Their projects on repairing riparian zones, developing designated solitary bee habitat, woodland tree planting and dead hedge removal have attracted other interested groups.
The judging panel agreed that the members of Ballineen and Enniskeane Tidy Towns submitted an impressive application which showcased how groups can support their local waterbody. The level of stewardship, dedication and passion in improving the river Bandon stood out and deserves recognition at this national level.
Congratulations to the other regional winners and highly commended awards and thank you to our partners SuperValu for hosting this competition.
Winners of the Waters and Communities Award 2024
| Community group | County | Region | Prize money |
| Ballineen and Enniskeane Tidy Towns Association | Cork | South West Winner and Overall Winner | €2,000 |
| Bettystown Tidy Towns | Meath | Midlands & East Winner | €1,000 |
| Ballinahown Community Development | Westmeath | Midlands & East Highly Commended | €500 |
| Cuan Beo Environmental | Galway | North West & Wets Winner | €1,000 |
| Emyvale Tidy Towns | Monaghan | North West & West Highly Commended | €500 |
| Cahir Tidy Towns | Tipperary | South East Winner | €1,000 |
| Durrow Tidy Towns | Laois | South East Highly Commended | €500 |
| Castleconnell Tidy Towns | Limerick | South West & Mid West Highly Commended | €500 |
| Overall prize money | €7,000 | ||
ENDS
For media information:
Sadhbh O’Neill
Communications & Engagement Lead
Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO)
T: 085 850 0409
Background to the Waters and Communities Special Awards
In addition to the main SuperValu TidyTowns competition, Special Awards are held each year to highlight particular local environmental activities. Details of all the Special Awards and winners can be viewed at https://www.tidytowns.ie/special-awards/ .
The Waters and Communities Special Award has a prize fund of €7,000. It aims to encourage communities to get more involved with their local waterbodies by helping to preserve, promote and fully utilise their local natural heritage. Community groups who showed an appreciation for their water environment, and for water heritage in general, during the previous twelve months were invited to apply.
Community groups might, for example, receive this award for carrying out clean-ups, providing or upgrading amenities, supporting biodiversity, promoting angling or raising awareness in various ways. The Waters and Communities Special Award is sponsored by Inland Fisheries Ireland, Waterways Ireland and the Local Authority Waters Programme. The Waters and Communities Special Award was first introduced in 2017 and is now a regular feature in the TidyTowns calendar. It is open to all community groups to apply.