Waters and Communities Special Award

TidyTowns Waters and Communities Special Award

Recognising community actions for water and biodiversity

This award has been a regular feature in the SuperValu TidyTowns competition since 2017. Prizes are awarded to communities for projects and initiatives that deliver local benefits for water and biodiversity.

Background

In addition to the main SuperValu TidyTowns competition, Special Awards are held each year to highlight particular local environmental activities. 

The Waters and Communities Special Award 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.

Marlfield Village Association wins 2025 Waters and Communities Award

Marlfield Village Association in Co. Tipperary has been announced as the overall winner of the Waters and Communities Special Award 2025 at the SuperValu TidyTowns awards ceremony held in Croke Park on Friday, 24th October.

Marlfield Village Association has adopted a multi-faceted approach to raising awareness of their local water bodies, focusing on Marlfield Lake and the River Suir. The group’s use of interpretive signage, visual art and guided walks around the lake have helped educate the public – both young and old – about the importance of the area’s rich aquatic biodiversity. Volunteer-led maintenance of Marlfield Lake and Sandybanks, including mowing, litter control, planting, and care for swans and ducklings, has deepened local pride and stewardship. Successful partnerships with the local GAA club on a biodiversity plan, in addition to working closely with Tipperary County Council, Birdwatch Ireland and LAWPRO, among others, on a multitude of projects has helped bring improvements to water quality in the area.

 Winners of the Waters and Communities Award 2025

Community group County Region Prize money
Marlfield Village Association Tipperary Overall Winner and South East Winner €2,000
Clashmore Tidy Towns Waterford South East Runner-Up  €500
Longford Tidy Towns Longford Midlands & East Winner €1,000
Dodder Action Dublin Midlands & East Runner-Up  €500
Ballyhaunis Tidy Towns Mayo North West & West Winner €1,000
Emyvale Tidy Towns Monaghan North West & West Runner-Up  €500
Portmagee Tidy Towns Kerry South West & Mid West Winner €1,000
Glanworth Tidy Towns Cork South West & Mid West Runner- Up €500
Overall prize money €7,000

Ballineen and Enniskeane Tidy Towns wins the Waters and Communities Special Award 2024

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.

 

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 & West 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

Gort River Walk Development Group win prize money of €2,000

Congratulations to Gort River Walk Development Group, County Galway who were announced overall winner of the Waters and Communities Special Award 2022 at the SuperValu TidyTowns awards ceremony held in the RDS, Dublin on 28 October.

This group’s positivity and enthusiasm for their local environment was evident in their application which made them stand out winners for 2022. Their application told the story of how they developed a river walkway and nature trail close to the town centre which had been blighted by illegal dumping and overgrazing. The group engaged with landowners, members of the local community, and the County Council in the development of the walkway and nature trail. They hosted public meetings and events such as biodiversity walks during Heritage Week, photography, and art competitions. They worked hard to enhance local wildlife and nature by removing rubbish and invasive species and by planting native trees and wildflowers. This group of local volunteers are an inspiration for what can be achieved by a local community.

In addition, the group members participated in Water and Biodiversity Training events and commissioned a Biodiversity Study and a Habitat Survey on the area around the Gort River. This led to the development of Gort Area Biodiversity Plan 2021-2024 which is now in implementation phase. They are worthy winners of the Waters and Communities Special Awards 2022.

For more information about Gort River Walk Development Group see Gort River Walk | Facebook

Judging the Waters and Communities Special Award

This year record numbers of entries to the competition were received from across the country. The standard of application was exceptional, and it was difficult to select the winners. All winners will be invited to Regional Awards Ceremonies organised by the TidyTowns Unit later in 2022.

Entries were assessed by a panel of judges appointed by Inland Fisheries Ireland, Waterways Ireland and the Local Authority Waters Programme. The judges assessed each application based on the following criteria:

  1. Awareness-Raising about the community group’s local water body (15 Marks)
  2. Community Involvement (e.g. with schools, landowners or other groups) (20 Marks)
  3. Stakeholder Engagement with the Local Authority or any public agencies (15 Marks)
  4. Project Benefits: long-term benefits to the environment and local community (40 Marks)
  5. Highlights to share (10 Marks)

Winners of the Waters and Communities Special Award 2022

 

County Region Applicant Status  Prize Money
Galway North West & West Gort River Walk Development Group Overall Winner  € 2,000.00
Roscommon North West & West Kilteevan Tidy Towns Highly Commended €    500.00
Wicklow Midlands & East Arklow Tidy Towns Winner  

 € 1,000.00

Westmeath Midlands & East Athlone Canal Heritage Committee Highly Commended  €    500.00
Cork South West & Mid West Cobh Tidy Towns and Clean Coast Cobh Winner  € 1,000.00
Kerry South West & Mid West Currow Rural Development Highly Commended  €    500.00
Wexford South East Ahare River and Biodiversity Group Winner  € 1,000.00
Waterford South East Affane-Cappoquin GAA Club Highly Commended  €    500.00

 

2021 Delgany Tidy Towns, County Wicklow scoop prize money of €2,000

Delgany TidyTowns were announced overall winner of the Waters and Communities Special Award 2021 at the SuperValu TidyTowns awards ceremony held in the RDS, Dublin today.  In their application, the group demonstrated a great appreciation for their water environment and water heritage by undertaking innovative initiatives during the Pandemic and are worthy winners. They set up RiverWatch and carried out a Citizen Science investigation of the Three Trouts Stream system – mapping its course, tributaries, land-use, risks, pressures and water quality. They organised volunteers to take part in Earthwatch Dublin Waer Blitz, recording 50 samples. Getting completely immersed, they hosted a Water Heritage Workshop during Heritage Week in August and also facilitated Greystones and Delgany Junior Tidy Towns to re-connect with their local river and streams.