Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce has congratulated everybody involved in the successful Tidy Towns campaign which resulted in a gold medal winning performance and secured the Kerry county award, despite stiff opposition

Killarney was awarded a total of 384 marks which was an impressive nine more than last year when the town was declared Ireland’s tidiest large town.

This year it gained additional points for tidiness and litter control, community involvement, streetscape and public places, green spaces, landscaping and sustainability as well as in the categories for residential areas, approach roads, streets and lanes.

Chamber Co-President, Johnny McGuire, a long-time Tidy Towns stalwart, said the success was a personal triumph for Killarney Municipal District Council’s outdoor staff who lead by example and set an incredible standard every year.

“Their wholehearted commitment and dedication is the key to Killarney’s success and we thank them, most sincerely, for everything that they do,” Mr McGuire said.

“While they will be delighted with the gold medal, they will undoubtedly be a little disappointed that Killarney didn’t win the coveted overall award for the second time but that day will come too,” he said.

The Chamber Co-President also thanked the council management and staff and the elected members who spearhead the Tidy Towns effort every year and he praised them for the great enthusiasm and foresight they show when preparing and presenting Killarney in the best possible light.
Mr McGuire also thanked the Tidy Towns volunteers who turn out day after day to ensure the town is looking its best.
“Where would we be without the dedicated volunteers? The effort they make is magnificent and Killarney owes them an enormous debt of gratitude for their admirable sense of civic pride,” he said.

Mr McGuire said the reintroduction of the Killarney Looking Good Competition in 2023 brought renewed enthusiasm and a great focus to the Tidy Towns campaign and the strong performance at a national level this year and last can be attributed to the exceptionally high standard set by the Looking Good event.

He added that the spirit of the late Fr Michael Murphy and Yvonne Quill, true Tidy Towns champions, lives on in Killarney and the sense of community pride they had is stronger than ever.

“I have never heard so many people, locals as well as visitors, saying that they have never seen Killarney looking so good so to everybody involved, the Chamber of Tourism and Commerce says thank you and feel free to take a well-deserved bow,” he added.