Killarney’s gold medal winning performance in this year’s Tidy Towns competition has been described as a wonderful boost and even more encouraging was the fact that the town was just three points behind overall winner, Ennis, Co Clare.

That’s the view of Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce President, Niall Kelleher, who described the town’s 352 points tally in the keenly contested Category F as hugely impressive.

He said to finish just three marks behind Ennis was a marvellous achievement for Team Killarney, particularly considering the town’s disappointing showing in the recent IBAL awards.

“This result is a fairer reflection of the outstanding ongoing work led by the dedicated management and outdoor staff of Kerry County Council. Without their input, our town would not maintain such a high ranking,” Mr Kelleher said.

“The input from residents, Tidy Towns volunteers and the commercial interests was well reflected and highly commended in the adjudication,” he added.

The Tidy Towns judge said: “Killarney is a busy place and your group is very active in developing and promoting projects that enhance the townscape. Well done on progressing with these, especially during the past two years of the COVID pandemic”.

The adjudicator added: “It has been a difficult two years so it’s great to be back out and on the ground experiencing, in person, the excellent work that has been taking place for Tidy Towns”.

Business premises that especially caught the eye of the adjudicator and mentioned in the report were The Laurels, the Royal Hotel, the Ross Hotel and the Town Hall.

Killarney House and Gardens also came in for great praise from the judge who found it was maintained to an exceptionally high standard, as was Muckross House and Gardens.

“Killarney’s gold medal brought the county’s tally to four this year and we were delighted too that Kenmare, Listowel and Tralee all received gold medals,” the Chamber president said.

“No other county in Ireland has managed to achieve so much success at county level and it reflects the commitment by Council management and staff and the 35 different Tidy Towns committees within the county,” he added.

Killarney won the prestigious overall award in 2011 and, following this year’s performance, confidence is growing that a second overall win is not far away.