Abbeyleix were the big Laois winners at this year’s Tidy Towns awards as they won the overall county award for Laois as well as being a Gold medal winner in their category at national level and claiming a special ‘Inclusive Community’ award.
Stradbally were also honoured with a Gold medal in the Category B, which is done by a town or village’s population, while Portlaoise were given a silver medal award in Category G.
The local Tidy Towns committee are presented with a €900 cheque for being a Gold Medal winner and €700 for a Silver Medal.
Abbeyleix also got a €1,000 award for being the overall Laois winner and a further €2,000 for being the National Award winner of the Supervalu Inclusive Community Award.
The scale of Abbeyleix’s success is further recognition for an incredibly hard-working local group on the ground in the town.
Castletown were the Highly Commended Laois winner for a prize of €800 while Ballacolla were Commended for €500 and Ballinakill were acknowledged for the County Endeavour award and a prize of €500.
The national award winner was Glaslough in Monaghan.
Categories A and B are Villages with Category A under a population of 200 and Category B with a population of 201 to 1,000.
Categories C (1,001 to 2,500) and D (2,501 to 5,000) are deemed Small Towns, E (5,001 to 10,000) and F (10,001 to 15,000) are Large Towns while H (15,001 to 25,000) and G (over 25,000) are Urban Centres.
The full Laois results and their marks are as follows.
Category A
- Ballacolla – 326
- Emo – 319
- Cullohill – 308
- Clough – 306
- Killasmeestia – 296
- Attanagh – 274
- Spink – 265
- Shanahoe – 250
- Pike of Rushall – 244
Category B
- Castletown – 329
- Durrow – 324
- Clonaslee – 320
- Killenard – 308
- Borris-in-Ossory – 295
- Errill – 294
- Ballybrittas – 224
- Ballinakill – 220
Category C
- Abbeyleix – 342
- Stradbally – 307
- Rathdowney – 232
Category D
- Mountmellick – 294
Category F
- Portarlington – 274
Category G
- Portlaoise – 316
SEE ALSO – In Pictures: Mighty craic in Vicarstown at Riverdance by the Grand Canal
