Entry for these is open to all TidyTowns groups as well as other interested individuals or groups.
The Special Awards include the Climate Action Award, with a prize fund of €6,000, sponsored by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications.
This award aims to recognise the input local communities can make in addressing climate change, to raise awareness of climate action, and enable local communities to promote behaviour change in the wider community.
The Local Authority Pollinator Award offers a prize fund of €10,000. It aims to encourage TidyTowns groups to implement pollinator-friendly actions in their towns and villages as part of the TidyTowns competition.
The other Special Awards are: Tree Project Award (€1,000); Gum Litter Taskforce Award (€5,000), Young Persons in TidyTowns Award (€5,000), the RIAI Town Challenge Award (€5,000), SuperValu and AsIAm Inclusive Communities Award (€2,000), RIAI Good Windows Award (€500), Leave No Trace Award (training valued at €1,100), Sustainable Development Goals Award (€6,000), Waters and Communities Award (€7,000), Heritage Award (€3,000), EPA Circular Economy Award (€2,000), and the Tiny TidyTowns Schools Award (€5,000).
Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, in association with the Managing Director of SuperValu, Ian Allen, yesterday (23 March 2023) launched the 2023 SuperValu TidyTowns competition.
Speaking in Trim, Minister Humphreys said: “This year we celebrate 65 years of this fantastic competition, which has become part of the fabric of Irish society. The saying ‘ní neart go cur le chéile’, which means unity is our strength, really sums up what SuperValu TidyTowns is all about. Once again the focus this year will be on bringing communities and TidyTowns volunteers of all ages together as we effect real change and make our towns and villages better places to live, work, visit and raise a family.”
Also speaking at the launch, Ian Allen, Managing Director of SuperValu, said:
“What makes SuperValu TidyTowns special is that it truly shows the power of community and how collective small actions can make a big difference toward ensuring our communities are more sustainable places to live, work and play for generations to come. Every year, 29,648 volunteers across 924 committees give over three million hours of their time to SuperValu TidyTowns – this is a phenomenal effort.”
The closing date for receipt of entries for this year’s competition is Wednesday, May 10. Entry to the competition will only be accepted by email to tidytowns@drcd.gov.ie
For full details on the TidyTowns competition, see www.supervalu.ie, or for more on the Special Awards, see https://www.tidytowns.ie/competition/2023-special-award-entry-forms/
