NOWHERE KEEPS UP WITH KENMARE
KENMARE has been one of the strongest performers in the history of the Irish TIdy Towns competition, but this week saw the South Kerry town scoop an All-Ireland title, with governments on both sides of the border choosing it as Ireland’s Best Kept Small Town -- much to the delight of committee Co-Secretary Maureen Finnegan
“The ‘Ireland’s Best Kept Towns’ is a competition run by the Northern Ireland Amenity Council and the Department of the Environment and Local Government and it’s been going since 1995,” Maureen said of the prestigious prize.
“We were one of just 14 places across the island nominated for a prize based on our consistent performances in the Republic’s Tidy Towns competitions, so to have even been in with a shot as we travelled up to Farmleigh House in Dublin for the ceremony was tremendously exciting.
“We had two visits from judges from both sides of the border in May, and we weren’t expecting to win our category, which also featured three other nominations from both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. So when our name was called out, we were shocked, but absolutely delighted!”
Unsurprisingly, the Kenmare committee received a glowing report from the judges, scoring well in all areas.
But while Maureen was quick to thank all members of the committee, the volunteers who help out with the tidying every Tuesday evening, Kerry County Council, the hard-working Community Employment Scheme, and co-operative businesses and residents, she thought it only right to tip the hat towards the man who set Kenmare on the right road with Tidy Towns competitions.
“We always had the action, but we needed a bit of direction to secure success, and we got that when Archdeacon Michael Murphy became involved with our committee,” Maureen said.
“He had success with Sneem before arriving in Kenmare, and he became our coach. Since then, we’ve won several Tidy Towns prizes, including the overall prize in 2000.
“We stopped to visit him in the nursing home in Killarney after we won, and he thought it a great tribute for us to call in, but it was only right that we did it.”
The committee scooped €2,500 from its win, and its attention now turns to the Tidy Towns competition.
“The money will go back into the town and it will help a lot before the Tidy Towns judges’ visits over summer ahead of the final results and awards in September,” she said.