Keeping Killarney clean & pretty over six decades!

MEMBERS of Killarney Tidy Town hit the streets bright and early on New Year’s Day to sweep away the old and celebrate the start of a new and important milestone in 2018: the 60th anniversary of the National Tidy Towns.

Now a staple of community life in Ireland, the Tidy Town idea first started in 1958 as a way of honouring the tidiest towns and villages. “We just felt it would be a good idea to dress up and mark the beginning of what is a landmark year in the history of Tidy Towns, especially as our own volunteers have always been to the forefront,” said Killarney Tidy Town member, Johnny Maguire.

Killarney Tidy Town Group has over 100 volunteers, each of whom partake in what’s called ‘adopt’ a lane, street or road which they keep clean throughout the year. This method ensures everyone has a role to play in keeping the town in pristine condition. Johnny said the group is always looking for new members to join and stressed that public awareness is vital in the overall strategy to help keep towns and villages tidy.

“Making people aware from school age to older people is important. Here in Killarney we’ve gone from strength-tostrength and that’s what makes the difference. Our saying is ‘unity in strength’ and this is never more apparent than when all the volunteers meet and give freely of their time for the greater good of the town,” said Johnny.

Photo by Valerie O’Sullivan Celebrating the Tidy Towns 60th were Kate O’Leary, Johnny Maguire, Emer Corridan, Andrew Joy, Annmarie O’Shea-Kennelly, Julie McGowan, Yvonne Quill, Kathleen Foley, Michael Moynihan, Paul Purcell, Cllr Michael Gleeson, Cllr John Joe Culloty.