Skerries Tidy Towns

What is "Tidy Towns"?

Tidy Towns is an annual competition, first held in 1958, organised by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment in order to honour the tidiest and most attractive cities, towns and villages in Ireland.

The primary focus of Tidy Towns was to encourage communities to improve their local environment and make their area a better place to live, work and visit. The competition aspect was an important element in developing friendly rivalry that would help boost standards across the board.

Personal Statement

Tidy Towns has always played a major part in my life. Growing up my neighbour was on the local committee. Due to this our whole estate was involved in festivities of Tidy Towns.

This connection with Tidy Towns led my sister to her Masters in Environmental Science and me to my love of horticulture. Tidy Towns has been a prevalent part of my local town Skerries' identity. The hard work paid off in 2016 when Skerries won the competition.

With an average of 700 entrants each year this innovative competition motivates entrants to be aware of their surroundings and the impacts of their actions. This initiative is more prevalent than ever with the current crisis our generation faces.

Tidy Towns Painting 2014

2014

In 2014 The White Cottages in Skerries won Georgina Campbelll's Bed & Breakfast of the year.

Skerries White Cottages - Tidy Towns

One of the major events to happen in Skerries each year is the Tidy Town's Award Night. In 2014 The White Cottages won "Best Presented Business" at this ceremony. Each year Skerries Art School choose their "pupil of the year" to create a prize on behalf of Skerries Tidy Town's Committee for this award. Many of these pupils have gone on to study in The National College of Art & Design in Dublin.

Louise Scanlan was chosen for this honor on behalf of The White Cottages. The pupil presented to artwork to the O'Connor family when their achievement was announced.

In 2016 Skerries won the overall prize for Tidiest Town. In the same year The White Cottages won John and Sally McKennas' Guides; Ireland's 100 Best Places to Stay.