Cork North West Fine Gael General Election candidate Councillor John Paul O’Shea has congratulated the towns and villages across the constituency that were recognised in the 2019 Cork County Anti-Litter Challenge Awards.
This week, hundreds of volunteers from across the county’s cleanest towns were invited to Cork County Hall to celebrate their achievements at the Cork County Anti-Litter League prize giving ceremony.
Now in its 23rd year, the Anti-Litter Challenge is a competition where Tidy Towns groups and other community organisations compete to keep their local environment clear of litter. Unlike the Tidy Towns competition, the sole emphasis of this competition is on litter. This focus on litter provides an opportunity for all communities to compete on a level playing field.
Advantages conferred by areas of natural beauty and architectural importance in the Tidy Towns competition are not considered as part of the judging criteria of the Anti-Litter Challenge.
23 towns entered the competition in 2019 with awards presented for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in categories A, B1, and B2. Alongside a cash prize, the 1st and 2nd place winners of category B1 are promoted to category A, while the top 2 placements in B2 are promoted to B1.
Representatives from the competing towns were joined by the overall winners of the villages’ divisional competition, announced earlier in the year, for the village’s county final. 88 villages entered from throughout the county with 4 from each of North, South and West Cork receiving an award.
113 awards were made in the 2019 competition to both villages and towns with the total prize money awarded coming to €40,950. €24,350 was made to villages with the remaining €16,600 made to towns.
Cllr. O’Shea said this week: “My sincere congratulations to every town and village that entered this year’s competition, and a special well done to Millstreet, Charleville, Ballincollig, Macroom, Newmarket, Kanturk and Cullen on their respective successes. These towns and villages are doing Cork North West proud.
“It is terrific to see such a strong, countywide, volunteer-led approach to tackling litter. Every town and villages across County Cork deserves credit for their hard work in tackling litter, which has a huge impact on the county from the perspective of tourism, natural heritage, and community pride.”
List of winners
Towns Winners
Category A
1st: Castletownbere, €1,000
2nd: Millstreet €750
3rd: Youghal €500
Valued Participants: Blarney, Carrigaline, Clonakilty (€200 each)
Category B1
1st: Dunmanway €1,000
2nd: Carrigtwohill €750
3rd: Charleville €500
Valued Participants: Skibbereen, Crosshaven, Fermoy, Ballincollig, Schull, Macroom (€200 each)
Category B2
1st: Passage West €1,000
2nd: Kinsale €750
3rd: Newmarket €500
Valued Participants: Mitchelstown, Mallow, Bandon, Kanturk (€200)
Villages County Finals
1st: Coolagown €900
2nd: Berrings €650
3rd: Kilmacsimon Quay €400
Most Improved
Town: Bantry €250
Village: Cullen €250
Prizes & Prize Money
The total number of prizes awarded in the 2019 competition 113, the breakdown between Towns and Villages is as follows:
- Villages: 90
- Towns: 23
The total prize money awarded in the 2019 competition is €40,950, the breakdown between Towns and Villages is as follows:
- Villages: €24,350
- Towns: €16,600
