Four thousand reasons for Ballynacargy TT to celebrate!

They may not have come tops in the county, but the people of Ballynacargy have great reason to celebrate, after winning a €4,000 prize in this year's Tidy Towns competition on Monday.The village, which scored some 248 points, was winner of the national Recycle Initiative Award 2009, sponsored by WEEE, for its efforts on the recycling front.Nonetheless, as has become almost "customary", Ballinahown was winner of the overall Westmeath award, coming in with 290 points, and nationally, taking a bronze award, worth €400. In second place was Glasson, which scored 273 points, while Tyrrellspass came in third with 261 points.Kinnegad won the county Endeavour award - and a cheque for €500 - for its success in achieving a 7.35 per cent improvement in its marks in the competition, attaining a score of 219, 15 points up on its 204 of last year.Streamstown, which a few years back had the embarrassment of coming in last in the competition, has improved its rating by 10 points this year, making it up to 200, and Mullingar town has outscored Athlone, getting 244 points, compared to Athlone's 238.Nearby, Abbeyshrule fared extremely well in the competition, getting some 300 points, and a "Gold" award, worth €900. It was just 5 points behind the overall winning village, Emly in Co. Tipperary.