€43,000 awarded to Tidy Towns groups in Westmeath
Our Rural Future: Minister Humphreys announces details of €1.4 million in funding for Tidy Towns Groups
• Minister encourages Tidy Towns committees to avail of funding for 2023 projects
• Grants of between €1,000- €4000 for almost 900 groups
• Emphasis on projects that promote green spaces, parks and biodiversity
Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has today announced the details of €1.4 million in funding to support Tidy Towns groups preparing for the 2023 SuperValu Tidy Towns competition.
As part of the initiative, grants of between €1,000 and €4,000 will be provided to almost 900 Tidy Towns groups across the country.
Westmeath allocations
Collinstown €1,000
Milltownpass €1,000
Loughnavalley €1,000
Crookedwood €1,000
Rosemount €1,000
Coole €1,000
Ballinalack €1,000
Ballinahown €1,000
Ballinagore €1,000
Drumcree €1,000
Raharney €1,000
Tubberclair €1,000
Dysart €1,000
Multyfarnham €1,000
Tyrrellspass €1,000
Streamstown €1,000
Glasson €1,000
Castledaly €1,000
Ballykeeran €1,000
Clonmellon €1,000
Ballymore €1,000
Ballynacargy €1,000
Mount Temple €1,000
Baylin €1,000
Tang €1,000
Rochfortbridge €2,000
Kilbeggan €2,000
Castlepollard €2,000
Kinnegad €2,000
Moate €2,000
Mullingar €4,000
Athlone €4,000
Westmeath total, €43,000
Groups who entered the SuperValu Tidy Towns competition in 2021 or 2022 will be eligible.
Minister Humphreys has published the details of how Tidy Towns committees can avail of the funding and encouraged all eligible groups to apply.
The SuperValu Tidy Towns competition has been in existence since 1958. It continues to grow and attract new entrants each year. This year 882 towns and villages entered the competition.
At the national awards ceremony in October, Minister Humphreys declared Trim in County Meath as Ireland’s Tidiest Town for 2022.
She said: “This week I wrote to all Tidy Towns Groups across the country and thanked them for their work and dedication to their community.
“The efforts of the thousands of volunteers make our towns more vibrant and better places to live, work and raise a family.
“I want to support our Tidy Towns Groups in preparing for next year’s competition and today I am delighted to announce the detail of the €1.4 million in funding which I confirmed at the event in the RDS in October.
“The funding of between €1,000 and €4,000 is being provided to groups to assist them in preparing for the 2023 Competition, the 65th anniversary of the SuperValu Tidy Towns competition, but no sign of retirement on it – it’s stronger it’s getting.
“Today I am encouraging groups availing of the funding to look at projects for their green spaces and parks, and projects that are sensitive to our biodiversity and promote sustainable living. I am confident that this funding can help further support such initiatives.”
All eligible groups will be contacted before Christmas to confirm their funding. Applications for funding must be returned to Pobal no later than February 28, 2023. Late applications will not be accepted.
All projects and initiatives funded through this support must be completed by July 31, 2023.
Looking ahead to next year, the minister said: “I want to take this opportunity to thank the thousands and thousands of Tidy Towns volunteers that have given their time and skills so generously over the years.
"I am confident that the funding provided by my department in recent years, in addition to the funding I am referring to today, has made and will continue to make, a real difference in the towns and villages of Ireland.”