All hands on deck for Tidy Towns effort

A united community effort will be key if Mullingar is to secure top honours in this year’s All-Ireland Tidiest Town competition (a different contest to the normal Tidy Towns competition), councillors have agreed.

The call came as members of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad discussed a motion from Cllr Bill Collentine seeking a coordinated plan to inform and engage the public around the competition.

Cllr Collentine said the nomination for Mullingar was a "great honour" and he proposed that the district develop a plan to inform and engage the people of the town on the importance of success.

"With Mullingar being nominated this year (2026), a united effort from residents, resident committees, businesses, schools, and community groups is essential," Cllr Collentine’s motion stated, adding that by raising awareness and encouraging participation, the town can enhance community pride, sustainability, and its chances of achieving all-Ireland success in Ireland’s Tidiest town this year.

In their formal written response to Cllr Collentine’s motion, council officials stated that district office officials have Waterways Ireland and Mullingar Tidy Towns to agree a strategy regarding the competition.

"Landscaping material has been ordered. Works have also commenced regarding footpath improvements, power washing, repair of street furniture and additional litter picking," the reply continued, going on to give an undertaking that the district will also liaise with other sections within Westmeath County Council to encourage groups such as schools, clubs and businesses to create awareness and encourage participation.

Cllr Collentine said the inclusion of Mullingar reflected years of steady progress, demonstrated through its success in achieving multiple Tidy Towns bronze awards, and a silver plaque last year, and continued improvements in IBAL rankings. He stressed, however, that success would depend on collective action.

"This is a one-off chance," he said, urging residents, businesses, schools and community groups to "do a little bit" each. He suggested organising a large-scale clean-up day and increasing awareness through media and social platforms.

The mayor, Cllr Mick Dollard, praised the scale of work already under way, describing it as unprecedented in his 42 years on the council. He commended council staff and Tidy Towns volunteers, but highlighted areas needing attention, including derelict buildings along the main streets and the need for greater civic responsibility among property owners.

He also proposed showcasing Mullingar achievements more visibly, suggesting that awards be displayed at the Market House and calling for increased use of public art and murals to enhance the identity of the town.

Cllr Denis Leonard supported the motion, noting that the competition goes beyond cleanliness to encompass culture, heritage and overall presentation. He backed the idea of murals celebrating musical and cultural legacy, as well as a dedicated town-wide clean-up day, similar to long-running initiatives in other counties.

Cllr Julie McCourt highlighted the importance of waterways and public spaces, particularly around the canal, while endorsing efforts to boost pride of place and tourism.

Cllr Ken Glynn echoed the need for community spirit, pointing to the work already being done by resident associations across the town. He said the motion was about "getting everybody working as a team".

Cllr Emily Wallace said raising awareness would be crucial and suggested setting clear targets and deadlines for businesses and residents. She recalled the strong sense of camaraderie during previous clean-up efforts and encouraged greater use of council communications to mobilise participation.

Cllr Andrew Duncan also backed the proposal, praising the "huge amount of untold work" carried out by Tidy Towns volunteers. He said building momentum and public awareness would be key to attracting more volunteers.

Cllr Aoife Davitt emphasised the role of young people, urging early engagement with schools. She said students had shown strong interest in environmental initiatives and could play a significant role in driving community pride.

In response, council official Mary Goldsberry confirmed that significant preparatory work is already under way, including collaboration with Waterways Ireland and Mullingar Tidy Towns. Landscaping, power washing, footpath improvements and litter management are ongoing, while businesses are being encouraged to avail of shopfront improvement schemes.

She also outlined progress on tackling dereliction, and said a dedicated steering group has been established to pursue regeneration and potential compulsory acquisitions along key streets.

District engineer Pat Kavanagh said additional resources had been deployed in recent weeks, including enhanced planting and cleaning efforts. He said building owners also have to play their part.

"If it’s only a tin of paint… just try to tart them up a bit," he said, adding that the council would work with property owners where needed.

Cllr Duncan further suggested reviving a "paint the town" initiative, noting that relatively small investments could transform the appearance of the town.

Welcoming the widespread support, Cllr Collentine said he was confident Mullingar could succeed if everyone worked together. "We can do it," he said.