Cavan Tidy Towns Committee members Marie White (Schools Officer) Paul Lynch (Secretary). Tony Prunty (Chairman), James Wilson Higgins (Committee Officer), Martin Connolly (Finance Officer), Teresa Walsh (Committee Officer), Marie Morgan (Litter Warden) at the community garden.

Awards galore at Tidy Towns competition

A number of Tidy Towns groups across Cavan and Monaghan were recognised at the annual competition last week

Gemma Good

Published: Tue 27 Oct 2026, 4:52 PM

Last updated: Tue 27 Oct 2026, 5:00 PM

The SuperValu Tidy Towns competition took place on Friday evening with Cavan Town and Glaslough taking first place for counties Cavan and Monaghan.

Killeshandra and Carrickmacross came in second place; while Redhills and Monaghan Town complete the top three for each county.

In Monaghan, gold medals were awarded to Glaslough, Carrickmacross and Monaghan Town; while Smithborough received the Endeavour Award. Gold also went to Cavan Town, with Milltown receiving the Endeavour Award for the Breffni county.

The Endeavour Award is awarded to the entrant in each county that made the biggest percentage improvement on the previous year’s score.

Monaghan was the national winner for the EPA Circular Economy Award; while the North Monaghan Environmental Fishing Club won the Waters and Communities Award for the region. Cavan Tidy Towns was the regional winner for the Local Authority Pollinator Award.

Secretary of the Cavan Tidy Towns Paul Lynch said the "most significant" achievement for the group is the 20-point increase on last year's adjudication score.

Cavan Town finished with a score of 403 points; while the overall winner, Ballinahown in County Westmeath, received 413 points.

"We are coming in closer and closer behind the winners every year so I think it's been a very positive tidy towns award [ceremony].

"It's been a very productive and extraordinary year for tidy town's projects, it's really come together," he described.

Paul thanked Cavan County Council, the committee members and volunteers within the group, each of whom are "more than willing" to get involved in projects.

Meanwhile, Glaslough claimed the county award for the 16th year in a row, while also retaining their gold medal. The success comes as the group celebrated 60 years of working in the village, which was marked with live music at the Coach House & Olde Bar.

Chairperson Gareth Corrigan emphasised that "it's not just Glaslough Tidy Towns" who are involved with the projects in the area, and praised the volunteers, residents, local businesses, and community employment scheme members who play a part in retaining the title each year.

"We work very hard for it," he commented.

Some initiatives carried out by the team in the area include installing an exercise facility and sensory equipment for children with additional needs in the local park, while they have also erected a metal deer and horse monument in the village, representing the wildlife and equestrianism there.