Statement from Ballincollig Tidy Towns committee member Cllr. Garret Kelleher on National Tidy Towns win for Ballincollig

Being crowned Ireland’s Tidiest Town at the 2024 Tidy Town’s awards ceremony is a major boost for Ballincollig, a Fine Gael General Election candidate has said.

Councillor Garret Kelleher, General Election candidate in Cork North Central and a member of the Ballincollig Tidy Town’s committee said: “We are absolutely delighted with today’s announcement.

“This fantastic win for Ballincollig has been years and years in the making and is down to the hard work, commitment and countless hours put in by our volunteers and committee over the past couple of decades.

“This is our twelfth gold medal in a row and over that time span, we have improved our results in the national competition every year without ever taking a backwards step.

“Having finished in second place twice in 2018 and again last year, some of us were wondering if we were ever going to reach the top and win the overall national title so today, it feels like we have finally reached the promised land.

“We also look back and remember the massive contributions made by some of our long-serving members who are no longer with us but are definitely with us in spirit as we celebrate this great achievement, in particular the late Tony Whelan, who was one of our stalwarts and leaders and whose second anniversary takes place today.”