KILLARNEY is making an all-out push to reclaim the overall national tidy towns title it last held in 2011.
A detailed submission has been forwarded to the adjudicators and this Tuesday sees the official launch of the annual Killarney Looking Good competition which is aimed at improving the visual image of the town and its surrounds in the lead up to the judging process.
A local committee has presented tidy towns bosses with reports, maps and photographs outlining the great work that has taken place since last year’s competition.
The tidy towns committee, spearheaded by Yvonne Quill, has appealed to locals to volunteer to help in the clean up with special gear, tools and insurance cover provided to all those who are prepared to help out.
In addition to the main event, there are a number of special awards up for grabs this year, including a special award for tourism towns whish has been introduced by Fáilte Ireland to support towns which have achieved recognition in the tidy towns competition and which have an interest in tourism.
The organisers said a strong tourism sector contributes to the sustainability of towns and villages and to the economic viability of local businesses and a monetary prize will be awarded to the top performers at the end of the competition.
Another new prize is the EPA waste prevention award which will recognise communities that have undertaken activities to prevent waste and use resources efficiently.
There is a separate gum litter taskforce competition as well as a climate change award, sponsored by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, to raise awareness of climate change at a local level and bring about positive changes which will reduce its impact.
Also up for grabs is a bring bank award which offers a prize for each of the winning communities in the seven tidy towns regions with the overall winner receiving an additional prize.
That award is a special competition award to recognise community support in maintaining local bring bank sites and assisting in their general appearance and usage.
Another prize on offer this year is a biodiversity ‘Notice Nature’ award, sponsored by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, to reward communities who have undertaken initiatives to protect the biodiversity in their local
environment.
There will be separate categories also for aluminium can recyling, a tree project and a heritage award.
