It is most fitting that Killarney’s superb success in the national Tidy Towns Competition almost coincides with the first anniversary of the passing of Yvonne Quill who spearheaded the local campaign year after year, Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce has said.
Yvonne was the driving force behind the Killarney Tidy Towns project and the Killarney Looking Good Competition for several years and the seeds that were sown during her time at the helm are now coming to fruition, the business organisation said.
A statement issued by joint Chamber Presidents, Johnny McGuire and Pádraig Treacy, thanked all involved for helping Killarney to win the prestigious title of Ireland’s Tidiest Large Town which is something, they said, that everybody can be very proud of.
“Great credit is due to the management and outdoor staff of Killarney Municipal District Council for their remarkable dedication in presenting Killarney in the best possible light.
“The effort they put in and the quality and consistency of their work on projects such as planting and the presentation of the town’s roundabouts is the real reason Killarney was represented on the victory podium in Croke Park and we all owe them an enormous debt of gratitude,” the statement read.
“We also acknowledge the direction given by the Mayor of Killarney and the elected members who always have the best interests of the town and its people at heart and work so hard at achieving the set goals”.
The Chamber praised the many volunteers who roll up their sleeves to help out in the weekly clean-up projects and those involved with the Meitheal, working on important projects in places like the Abbey Wood and Cloghereen Stream.
The business organisation also thanked its members and the town’s retailers for ensuring their premises are well presented and the residents’ associations and individuals for the great pride they show in their home town.
Johnny McGuire and Pádraig Treacy said it is hugely encouraging to know that Killarney was just one point behind this year’s overall winner and the town is now in pole position to make an all-out effort to regain the prestigious overall award that Yvonne Quill last brought back to Killarney in 2011.
“To achieve that, we must all remain vigilant and with the Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) adjudicators due to pay their final visit either this month or in early November, we would encourage everybody to play their part by ensuring the space outside their own front doors are litter free at all times,” they said.
“With initiatives like the introduction of an upgraded Killarney Looking Good Competition and the coffee cup initiative, which involves a move away from plastic single-use cups, Killarney is really positioning itself for a better future,” the Chamber said.
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