'The solutions lie within our communities' – President in Leitrim

There was a huge sense of pride and happiness in the glowing July sunshine as a plaque was unveiled in the Market Yard by President Catherine Connolly, commemorating Carrick-on-Shannon’s 2025 Tidy Towns success as both Ireland’s Tidiest Town and Ireland’s Tidiest Small Town.

Members of the Tidy Towns Committee, local politicians and invited guests gathered on Friday, July 31, to hear a speech from President Connolly and celebrate the successful year Leitrim’s county town has enjoyed.

The importance and strength of community was a central theme throughout the speeches delivered at the event. In her address, President Connolly described the Tidy Towns Committee’s achievement as “the result of decades of effort, commitment and previous successes” in community initiatives.

Addressing the audience about the Committee, she said, “Your first entry was 1959 and from 1975 onwards you entered the competition each year showing grit and determination, winning numerous regional awards and 12 gold medals.

“None of which would have been possible without the consistent hard work of the Tidy Towns Committee and also the selfless work of the volunteers.”

She summed up the essence of Tidy Towns by saying, “Tidy Towns is about communities working together for a common purpose, to make their own place, town or village, no matter how big or small, a town to be proud of.”

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She also spoke about how the competition’s categories have expanded to reflect the existential threat posed by climate change. The competition now consists of eight categories, including nature and biodiversity and sustainability, with an emphasis on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

“As I travel it is becoming crystal clear that the solutions to the challenges that we face lie within our communities. They must be empowered, enabled, and importantly, resourced,” said President Connolly.

“It’s equally clear that investment must be spread evenly across every region, town and village of our beautiful country. Geography should never determine or delimit a community’s viability or sustainability.

“The journey Carrick-on-Shannon has made from 1607 when it got its borough status, and subsequently got market town status, the journey you have made over that time is amazing and it’s an example to all our communities.

“It’s also an example to any wise government - no government in particular, that we must enable and empower our communities and I cannot give out that message strongly enough,” she added.

President Connolly was then presented with an artwork of Carrick-on-Shannon created by Emma Loughlin, while her husband, Brian McEnery, received a hamper of locally produced goods, including cheeses from Leitrim Hill Creamery and a bottle of Drumshanbo Gunpowder Gin.

John Gaffey, Chairperson of Carrick-on-Shannon Tidy Towns, said the competition is about far more than winning.

“It’s about the community coming together to make the town and village a more pleasant place to live. It’s about planting a flower or cleaning a street and later walking past in the understanding you had to make that happen,” he said in his speech.

“The most important thing about Tidy Towns is the people you meet and the friendships you make because you decided to go outside and join in with others to make a difference in the community.”

Speaking to the Leitrim Observer, Mr Gaffey described the day as “icing on the cake after the year we’ve just had.”

He spoke about how the Committee undertook “unique projects”, which he believes helped them achieve their success while also keeping the town looking its best. These included the Ash Tree Conservation Project, a long-term initiative aimed at reproducing healthy ash trees resilient to ash dieback disease.

“This is a very worthy project and is along the lines of what they’re looking for in the Tidy Towns competition. It’s a meaningful biodiversity project,” said Mr Gaffey.

The Committee has between 50 and 60 volunteers who work throughout the year to keep the town looking radiant.

“We get a couple of jobs done every day which keeps it going all the time. We’re just keeping on top of things and keep going throughout the year,” he said, adding that community involvement is vital to both their group and other volunteer organisations in the town.

“Businesses realise how important it is to keep the town good and they’re really doing a great job as well,” he added.

Cathaoirleach of Leitrim County Council Mary Bohan spoke of the tremendous effort made not only in Carrick-on-Shannon but by Tidy Towns Committees across the county.

“We have to recognise all of the hard work that has gone into this on a continuous basis. You come to Carrick early in the morning or late in the evening and you’ll see the volunteers. They’re out doing their work quietly on a regular basis and it means so much,” said Cllr Bohan.

“Throughout the county there are a huge amount of volunteers from Tidy Towns groups. In my own village in Drumkeeran there’s a small number of people keeping the village looking lovely. It’s the same in Dromahair, Manorhamilton and Kiltyclogher and all around the towns in South Leitrim,” she added, saying the Council will continue to support these groups.

She also appealed to members of the public to respect the work of Tidy Towns committees throughout the county and to do their part in tackling litter.

“There’s an onus on everybody. They pick up so many bags of rubbish and still people are dumping litter,” she said.

“I would make an appeal to everybody. We have a beautiful county, we’re encouraging people to come and live in it and it’s not a big job to bring your rubbish home.”

The plaque in the Market Yard will stand as a lasting reminder of Carrick-on-Shannon’s landmark Tidy Towns success and the dedication of the volunteers whose efforts earned the town national recognition.