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Celebrating Corks Cleanest Communities at the Anti Litter Challenge Awards

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Chief Executive Tim Lucey Cork County Council, Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Christopher O’Sullivan with Villages County Final winners Coolagown , hundreds of volunteers from across the county’s cleanest Towns at Cork County Hall to celebrate their achievements at the Cork County Anti-Litter League prize giving ceremony.
Photography by Gerard McCarthy

Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Christopher O’Sullivan welcomed hundreds of volunteers from across the county’s cleanest towns to Cork County Hall to celebrate their achievements at the Cork County Anti-Litter League prize giving ceremony.

Now in its 23rd year, the Anti-Litter Challenge is a competition where Tidy Towns groups and other community organisations compete to keep their local environment clear of litter. Unlike the Tidy Towns competition, the sole emphasis of this competition is on litter.  This focus on litter provides an opportunity for all communities to compete on a level playing field.  Advantages conferred by areas of natural beauty and architectural importance in the Tidy Towns competition are not considered as part of the judging criteria of the Anti-Litter Challenge.

23 towns entered the competition in 2019 with awards presented for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in categories A, B1, and B2.  Alongside a cash prize, the 1st and 2nd place winners of category B1 are promoted to category A, while the top 2 placements in B2 are promoted to B1.

Representatives from the competing towns were joined by the overall winners of the villages’ divisional competition, announced earlier in the year, for the village’s county final.  88 villages entered from throughout the county with 4 from each of North, South and West Cork receiving an award.

113 awards were made in the 2019 competition to both villages and towns with the total prize money awarded coming to €40,950.  €24,350 was made to villages with the remaining €16,600 made to towns.

Cork County Council’s Chief Executive Tim Lucey, praised the efforts of all involved and  noted the fine margins that separated the prize-winners from the other participants.

“The value of volunteer effort in tackling litter deserves to be celebrated widely. The groups present here today, and all of those who took part in the anti-litter challenge, have made a huge impact on the county from the perspective of tourism, natural heritage, and community pride.”

The awards were presented by the Mayor of Cork County, Cllr Christopher O’Sullivan who echoed Mr. Lucey’s sentiments on the importance of volunteerism and competitions such as this, “Cork County Council’s Anti-Litter Challenge was the first of its kind in the country, with other counties looking to emulate its success. By focussing only on litter, the strength of community groups and pride of place are pushed to the forefront.  I commend every village and in particular the dedicated volunteers working among them.”

List of winners

Towns Winners

Category A

1st: Castletownbere, €1,000

2nd: Millstreet €750

3rd: Youghal €500

Valued Participants: Blarney, Carrigaline, Clonakilty (€200 each)

Category B1

1st: Dunmanway €1,000

2nd: Carrigtwohill €750

3rd: Charleville €500

Valued Participants: Skibbereen, Crosshaven, Fermoy, Ballincollig, Schull, Macroom (€200 each)

Category B2

1st: Passage West €1,000

2nd: Kinsale €750

3rd: Newmarket €500

Valued Participants: Mitchelstown, Mallow, Bandon, Kanturk (€200)

Villages County Finals

1st: Coolagown €900

2nd: Berrings €650

3rd: Kilmacsimon Quay €400

Most Improved

Town: Bantry €250

Village: Cullen €250

Prizes & Prize Money

The total number of prizes awarded in the 2019 competition 113, the breakdown between Towns and Villages is as follows:

·      Villages:                90

·      Towns:                  23

The total prize money awarded in the 2019 competition is €40,950, the breakdown between Towns and Villages is as follows:

·      Villages:                €24,350

·      Towns:                  €16,600

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