Instead of "did we win anything?" the question more likely to be asked around Ardagh village on Tidy Towns day is "What did we win?" But even the people involved directly in the Tidy Towns effort were surprised yesterday just after midday when news came through of Ardagh's third overall award.
"It is a surprise, so soon after our last win," Bridie Kenny said, as she watched the television with other Ardagh folk at the Ardagh Heritage Centre, the village's main attraction. Pat Kelleher, Ciss Bannon, Frank McCormack and Lucia McCormack, all employed at the centre, were glued to the TV news and a hush descended when the item, with stock footage of familiar places, came on.
"It was different the last time we won, I mean, the TV crew was here, but of course that crew from Nationwide was here a few weeks ago, so they'll probably use that," said Ciss Bannon, demonstrating a by now typical Ardagh familiarity with the media. "To be at the top is one thing, but to stay there, that's something else: that's what's so great," said Frank McCormack.
Yesterday's visitors to the town were also suitably impressed. Enjoying the presentation on the legend of Midar and Etain at the interpretative centre, Catherine Cahill said : "It's our first time here and we can see what impressed the judges." She and her husband, Brendan, were on their way to Mayo from their home in Sutton, Dublin, and, having heard previously of Ardagh, left the main N4 road for the four-mile detour to see it.
A short walk away is St Brigid's Training Centre, whose refurbished coachyard is another stop on the tourist trail. Here Christy Devlin, from nearby Newtownforbes, was painting the porch to the stately building. The upkeep of Ardagh never stops.
"That's what's great about the effort in Ardagh: we don't stop, we keep on tidying and painting and weeding," chipped in another local.
In a restored former post office live Stephen and Peggy Keegan, original members of the Ardagh Tidy Towns group. "Back in the 60s we started out, but I suppose none of us thought then that Ardagh would stay at the top, let alone get to the top," said Stephen after hearing yesterday's news.
There may well have been a mighty party in Offaly last night, but Ardagh was thronged with people too as yet another All Ireland title was brought home once again. Up Ardagh.