Newcastle, Co Down has been named the overall winner of Ireland’s Best Kept Town competition 2009.
The all-Ireland winners announced at an awards ceremony in Dublin Castle today.
The competition, which has been running for 52 years, is organised by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Northern Ireland Amenity Council.
Towns that have reached the highest standards in the Tidy Towns awards in the Republic and the Best Kept awards in Northern Ireland are invited to compete against each other in the competition.
Newcastle also won the Best Kept Large Town category in this year’s competition while Ennis, Co Clare triumphed in the Best Kept Large Urban Centre category.
Other winners included Loughgall, Co Armagh, which won the Best Kept Village Category and Glenties, Co Donegal which was awarded the Best Kept Small Town prize.
Towns shortlisted for the competition are judged on a number of criteria including cleanliness, outward appearance of buildings, presentation of roads and public facilities and the natural environment.
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