Tidy Towns Entry

Entry Form

Identifying your prioritiesThe Entry Form is divided into 4 sections:

Section 1 deals with your committee details.

Section 2 deals with the main categories in the competition.

Section 3 allows you to map your areaand add additional notes.

Section 4 outlines the terms and conditions of the competition, including the criteria for all the prizes.

When filling out Section 2, it is important that you clearly state all the issues you wish to bring to the attention of the adjudicators. Where this involves areas or items of interest in your town or village, please show their location on your map. Further details on this are available in your TidyTowns Handbook.

How to complete your

TidyTowns Entry Form

This Entry Form is your opportunity to highlight the progress your town or village has made throughout the year and to outline your future plans. As such, it will form the basis for this year’s adjudication, so please complete carefully and in as much detail as you can. Any further information you may wish to provide for context, (such as a short plan, photographs or press cuttings) may attract additional marks and should be forwarded with this form. Your TidyTowns Handbook gives more details on why a plan is important and how to prepare one.

New EntrantsIf you are new to the competition, please remember not to stretch your resources too far by focussing equally on every category. At this stage, identifying the issues of immediate concern is the priority and then building on those for future years. Also, if you are entering on behalf of a large urban area, please note that the qualifying area for TidyTowns is no more than an area of one-kilometre radius from the urban centre. This area should be marked clearly on your map to avoid any confusion during adjudication. Rural towns and villages will be mainly assessed within the town or village signs or, where none exist, within the speed limit signs. Please note, however, that approach roads also form part of the competition.

Large-scale worksAs TidyTowns involves adjudicating the area itself, as well as the work of the committee, the adjudicators know that many issues involved are beyond the capacity of a committee to resolve on its own. However, any efforts made to engage with the relevant agencies will be taken into account when awarding marks. It is, therefore, important to identify these efforts under each category.

The information you provide is for the sole use of the Department

of the Environment, Heritage and Local

Government for the purposes of organising and promoting TidyTowns and

related initiatives.

The TidyTowns Unit will endeavour to return any

additional materials you supply, but we recommend you forward

copies rather than originals in case of loss or damage.

It is recommended that TidyTowns Committees obtain appropriate insurance to

cover their activities.

Closing date for

entries 20th May!

EmailIf your TidyTowns Committee has regular email access, please make sure you provide us with your email address. This facility greatly enhances our ability to communicate with you about TidyTowns and related topics on an ongoing basis.

How to complete your

TidyTowns Entry FormPlease note our new address!TidyTowns UnitDepartment of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government,Newtown Road, Wexford,Co. WexfordTel: 053 911 7347

Town / Area / Village / Island

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County

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Region

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Last Year of Entry

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Organisation Name

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Contact Name

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Address

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Phone

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Fax

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Email

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Web

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Section 1 About You!

Prize Category Population

Village A (Under 200)

B (201 to 1,000)

Small Town C (1,001 to 2,500)

D (2,501 to 5,000)

Large Town E (5,001 to 10,000)

F (10,001 to 15,000)

Large Urban Centre G (15,001 to 25,000)

H (25,001 and over)

I understand and agree to be bound by the rules of TidyTowns.

Signed (on behalf of entrant)

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Date ___________________________________________

Population CategoryPlease put a tick mark into the box below that matches your population size most accurately:

Please indicate numbers involved on the committee:

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Please indicate level of voluntary commitment (no. of meetings, general involvement of community, etc.):

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Please indicate agencies and bodies that have supported your activities (e.g. have provided sponsorship, resources, funding, etc.):

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How do you communicate with your community (newsletter, public meetings, etc.)?

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How do you engage with your local schools?

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General comments on your experience and on the competition itself:

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If your area holds any festivals or events, please indicate the relevant dates for this year:

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Section 2 Planning Your Activities

Overall Developmental Approach 50 Marks

Involvement of the local community in committee activities, partnership with local businesses and agencies, work carried out in a planned and targeted manner.

Litter Control

Roads, Streets & Back Areas

General Impression

Residential Areas

Landscaping Tidyness

Wildlife Waste Minimisation

Building Environment

Overall DevelopmentApproach

Summary of projects undertaken for this year:

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Projects planned:

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Section 2 Planning Your Activities

The Built Environment 50 Marks

Conservation and presentation of buildings; treatment of derelictsites; design, extent and suitability of civic amenities; general use of Irish language.


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Projects planned:

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Landscaping 50 Marks

Appropriate selection and siting of trees, shrubs and flowers for year-round effect, maintenance of planted areas, management of open spaces.

Litter Control


General Impression

Residential Areas





Litter Control


General Impression

Residential Areas






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Projects planned:

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Section 2

Wildlife and Natural Amenities 50 Marks

Conservation of natural amenities and wildlife areas, encouragement of wildlife, amenity walks and nature trails, appropriate access.

Litter Control 50 Marks

Absence of litter and dumping, existence of regular litter patrols and other planned activities including

involvement of schools, promotion of anti-litter awareness.


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Projects planned:

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Litter Control


General Impression

Residential Areas





Litter Control


General Impression

Residential Areas





Section 2

Tidiness 30 Marks

General lack of clutter in location and condition of signage, unused lamp poles, blocked footpaths, unsightly electric cables, absence of graffiti and fly-posting, traffic management, control of weed growth on kerbs.


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Projects planned:

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Waste Minimisation 20 Marks

Promotion of best practice, highlighting facilities, schools' initiatives, segregating litter in clean-ups, working with local businesses and agencies.


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Projects planned:

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Litter Control


General Impression

Residential Areas





Litter Control


General Impression

Residential Areas






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Projects planned:

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Projects planned:

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Residential Areas 40 Marks

Elements of the above, in particular maintenance of boundary walls, fences, gardens and communal open spaces, appropriate planting, estate signage and good planning.

Roads, Streets and Back Areas 50 Marks

Elements of the above, in particular presentation of approach roads, streets, connecting roads, laneways and bridges.

Section 2

Litter Control


General Impression

Residential Areas





Litter Control


General Impression

Residential Areas





Issues faced:

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Roads, Streets and Back Areas 50 Marks

Elements of the above, in particular presentation of approach roads, streets, connecting roads, laneways and bridges.

General Impression 10 Marks

Presentation of area as an integrated centre, including evidence of exceptional effort to overcome a particularly difficult problem.

Section 2

Litter Control


General Impression

Residential Areas





Rough sketch of town with street and place names. Please mark on map any items you wish to ensure are seen by the adjudicators.

Section 3 Mapping your Area

Section 3 Notes on your map

Section 4 TidyTowns -Terms and Conditions

General1. These terms and conditions together with any specific rules set out

in the TidyTowns Handbook or the TidyTowns Entry Form are the competition rules (“the Rules”). By entering the competition, entrants agree to be bound by the Rules.

2. The TidyTowns Competition (“the Competition”) is organised by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government ("the Department”). In the event of any dispute regarding these Rules, and all other matters relating to the Competition, the decision of the Department will be final.

3. To enter the Competition, the entrant must be a body entering on behalf of a town, village, island or stand-alone area ("town") and should be working towards being broadly representative of all sectors residing or working in the town.

4. Only one entrant per town is allowed. Where a town has more than one entrant, the Department will, at its absolute discretion, select one to participate in the Competition.

5. Competition entries should be made in the manner and by the closing date specified in the Rules. Late entry may be accepted in exceptional circumstances.

6. The Department cannot accept responsibility for entries lost, damaged or delayed, and proof of posting cannot be accepted as proof of delivery.

7. Prize winners will be selected by a panel of adjudicators appointed by the Department or by sponsors as appropriate. Unless otherwise stated in the Rules, all prizes will be awarded to the entrant. Adjudication will take place between May and September.

8. Prize winners will be announced and prizes awarded on a date or dates decided by the Department. Failure to claim a prize in the manner specified by the Department may result in the prize being withdrawn or selection of an alternate winner. The Department reserves the right to substitute prizes of equal or greater value at any time.

9. The Department cannot accept responsibility for any damage, loss, injury or disappointment suffered by any entrant entering the Competition or as a result of accepting any prize.

10. Information supplied will only be used for the purposes of organising and promoting the Competition and related initiatives.

Main Prizes11. Main prizes are the prizes awarded to entrants by virtue of their overall

score in the Competition, assessed under the following categories:

Subject Category Marking Structure

Overall Developmental Approach 50

The Built Environment 50

Landscaping 50

Wildlife and Natural Amenities 50

Litter Control 50

Tidiness 30

Waste Minimisation 20

Residential Areas 40

Roads, Streets and Back Areas 50

General Impression 10

Total 400

and, unless otherwise stated, consist of a cash prize and a certificate.

12. The overall title, Ireland’s Tidiest Town is awarded to the entrant with the highest score in the Competition. In addition to a cash prize and certificate, the winner receives a perpetual trophy (which must be

subsequently returned to the Department on request), a plaque and funding towards a day of celebration the following year.

13. The titles Tidiest Village, Tidiest Small Town, Tidiest Large Town and Tidiest Large Urban Centre are awarded to the entrant with the highest score in population categories A & B, C & D, E & F and G & H respectively. In addition to a cash prize and certificate, the winner receives a perpetual trophy, which must be subsequently returned to the Department on request. Population categories are as follows –

Population category Population

A Under 200

B 201 to 1,000

C 1,001 to 2,500

D 2,501 to 5,000

E 5,001 to 10,000

F 10,001 to 15,000

G 15,001 to 25,000

H 25,001 and over

Section 4 TidyTowns -Terms and Conditions

14. The Regional Awards are awarded to the first placed entrant in each of the following regions

Region Counties Dublin Dublin (City), Dublin (Fingal), Dublin

(South), Dublin (Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown) Midlands & East Kildare, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath,

Offaly, Westmeath, Wicklow Mid West Clare, Limerick, North Tipperary North West Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo South East Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary,

Waterford, Wexford South West Cork (North), Cork (South), Cork (West),

Kerry West Galway, Mayo, Roscommon

15. The County Awards are awarded to the first, second and third placed entrant in each county, as described in paragraph 14 above.

16. A Gold, Silver or Bronze Medal is awarded to an entrant with a score falling within a specified range of the overall winner as follows -

Gold Silver Bronze Population A&B Within 5 Within 10 Within 15 Population C&D Within 10 Within 15 Within 20 Population E&F Within 15 Within 20 Within 30 Population G&H Within 20 Within 30 Within 40

In addition to a cash prize, medal and certificate, medal winners are entitled to a road sign stating the medal won, erected by the relevant local authority in accordance with guidelines issued by the Department.

17. The Endeavour Awards are awarded to the entrants in each county that

made the biggest percentage improvement on the previous year's score.

18. The Gaeltacht Award is awarded to the highest scoring entrant from a Gaeltacht area.

19. The Island Award is awarded to the highest scoring entrant that is an island not connected to the mainland by a bridge, is cut off daily from the mainland by the tide, is permanently inhabited and is not in private ownership.

Qualifying Prizes20. The highest scoring entrant in each population category will

qualify to participate in Ireland's Best Kept Towns which involves representative towns from the TidyTowns competition and Northern Ireland's Best Kept Awards, subject to the rules of this competition.

21. The highest scoring entrant in population categories A, B, C & D inclusive and the highest scoring entrant in population categories E, F, G & H inclusive will qualify to participate in the European competition Entente Florale, subject to the rules of this competition.

22. Other initiatives may arise from time to time and qualifying towns will be contacted by the Department as required.

Special Competitions23. Special Competitions are TidyTowns initiatives organised in parallel to

the main competition to highlight particular environmental aspects. Prizes are awarded as outlined in the associated special competition documentation. Entry is open to all TidyTowns entrants as well as other interested individuals or groups making a contribution to improving their local environment. These competitions may vary from year to year.

24. This year’s Special Competitions will include competitions on:

Biodiversity Bring Bank Award Climate Change Award The Heritage Award Sustainable Development Tree Project Award Urban Village Award Can It Award

25. Entry into Special Competitions is purely voluntary and non-entry will not affect performance in the main competition.

This form is also available as a Word or PDF file from www.TidyTowns.ie and www.SuperValu.ie Please send all entries by post to the address below.

For more details, please consult your TidyTowns Handbook,or call 053 911 7347email: [email protected] check out www.TidyTowns.ie

TidyTowns UnitDepartment of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government,Newtown Road, Wexford,Co. Wexford

Tidy Towns Entry

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