The closing date for receipt of entries for this year’s competition is Monday May 11^th, 2026.

Entry forms and further information about the SuperValu TidyTowns competition are available at www.tidytowns.ie.

Press Release: 23rd March 2026

Minister Dara Calleary Launches 2026 SuperValu TidyTowns Competition celebrating 68 years of environmental and community effort

The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, alongside the Managing Director of SuperValu, Mr. Luke Hanlon, have today, March 23rd, launched the 2026 SuperValu TidyTowns competition.

In place since 1958, the competition, administered by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht and sponsored by SuperValu, continues to be one of the most recognised sustainable, environmental and community initiatives in the country.

Speaking at the launch of the competition, Minister Calleary said:

“I am delighted to be here in Carrick-on-Shannon, Ireland’s Tidiest Town for 2025, as we launch the 2026 SuperValu TidyTowns competition. This year we celebrate 68 years of this wonderful competition, which continues to thrive year on year – its success benefits us all.”

There are almost 1,000 active TidyTowns groups, and last year saw a record 929 entries to the SuperValu TidyTowns competition. This saw over 30,000 volunteers giving up over 1 million hours of their time, all year round, to come together to make our communities cleaner, brighter and more vibrant places.

Minister Calleary continued:

“TidyTowns groups have been instrumental in supporting and enhancing the government’s objective to ensure towns are sustainable, resilient and thriving hubs of commercial and social activity. 

“I would encourage everyone to reach out to their local group and volunteer, you will be surprised at the benefits that can accrue to you and to your wider community.

“I would like to say a special thank you to our national sponsor, Supervalu, now in their 36^th year of sponsoring the competition. SuperValu have been wonderful partners on this journey and I look forward to continuing this partnership in the coming years.”

Speaking at the launch today, Luke Hanlon, Managing Director of SuperValu, said:

“The launch of SuperValu TidyTowns competition is always an exciting time for committees and volunteers nationwide. The longevity and diversity of the programme is remarkable, with 70% of committees active for more than a decade, and a quarter of all volunteers are under 45. It’s fantastic to see volunteers of all ages and backgrounds come together with the aim of enhancing their communities, and we can’t wait to see their hard work pay off throughout the year. 

“SuperValu’s role in communities goes far beyond retail. We are proud to provide local employment, champion local suppliers and invest in initiatives that help strengthen the quality of life in the areas we serve. SuperValu TidyTowns initiative aligns naturally with our long-standing commitment to building cleaner, greener and more sustainable communities. Sustainability continues to be a central pillar of the programme, and through SuperValu TidyTowns we aim to create a lasting positive impact on the environment, while supporting communities to take pride in the places they live and work.

“As a community retailer, we take great pride being involved with SuperValu TidyTowns for another year and we thank our independent retailers for their unwavering support and commitment.”

Minister Calleary concluded by thanking the TidyTowns volunteers throughout the country and wishing them well in the 2026 competition.  Duirt an tAire:

“Ba mhaith liom gach rath a ghuí oraibh go léir i gcomórtas 2026. Táim ag súil le hiontrálacha álainn na mbailte agus na sráidbhailte a fheiceáil agus bualadh leat ag an searmanas bronnta níos déanaí sa bhliain.”

The closing date for receipt of entries for this year’s competition is Monday May 11^th, 2026. Entry forms and further information about the SuperValu TidyTowns competition are available at www.tidytowns.ie.

ENDS

Photography available from Julien Behal, 087 9782542.

Media Queries Contact: The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht Press Office 01-773 6843 / 087-1734633 Press.office@drcdg.gov.ie gov.ie/drcdg | X | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn |Threads | Bluesky | WhatsApp | YouTube

Notes for editors:

• Competition launched in 1958
• 68 years of environmental and community initiatives
• Record number of 929 entries received in 2025
• SuperValu are now in their 36th year of sponsoring the competition
• Results of all winners will be announced in Q4 2026.

NOTE TO EDITOR RE: NAMING RIGHTS

The SuperValu TidyTowns competition is administered by The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht and sponsored by SuperValu. Naming rights for the competition are afforded to SuperValu and any reference in any media form to the competition should be in its full title as;

“THE SUPERVALU TIDYTOWNS COMPETITION”

Is é Dé Luain, an 11 Bealtaine 2026, an dáta deiridh le haghaidh iontrálacha a fháil don chomórtas i mbliana.

Tá foirmeacha iarratais agus tuilleadh eolais faoi chomórtas Bhailte Slachtmhara SuperValu ar fáil ar www.tidytowns.ie.

Le heisiúint ar an 23 Márta 2026

Seolann an tAire Dara Calleary Comórtas Bhailte Slachtmhara SuperValu 2026 ag ceiliúradh iarrachtaí comhshaoil ​​agus pobail le hocht mbliana is seasca anuas

Inniu, an 23 Márta, sheol an tAire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta, Dara Calleary TD, in éineacht le Stiúrthóir Bainistíochta SuperValu, an tUasal Luke Hanlon, comórtas Bhailte Slachtmhara SuperValu 2026.

Tá an comórtas, atá á reáchtáil ó 1958 i leith, faoi riar an Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta agus faoi urraíocht SuperValu, ar cheann de na tionscnaimh inbhuanaithe, chomhshaoil ​​agus phobail is aitheanta sa tír.

Ag labhairt ag seoladh an chomórtais, dúirt an tAire Calleary:

“Tá áthas orm a bheith anseo i gCora Droma Rúisc, an baile ba shlachtmhaire in Éirinn in 2025, agus muid ag seoladh comórtas Bhailte Slachtmhara SuperValu 2026. Tá an comórtas seo ag fás bliain i ndiaidh bliana le hocht mbliana is seasca anuas, agus tá rath an chomórtais chun leasa dúinn uile.”

Tá beagnach 1,000 grúpa Bhailte Slachtmhara gníomhach ann, agus anuraidh fuarthas 929 iontráil, an líon ba mhó riamh, i gcomórtas Bhailte Slachtmhara SuperValu. Thug breis is 30,000 oibrí deonach breis is milliún uair an chloig dá gcuid ama, i rith na bliana, chun teacht le chéile chun ár bpobail a dhéanamh níos glaine, níos gile agus níos beoga.

Ar an dara dul síos, dúirt an tAire Calleary:

“Bhí grúpaí na mBailte Slachtmhara ríthábhachtach chun tacú le cuspóir an rialtais agus chun é a fheabhsú chun a chinntiú go bhfuil bailte inbhuanaithe, acmhainneacha agus rathúla do ghníomhaíocht tráchtála agus shóisialta. 

“Mholfainn do gach duine teagmháil a dhéanamh leis an ngrúpa áitiúil agus obair dheonach a dhéanamh, beidh iontas ort faoi na buntáistí a d’fhéadfadh teacht chun cinn duit féin agus do do phobal níos leithne.

“Gabhaim buíochas speisialta lenár n-urraitheoir náisiúnta, Supervalu, atá ag déanamh urraíochta ar an gcomórtas le sé bliana is tríocha anuas. Tá SuperValu ina gcomhpháirtithe iontacha agus táim ag tnúth le leanúint leis an gcomhpháirtíocht seo sna blianta amach romhainn.”

Ag labhairt ag an seoladh inniu, dúirt Luke Hanlon, Stiúrthóir Bainistíochta SuperValu:

“Is mór an spreagadh i gcónaí é seoladh chomórtas Bhailte Slachtmhara SuperValu do choistí agus d’oibrithe deonacha ar fud na tíre. Tá fad saoil agus éagsúlacht an chláir suntasach, agus 70% de na coistí gníomhach le breis agus deich mbliana, agus tá ceathrú de na hoibrithe deonacha go léir faoi bhun cúig bliana is daichead d’aois. Tá sé iontach oibrithe deonacha de gach aois agus cúlra a fheiceáil ag teacht le chéile leis an aidhm a bpobail a fheabhsú, agus táimid ag súil le torthaí a gcuid oibre crua a fheiceáil i rith na bliana. 

“Ní bhaineann ról SuperValu i bpobail le miondíol amháin. Táimid bródúil as fostaíocht áitiúil a sholáthar, soláthraithe áitiúla a chur chun cinn agus infheistíocht a dhéanamh i dtionscnaimh a chuidíonn le caighdeán na beatha a neartú sna ceantair a bhfreastalaímid orthu. Tá tionscnamh Bhailte Slachtmhara SuperValu ag teacht go nádúrtha lenár dtiomantas fadbhunaithe chun pobail níos glaine, níos glaise agus níos inbhuanaithe a thógáil. Tá an inbhuanaitheacht fós lárnach sa chlár, agus trí Bhailte Slachtmhara SuperValu tá sé mar aidhm againn tionchar dearfach buan a chruthú ar an gcomhshaol, agus tacú le pobail chun bród a bheith acu as na háiteanna ina gcónaíonn siad agus ina n-oibríonn siad.

“Mar mhiondíoltóir pobail, táimid an-bhródúil as páirt a ghlacadh i mBailte Slachtmhara SuperValu ar feadh bliana eile agus gabhaimid buíochas lenár miondíoltóirí neamhspleácha as a dtacaíocht agus a dtiomantas gan staonadh.”

Mar fhocal scoir, ghabh an tAire Calleary buíochas  le hoibrithe deonacha na mBailte Slachtmhara ar fud na tíre agus ghuígh sé gach rath orthu i gcomórtas 2026.  Duirt an tAire:

“Guím gach rath oraibh go léir i gcomórtas 2026. Táim ag súil le hiontrálacha áille na mbailte agus na sráidbhailte a fheiceáil agus bualadh libh ag an searmanas bronnta níos déanaí i mbliana.”

Is é Dé Luain, an 11 Bealtaine 2026, an dáta deiridh le haghaidh iontrálacha a fháil don chomórtas i mbliana. Tá foirmeacha iarratais agus tuilleadh eolais faoi chomórtas Bhailte Slachtmhara SuperValu ar fáil ar www.tidytowns.ie.

CRÍOCH

Grianghraif ar fáil ó Julien Behal, 087 9782542

Teagmháil le Fiosrúcháin na Meán: Preasoifig na Roinne Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta 01-773 6843 / 087-1734633 Press.office@drcdg.gov.ie gov.ie/drcdg | X | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn |Threads | Bluesky | WhatsApp | YouTube

Nótaí don Eagarthóir:

• Seoladh an comórtas in 1958
• 68 bliain de thionscnaimh chomhshaoil ​​agus pobail
• Fuarthas 929 iontráil in 2025, an líon ba mhó riamh.
• Tá urraíocht á déanamh ag SuperValu ar an gcomórtas le sé bliana is tríocha anuas.
• Fógrófar torthaí na mbuaiteoirí go léir i Ráithe 4 de 2026.

Nótaí maidir le cearta ainmniúcháin d’eagarthóirí :

Tá comórtas Bhailte Slachtmhara SuperValu á riaradh ag an Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta agus á urrú ag SuperValu. Bronntar cearta ainmniúcháin don chomórtas ar SuperValu agus ba chóir aon tagairt in aon fhoirm meán don chomórtas a bheith ina theideal iomlán mar;

 “COMÓRTAS BHAILTE SLACHTMHARA SUPERVALU”