West Cork cleaned up at this year's Cork County Anti-Litter League awards.
WEST Cork cleaned up at this year’s Cork County Anti-Litter League awards. 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.
A total 113 awards were made in the competition to both villages and towns with the total prize money awarded coming to €40,950.
Some €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 county mayor Cllr Christopher O’Sullivan who echoed Mr Lucey’s sentiments on the importance of volunteerism and competitions.
West Cork’s winners across a variety of categories were: Castletownbere and Dunmanway, €1,000; Kinsale, €750; Kilmacsimon Quay, €400; Clonakilty, Skibbereen, Schull, Macroom, Bandon, €200 each; and Bantry €250.
A total of 88 villages entered the competition in 2019 and there were three judging periods between May 13th and June 19th this year, with each town and village judged once per period. This left four days between each judging period when the community could tackle any litter black spots identified.
