Armagh lifts ‘Best Kept’ title at prestigious awards ceremony

by
Micheal McKenna
October 21, 2015

Armagh has another string to its proverbial bow after scooping the Northern Ireland Amenity Council’s ‘Best Kept’ title for the ‘Medium Town’ category.

The awards, sponsored by Open + Direct Insurance, recognise communities that go the extra mile in creating well maintained, clean and beautiful areas in which to live and work.

At a celebratory event yesterday (Tuesday), Environment Minister Mark H Durkan was returning to familiar territory at the Guild Hall in Derry/Londonderry.

It was there that he commended all of the successful entries this year for the work which they do to better their own communities.

Armagh was named as Northern Ireland’s Best Kept Medium Town 2015 during the ceremony, while Scarva was awarded the overall title of ‘Northern Ireland’s Best Kept’ Town, Village or City.

The village will now go on to compete in the final of the All-Ireland Tidy Towns competition.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Mr Durkan said: “I wish to commend Armagh on the fantastic achievement of being named as Northern Ireland’s ‘Best Kept’ Medium Town. I would like to commend all within the town who helped to achieve such a coveted accolade. Full credit should be given to the Council and all the local volunteers who worked hard to bring out the best in the local environment.

“In the North we are blessed with a beautiful natural and built environment. It is one of our greatest assets and we all share the responsibility for protecting and improving it, for current and future generations. These awards are a great way to recognise the contribution of many who give up their own time and efforts to showcase and enhance their local environment.

“The communities who participated in these awards are taking pride in their surroundings, making them a more attractive place for people to live, for tourists to visit and for people to do business. I commend all who took part and warmly congratulate each of the winners.”

The full list of Northern Ireland Amenity Council (NIAC) ‘Best Kept’ awards winners across Northern Ireland is as follows:

Scarva – Small Village & Overall Winner
Derry – City
Omagh – Large Town
Armagh – Medium Town
Moira – Small Town
Broughshane – Large Village
Moneymore – Most Improved
Whitehead – Welcome Award
Glenshesk Court, Ballycastle – Sheltered Housing Area
Dickson Park, Seapatrick – Small Housing Area
Orangefield Park, Omagh – Medium Housing Area and Ellen McGowan Award
Merville Garden Village – Large Housing Area
Ards and North Down Borough Council, Cloughey Beach Boardwalk Project – The President’s Trophy
Gretta Young, Loughgall District Improvement Committee – The Community Achiever Award