Westport came close to once again scooping the top prize for the fourth time at the national Tidy Towns awards, which were announced on Monday, but it missed out on the title coming in just two points behind the overall winner Skerries. Westport finished up with 325 marks, an increase of three on the number it got in 2015, but the north Dublin town ended up with 327 marks.
However there was still good news for Westport as it claimed the regional award for the west and north west region, the county award, and it also won a gold medal for its Edible Landscape feature. Castlebar picked up a silver medal and saw its marks total increase four on its 2015 result ending up with 309 points in total.
There were celebrations in Erris with Belmullet winning the overall Gradam na Gaeltachta award, along with a county award for a town of its size after it finished up with 319 points, the same as the previous year. The late Noel Reilly from Belmullet was awarded a Community Hero Award after he was nominated by local SuperValu retailer Noel Kavanagh for his efforts.
East Mayo village Carracastle also was a big winner, picking up an Endeavour Award at the ceremony, while Ballina held on to its bronze medal status and Murrisk saw its points total increase by four marks up from 310 to 314. For a full breakdown of the results log on to www.tidytowns.ie
