The Tidy Towns competition is a national competition organised throughout Ireland each year by the Department of the Environment and Local Government that aims to find the tidiest town in Ireland. The Tidy Towns competition has been running in Ireland for over 50 years and each year attracts more than 700 local communities who compete for a cash award and the title of "Ireland's Tidiest Town". The competition has been proven to have a real impact on the vibrancy and prosperity of many Irish towns and villages and encourages people to take pride in maintaining their town's heritage by presenting a clean, attractive environment, primarily for their own enjoyment and to attract tourist and commercial investment to the area.

The Tidy Towns competition was launched this year on 2 April, 2002 and the closing date for entries was 26 April 2002. Judging of entries takes place in June and July each year and the results are announced early in September that year. Castletown, Co. Laois was named as Ireland's Tidiest Town for 2002.

For further information check out: http://www.oasis.gov.ie/environment/tidy_towns.html