For members of Ennis Tidy Towns Committee in Co Clare, yesterday's win was but a dress rehearsal for the international Entente Florale competition finals to be held in The Netherlands next weekend.
The town, which yesterday emerged with the title of Ireland's Tidiest Large Town, is one of just two Irish towns to represent the Republic in the Entente, and locals were hoping yesterday that by next weekend the name of Ennis would be firmly on European, as well as local, tourist maps.
Having picked up three medals in the Irish competition - a regional, a county and a gold - the committee was yesterday happily looking forward to the international event.
"We are all going to the finals near Amsterdam next weekend, and whatever the outcome it will be great fun," said committee chairman Mr Donal Griffin.
Asked if the committee worked particularly hard this year, Mr Griffin said the members had met once a week between June and August. He attributed their success to devolving responsibility to a number of wider community groups.
He said the committee had harnessed the efforts of the local Town Council, the Chamber of Commerce, and the local community in its effort.
"There were also a number of sub-groups and a task force."
He said schools, residential areas, business areas and gardens were all brought into the competition through individual committee members taking responsibility for promoting the competition to neighbours, colleagues and friends.
Additional encouragement was geared towards shopfronts and civic awards were instigated to foster a sense of pride.
Meanwhile, the committee in Lismore, Co Waterford, said it wasn't at all put out that it lost the national title by just one point. Securing the title of Tidiest Small Town was, according to committee secretary Ms Mary O'Brien, "a fantastic boost".
Litter and flower beds had comprised much of their attention, with the committee meeting just once a month, but having a roster setting out who would turn out for duty. Unlike Castletown, the committee felt most of the litter generated was of local origin, but Ms O'Brien insisted that "90 per cent of the locals are right behind us".
For committee member Mr Pat Flemming yesterday's win was especially welcome. He has lived in Lismore for the past 52 years, much of it spent keeping the town tidy.
MEDAL WINNERS
Gold Medal Winners
Category A
Keadue 266
Rathbarry 266
Newtowncashel 265
Category B
Castletown-Laois 267
Category C
Lismore 266
Kenmare 265
Category D
Clonakilty 265
Westport 265
Category E
Killarney 260
Category F
Ennis 263
Silver Medal Winners
Category A
Eyeries 263
Ardagh 262
Mountshannon 261
Category B
Leighlinbridge 263
Stradbally - Waterford 263
Category C
Aughrim 263
Category D
Kinsale 262
Category F
Kilkenny 259
Bronze Medal Winners
Category A
Terryglass 259
Dromod 258
Moynalty 256
Clonegal 255
Category B
Malin 259
Galbally 257
Tallanstown 255
Category C
Glenties 260
Adare 258
Category E
Skerries 250
Category F
Letterkenny 253
Malahide 253
