Lismore, Co Waterford, was announced as Ireland's tidiest town for 2004 at a Tidy Towns reception this afternoon in Dublin Castle.
Lismore was also awarded Ireland's title as tidiest small town. Other winners in this year's competition, which had almost 700 competitors, were Moynalty, Co Meath, named Ireland's tidiest village, and Westport, Co Mayo, which was named Ireland's tidiest large town.
Carlow town was winner of this year's "Race Against Waste" category.
The Lismore Tidy Town committee was presented with cheques for €25,000 and for €8,000 for its two wins and also a perpetual trophy. It's the first time the town has won the award. Ardmore was the last Waterford town to take the title, 12 years ago.
The Tidy Towns competition is run by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.
This year the national winners' awards were supplemented by a once-off bonus of €25,000 from sponsor SuperValu, to mark the supermarket group's 25th year in business in Ireland.
An extra €5,000 was awarded to the three national winners, increasing their cash prize from €3,000 to €8,000.