Twice-daily litter collections, house painting and new landscaping works helped Lismore, Co Waterford, win this year's national Tidy Towns competition.
Winner of the tidiest small town category two years ago, Lismore went one better by landing both the small town prize of €8,000 and overall winner's award of €25,000.
Moynalty, Co Meath, and Westport, Co Mayo, were the two other national winners, taking the titles of Ireland's tidiest village and tidiest large town respectively.
For Lismore's residents, yesterday's prize-giving ceremony in Dublin Castle was the culmination of more than 15 years' hard work - and some close calls in previous competitions.
"We were tipping the iceberg for quite a few years," said Mr Peter Ahern, the town's mayor. "We were a point or a few points away from winning. But now we've finally done it.
"It's a very proud day for us, and a great day for west Waterford," he added.
Ms Rose O'Dowd, a founding member in 1987 of Lismore's Tidy Towns committee and now chairwoman of the group, said the success was based on "continuous hard work".
More than 200 residents participate in a daily clean-up rota, picking up litter throughout the town each morning and evening.
Ms O'Dowd, who is a local publican, said the workplace smoking ban had created an additional problem with cigarette butts being discarded outside of pubs and restaurants. But outdoor ashtrays were now being fitted and pub owners were being encouraged to sweep their doorways each night.
"Litter has always been a big problem and you have to keep at it every day, especially when the schools open," she said.
Prize money for this year's contest was boosted by an extra €25,000 fund from sponsors SuperValu to mark the supermarket group's 25th year in business in Ireland.
Ms O'Dowd said Lismore planned to spend its winnings on developing a new wildlife area next to the town's canal.
Lismore is the second town from Waterford to win the tidy towns award after Ardmore took the prize 12 years ago.
The Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen, a native of Waterford, described the occasion as a "good day" for his home county, with Stradbally, Ardmore and Portlaw picking up minor awards.
Almost 700 towns and villages entered this year's contest, which is run by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.
The Minister of State for the Environment, Mr Pat "the Cope" Gallagher, announced the winners at a crowded St Patrick's Hall yesterday along with Mr Donal Horgan, managing director of SuperValu.
Carlow town was named winner of this year's Race Against Waste litter recycling module of the competition, while Stradbally, Co Waterford, and Clonakilty, Co Cork, took category prizes.
Mr Gallagher said standards were up "all across the board" in the competition with 14 gold medal winners - the highest ever tally - and 22 bronze and silver medal winners.
He also welcomed the increased participation in the Race Against Waste module, with more than 100 towns and villages taking part this year.
"These awards are not to celebrate the victory of one town over another, but to acknowledge and encourage those who, through their sterling efforts over many years, have set the standards for others to aspire to. We applaud their hard work and commitment, and their honours are well deserved," he said.
Mr Horgan said: "Tidy towns promotes a very important sense of pride and respect in communities, and an awareness of how precious our natural environment is.
"I hope all committees are keenly aware of the great contribution they make, regardless of national titles or county awards, and I hope that today brings them all a great sense of satisfaction, and pride."
Information about this year's winners are available at www.tidytowns.ie
