Killarney, although infamously described last year as best seen through a rear-view mirror, received a fillip at the weekend when it received a silver medal in the Entente Florale awards, the European equivalent to the Tidy Towns' competition.
The panel of judges, drawn from nine European countries, stated the Co Kerry town's parks and the new minor relief road were examples that could be followed anywhere. "The tensions between the built-up centre and the periphery are gradually being resolved," the judges stated.
The Co Carlow village of Leighlinbridge, the State's other entry in the 25-year-old competition, received a gold medal at the awards ceremony, which was held in Ennis, Co Clare, on Saturday.
The judges said they were impressed with the level of co-operation between public and private bodies. "The progress made and which is evidently going to continue on all fronts, together with the cheerful and joyful celebration which marked the jury's visit, dispelled any doubts the jury might have entertained. Leighlinbridge is a golden village."
Ennis was bedecked with flowers specially grown at the local authority's garden outside the town. Ms Josephine Cotter Coughlan, the project manager, said more than 25,000 flowers were planted and placed in hanging baskets for the occasion: "It is a huge marketing initiative and the delegates were impressed by the production."
She added that the extra efforts in preparing Ennis had been a factor in it winning in the "Ireland's Tidiest Large Town" competition at the Tidy Towns awards last week.
The town of Sittard, in the Netherlands, and the village of Ouren, in Belgium, each received a special prize.
Further details of the awards are available at www.entente-florale.ennis.ie