Greystones Tidy Towns Win Climate Action Award

Greystones Tidy Town get their just award… SAT7MAR26

atest press release from Wicklow County Council, issued on Monday, March 9th 2026…

Wicklow County Council held its annual Sustainable Development Awards, Tidy Main Streets and Tidy Estates Awards ceremony on Saturday, 7th March in The Brockagh Centre, Laragh.

Tidy Towns groups, Residents’ Associations, schools, local and farming champions, and businesses were recognised and thanked for their pro-active role in the restoration of our biodiverse environment and building more sustainable and resilient communities in Co Wicklow. The quality of the work completed and the exceptional levels of volunteering were evident, with 72 awards handed out to schools, groups, businesses and individuals throughout Wicklow.

Opening the annual awards ceremony, Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Cllr. Melanie Corrigan, gave an insight into how this vital work comes about and the importance of engagement. She emphasised that: “Success in the competition today requires the building of networks with a wide range of partners including local businesses, schools, clubs and our own local municipal district teams and other state agencies. In addition, community and Tidy Towns’ groups and schools work to engage those who could become marginalised in our communities including those with special needs and those who have sought sanctuary in our county.”

The ReWild core…

Wicklow’s Sustainable Development Awards focuses on various themes such as Biodiversity, Climate Action, Waste Reduction, Built Heritage, Water Protection and Energy. In addition, three categories specifically recognised the outstanding work undertaken by Wicklow’s primary and secondary schools. The award for Biodiversity, Wildlife & Natural Amenities went to ReWild Wicklow for their deep understanding and appreciation of Biodiversity demonstrated through their restoration work on upland woodland areas using native trees grown from local seed. Roundwood Tidy Towns won the Built Environment category for their commemorative events at Derralossary Graveyard, while the Five Loaves Bookshop in Bray, nominated by Bray Tidy Towns, received the Business Award.

Jacksmill Forest Garden

Greystones Tidy Towns won the Climate Action Award for their ongoing excellent work in this category, includes initiatives like ‘solar meitheals’ and tree planting. A new participant, Jacksmill Forest Garden, was awarded the Communal Gardening Award for their well-planned community garden. Thanks to the Community Climate Action Fund, there were excellent entries in the Energy Award category, with the prize awarded to Donard Community Enterprises for their thoughtful energy upgrade to their community hall, which provided numerous benefits to the locality.

Four Wicklow farmers were recognised as Farming Champions, nominated by Wicklow Uplands Council and Coolboy Tidy Towns for their work in biodiversity protection, water quality initiatives and sustainable practices on the farm. Director of Services Theresa O’Brien reinforced the importance of supporting and collaborating with our farmers and recognising their work stating: “The aim of the Sustainable Development Awards is to showcase best practices in environmental protection and sustainable development in harmony with our environment, working in partnership with us and other state agencies across County Wicklow. Having four of our Wicklow farmers here accepting the Farming Champion award is part of why we are here this morning”.

In recognition of the excellent work schools carry out, Cathaoirleach Cllr. Melanie Corrigan commented that “Our schools continue to be an inspiration to us, not only learning but implementing actions and practices inside and outside the school building but importantly bringing those sustainable practices home and to our communities”.

Bray Golf Club won the Sustainable Tourism Award having been nominated by Bray Tidy Towns for their efforts to protect and enhance biodiversity on their grounds. Meanwhile, Hollywood Tidy Towns secured the Trees Award with their ongoing, well-planned tree planting schemes. Staying westside, Blessington Tidy Towns continues their outstanding projects and initiatives and secured the Waste Minimisation Award. Glenwood Residents Association (Swan River Group) won the Water Protection Award for their work restoring river habitat and improving and enhancing this Bray tributary in a sensitive manner.

Theresa O’Brien, Director of Services for the Climate, Environment Recreation and Amenity, expressed the significant impact of volunteers saying: “The volunteers of County Wicklow have made remarkable contributions to protecting Wicklow’s natural and built environment. The range of projects and campaigns they undertake benefits everyone. Some of the phrases used by community and Tidy Town groups describing their Youth and Local champions included ‘being deeply rooted in community spirit’, having ‘dedication to our local environment’ and contributed enormously to the development of connections with local special needs community groups’.

In her closing speech, Theresa O’Brien, applauded all of Wicklow schools and community saying “she would like to take this opportunity to give recognition to the groups and our schools who were not present at the ceremony. We are all benefiting from the work that each and everyone of us are doing. Every single positive action helps making Wicklow stronger and more sustainable.”

For more details and a complete list of prize winners, please click here. Just come straight back, y’all.