FOLLOWING Carrigart’s nomination to represent Donegal in Ireland’s Best Kept Towns Competition 2026 under the Best Kept Village category, preparations are already in motion to showcase the village at the highest possible standard in this prestigious all-island competition.
The competition is jointly organised by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht and the Northern Ireland Amenity Council.
Participation is based on a town’s performance in the previous year’s SuperValu Tidy Towns Competition or the Northern Ireland Amenity Council’s Best Kept Awards.
Adjudication will take place in early May.
The judging looks at how clean, attractive, and well cared for an area is. Points are given for buildings that look neat and well maintained, including shops, businesses, public buildings, and monuments.
Streets and public areas are also important, such as roads, footpaths, walls, lighting, signs, car parks, and street furniture, making sure they are tidy and in good condition.
The natural environment is considered too, including parks, green spaces, riverbanks, trees, and landscaping.
Residential areas are judged on how well front gardens and public spaces in housing areas are looked after.
Tidiness is a big factor, meaning there should be no litter, graffiti, illegal dumping, derelict sites, or messy advertising.
Judges also look at how well the community works together, whether improvements are ongoing, and if problems are being tackled.
Finally, they give an overall score based on the general look and feel of the area.
This is another wonderful opportunity to showcase Carrigart and further enhance its reputation as an attractive and welcoming place to live, visit and stay.
A committee spokesperson has noted that significant costs are involved in preparing for the competition and is appealing to local businesses for financial support.
Residents who are planning to paint or carry out improvements to their properties are kindly encouraged to complete this work in advance of May to ensure the village looks its very best.
