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Sligo has been named Ireland’s Cleanest Town in the 2025 Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) rankings, marking a historic first for the town. The announcement comes as IBAL’s latest survey of 40 towns and cities shows a nationwide improvement in cleanliness, with no area deemed “seriously littered.”

An Taisce, who conduct the surveys on behalf of IBAL, praised Sligo for its consistently strong performance in recent years. The Quayside Shopping Centre was described as “absolutely spotless throughout,” while Grattan Street, Castle Street, and the town’s bus and train stations were singled out for their high standards. Adelaide Street Car Park was noted as “much improved on past surveys.”

“Sligo has come such a long way from back in 2007, when the town was bottom of our rankings and labelled a litter blackspot,” said IBAL spokesperson Conor Horgan. “It is an illustration of the turnabout that is possible, even in a large town, when council and community come together.”

The Tom Cavanagh Memorial Trophy will be presented to Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Cllr Dónal Gilroy, at Queen Maeve Square in Sligo town at noon today.

Giving his reaction, Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Cllr Dónal Gilroy said:

“This award shows what Sligo is all about – pride, community, and ambition. From being a litter blackspot to Ireland’s cleanest town, we’ve proven that when people work together, anything is possible.”

He added: “This is a proud day for Sligo and a testament to the dedication and pride of our entire community. This achievement did not happen overnight – it reflects years of commitment from our Council staff, Tidy Towns groups, local businesses, the people of Sligo, schools, and volunteers who work tirelessly to keep Sligo looking its best. As a cultural capital and tourism hub, maintaining the highest environmental standards is essential, and today’s award shows that we are meeting that challenge. Go raibh míle maith agaibh to everyone who played a part in this success.”

Chief Executive of Sligo County Council, Martin Lydon, said:

“This award is a powerful endorsement of what can be achieved when a community works together with its local authority. It reflects the dedication of our Tidy Towns volunteers, local businesses, and our Council teams – especially our Municipal District and Environment crews – who take pride in their work every single day. Cleanliness is not just about appearance; it’s about creating a healthier, more sustainable environment for residents and visitors alike. We will build on this success and continue to position Sligo as a model town for environmental standards and quality of life.”

A welfare station will operate in Queen Maeve Square, Sligo, on Wednesday, 10 December, from 10pm to 2am. The station will be staffed by security personnel, medics, representatives from the ATU Sligo Students’ Union, and the North West Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force (NWRDATF). It will provide water, first aid and advice to anyone on a night out who may need some assistance and a safe space for people waiting to be collected.

This initiative is part of Sligo Town’s Night-Time Economy Pilot, delivered in partnership by Sligo BID and Sligo County Council, and supported and funded by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport’s Night-Time Economy Unit.

Edel Doran, Sligo Town Night Time Economy Advisor said:

“A pillar of the Sligo Town Night-Time Economy Action Plan is Safety & Wellbeing. The businesses operating in the evening and at night already put huge effort into caring for their patrons — from supporting the Ask For Angela initiative to promoting the Safe & Sound campaign. We hope that this station will offer additional support for anyone who might need a helping hand during their Christmas night out.”

Emil Kindl, President of ATU Sligo Students’ Union said:

“Student life is far more than lectures and assignments! Students are the heartbeat of Sligo’s vibrancy, especially at night and their safety and comfort must always be the top priority. This welfare station is a strong demonstration of that commitment, and we’re proud to stand with our partners in creating a safer, more supportive night-time environment for everyone and providing helping hand for people who are in need.”

The NWRDATF volunteer staff team also welcome the opportunity to provide a harm reduction tent and harm reduction support information in order to promote a safe and healthy event

Tubbercurry has been awarded the top honour in the 2,000–5,000 population category at the prestigious All-Island Pride of Place Awards, held last Friday night in Limerick.

The Pride of Place Awards, Ireland’s largest celebration of community spirit, are organised by peacebuilding charity Co-operation Ireland and sponsored by IPB Insurance. The initiative recognises the extraordinary efforts of individuals and groups who work tirelessly to make their communities more vibrant, inclusive, and resilient.

Joann Hosey, Chair of the Tubbercurry Town Team, proudly accepted the award on behalf of the town’s volunteer groups, local businesses, and community organisations.

“Volunteerism is the quiet engine of progress in every town. In Tubbercurry, it’s loud with impact,” Joann said. “This recognition is a testament to what happens when people come together with purpose and pride.”

“Congratulations to all the volunteers, and community supporters who make Tubbercurry a beacon of community excellence”, she concluded.

The Tubbercurry Town Team, Tubbercurry Development Company, and a vibrant network of festivals and community groups benefit from the strong support of Sligo County Council.

Croí, the Heart & Stroke Charity, is delighted to announce that the Croí Mobile Health Hub will be visiting Queen Maeve’s Square, Sligo, on Wednesday 24^th and Thursday 25^th September, offering two full days of free heart health checks and education in the lead-up to World Heart Day on Monday, September 29^th. This important health event is brought to Sligo with the support of event sponsor Benecol, and in partnership with Sligo County Council.

From 10am to 4pm each day, members of the public are invited to step inside the state-of-the-art Croí Mobile Health Hub, where they can avail of free cholesterol, blood pressure, pulse, and stethoscope checks along with CPR Demonstrations. Croí’s multidisciplinary health team will be on hand to provide advice on heart health, share practical information on prevention, and answer any questions about cardiovascular wellbeing.

The Croí Mobile Health Hub is the first of its kind in Ireland dedicated to stroke prevention and heart health – a custom-built, 13.6-metre-long, multi-purpose mobile unit and the largest mobile stroke and heart disease detection facility in the country. It features six private assessment cubicles, two consultation rooms, and the ability to transform into an open-plan educational and training facility for up to 40 visitors. Its primary mission is to bring heart disease and stroke prevention directly into communities through early detection, risk assessments, and community-based education.

As part of World Heart Month, and on FH (Familial Hypercholesterolemia) Awareness Day (24^th September) this initiative highlights the importance of prevention in tackling cardiovascular disease, the world’s biggest killer, responsible for over 20.5 million deaths globally each year. Heart health often does not receive the priority it deserves, Croí and Sligo County Council is encouraging the public to take proactive steps in protecting their cardiovascular health while also supporting greater national policies to address this urgent issue.

Croí invites everyone in Sligo and the surrounding areas to join them on Wednesday 24^th and Thursday 25^th September, from 10am to 4pm at Queen Maeve’s Square, to avail of free heart health checks and learn more about how small steps today can make a life-saving difference tomorrow.

Croí wishes to acknowledge the support from Benecol, as the event sponsor for the Sligo Mobile Health Hub visit, and Sligo County Council for collaborating on this important initiative to raise awareness of heart health and prevention.

For more information, visit: www.croi.ie/events

Sligo County Council and Age Friendly Ireland have joined forces to improve the safety and well-being of older residents in the county.

A joint Protocol of Cooperation was officially signed on Tuesday 5^th August, at County Buildings, Riverside, Sligo by Martin Lydon, Chief Executive, Sligo County Council and Eimear McCormack, Acting National Manager Healthy Age Friendly Homes Programme, Age Friendly Ireland.

The new partnership will see fire-fighters from the 4 fire stations in County Sligo conducting free home fire safety checks for older people, referred to them by the Healthy Age Friendly Homes Programme.

The Home Fire Safety Check will involve two fire-fighters from the local Fire Brigade arranging to visit the person, who shall be accompanied by a friend / neighbour, in their home.

The meeting involves a conversation regarding escape plans, the installation of a free smoke alarm within the home, the identification of any potential fire risks within the home to help the older person understand potentially fire hazardous situations within the home.

Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Councillor Dónal Gilroy commented:

“This programme is a welcome initiative that will keep older residents of the county safe and living in their homes. Sligo Fire Service provide an outstanding community fire service to the people of this county and this new outreach programme will bring further comfort to older people and their families in County Sligo”.

Marian Coakley, Chief Fire Officer with Sligo County Council, highlighted the increased fire risks for older individuals and the crucial role that home fire safety checks play. “The risks associated with fires in the home increase as we get older, and fire safety checks for older people are therefore a vital part in enabling older people to stay safe in their own home”.

“We are delighted to be involved in this collaborative initiative which will allow us to work in parallel with the Healthy Age Friendly Homes Programme in protecting older people in their homes.”

She noted that both Sligo Fire Service and Age Friendly Ireland recently completed joint training for the Home Fire Safety Checks, ensuring that fire-fighters are equipped to provide valuable assistance to older residents. The success of this initiative in County Sligo could serve as a model for similar partnerships across Ireland.

Eimear McCormack, Acting National Manager Healthy Age Friendly Homes Programme at Age Friendly Ireland, emphasized the importance of this collaboration, saying, “It is great to be involved in this collaborative and innovative project with Sligo Fire Service. This project will help to improve the health and safety of Sligo’s older people by providing practical advice and assistance to prevent fires. This initiative aligns with the Healthy Age Friendly Homes aims of enabling older people to remain in their own homes and communities with a sense of independence for a long as possible”

What are Home Fire Safety Visits?

• A Home Fire Safety Check is a visit to a participating person’s home by members of Sligo Fire Service who will provide advice on how to stay safe from fire in the home.
• Each visit will be carried out by at least two uniformed fire-fighters from the person’s local fire station.
• During the visit the fire-fighters will fit a new smoke alarm or show the person how to test their existing smoke alarm, if they already have one. They will explain the potential fire risks in the home, provide practical fire safety advice, and explain the importance of having a night-time fire safety routine and a fire escape plan.
• The Home Fire Safety Visit takes approximately 30 minutes and participants are advised to have a family member / friend / neighbour / care worker to be present so that they can assist with relaying the advice.
• If you feel that you would benefit from a Home Fire Safety Visit, and are over 65 years old, please contact Sligo Fire Service on 071 9111404 or by e-mail at communityfiresafety@sligococo.ie and a member of your local Fire Brigade will be in touch.

About Healthy Age Friendly Homes Programme (Age Friendly Ireland)

The Healthy Age Friendly Homes Programme aims to support older people to live in their own home with dignity and independence, for as long as possible. The programme’s ambition is to enable everyone to live longer healthier lives by keeping care close to home and expanding the range of health and social care services in the community.  It is about providing a range of alternatives for older people who may otherwise transition into long term residential care prematurely.

To do this, they have appointed a Local Healthy Age Friendly Homes Coordinator in all local authorities.  Each Local Coordinator will case manage a support package for each person referred, linking the supports from the variety of public, voluntary, private and community agencies in the area.

The purpose of this referral is to identify an older person who could benefit from some extra help and support in order to continue living in their own home.  The Local Coordinator will carry out a home-based assessment and, in partnership with the older person, will identify and design a range of supports to enable the older person to continue living independently.  This will not affect any current home help, medical card, pension, or other services being received.

If you feel that you would benefit from a referral to the Healthy Age Friendly Homes Programme, and are over 65 years old, please contact the National Office on 046 9248899.