There’s a reason the phrase “first impressions count” gets used so often. Whether you’re a shopper, a tourist, a student thinking of moving somewhere new, or a business owner considering an investment, how a town looks and feels matters.
This is why Sligo being named Ireland’s Cleanest Town in the 2025 Irish Businesses Against Litter (IBAL) rankings (announced 5th Jan. 2026) is more than just a feel good headline. It’s a powerful signal about the town’s ambition, pride and economic future.
Clean places attract people – and people drive economies.
At its most basic level, a tidy, litter free town centre is simply more inviting. Research consistently shows that people spend more time and money in places that feel clean, safe and cared for.
IBAL’s surveys, carried out independently by An Taisce, repeatedly show that areas scoring well for cleanliness tend also to be places where footfall is higher and public spaces are actively used. Clean streets signal that a place is being looked after – and that reassurance matters more than we sometimes realise.
For businesses, this translates into:
- Higher passing trade
- Longer dwell times
- Greater likelihood of repeat visits
In short: clean towns encourage people to linger – and lingering supports local jobs and enterprises.
Litter isn’t neutral – it sends a message
Urban researchers often talk about “signal effects”. Litter, graffiti and neglected spaces quietly suggest that a place is struggling or unmanaged. Even small issues can influence how safe, welcoming or prosperous a town feels.
IBAL has highlighted that towns performing poorly on litter often face wider challenges around vacancy, neglect and disinvestment, while those improving cleanliness tend to experience broader regeneration momentum. [ibal.ie]
A clean streetscape, on the other hand, sends the opposite message:
This is a place that cares. This is a place worth investing in.
That message matters to entrepreneurs deciding where to open, employers trying to attract staff, and visitors choosing where to return.
Placemaking is the secret ingredient
Cleanliness is the foundation, but placemaking brings it to life.
Placemaking touches – planters, seating, public art, outdoor dining, well maintained shopfronts – turn streets from places you pass through into places you want to be in. International and Irish research shows that well designed public spaces support local economies by encouraging social activity and commercial interaction.
Ireland’s long running Tidy Towns initiative is often cited as a best practice example of community led placemaking, linking environmental quality directly to social and economic wellbeing. [interregeurope.eu]
And importantly, placemaking doesn’t need to be expensive. Often it’s about:
- Consistent maintenance
- Small, thoughtful interventions
- Local pride and participation
Sligo: from litter blackspot to national leader
Sligo’s IBAL story is a particularly strong one. Back in 2007, the town was ranked at the bottom of the IBAL listings. Fast forward to January 2026, and it has taken first place nationally, with sites described as “absolutely spotless” and repeatedly praised for consistency.
IBAL itself pointed to collaboration between the local authority, businesses, Tidy Towns volunteers and the wider community as the key factor in this turnaround. [sligococo.ie]
That collaboration reflects the backbone of factors of successful economic development: people having shared ownership of a town or village centre; strong public-private relationships; pride translating into momentum and actions; a medium to long term approach
– Sligo’s win didn’t happen overnight – and that’s exactly the point.
Clean towns compete better
In today’s world, towns are competing for tourists, for remote workers, for students, for investment.
Government policy in Ireland increasingly reflects this reality, with programmes like Town Centre First and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme emphasising streetscape quality, vacancy reduction and public realm improvements as economic tools, not “nice extras”.
Cleanliness is a low cost, high impact competitive advantage. It supports everything else – from outdoor trading to night time economies to cultural events.
The takeaway – (while putting the packaging in the bin!)
Litter control isn’t just about bins and brushes. It’s about confidence, perception, pride, and economic resilience.
Sligo’s IBAL award shows what’s possible when a town commits to looking after itself. It tells investors and visitors alike that this is a place with standards, energy and a shared vision for its future.
And the best part? Every clean street is a small act of economic development.
Published 09/01/2026 3-5 minute read.
