There will be celebrations in Carrigart tonight after it was officially crowned Ireland’s Best Kept Village.
The north Donegal hamlet beat off stiff competition to lift the gong when the winners of the all-island ‘Ireland’s Best Kept Town Competition’ were announced in Belfast today.
Last October, Carrigart was also declared Ireland’s Tidiest Gaeltacht Town.
Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary, today congratulated the winners.
Ireland’s Best Kept Town is an all-island competition in which some of the best villages and towns participating in the SuperValu TidyTowns competition compete against their counterparts in Northern Ireland’s Best Kept competition.
Antrim was named overall winner of Ireland’s Best Kept Town in 2026.
Speaking at the Awards ceremony, Minister Calleary said: “I wish to express my heartfelt congratulations to all of the winners and nominees in the all-island Ireland’s Best Kept Town competition. Well done to Carraig Airt , the winners of Ireland’s Best Kept Village, and Trim for winning the title of Ireland’s Best Kept Large Town.
“I would also like to congratulate Antrim, Ireland’s Best Kept Town for 2026 as well as being named Ireland’s Best Kept Large Urban Centre. Groomsport also deserves a special mention as the 2026 winner of Ireland’s Best Kept Small Town.”