All of us have travel bucket lists. Some of us pin our boards with a list of national parks and wildlife safaris – the best places to spot the Big Five, as they’re called. Some of us want hot-air balloon rides that take us over quaint villages in Tuscany, or float over the fairy chimneys in Cappadocia. But if you are the sort of traveller, who has a thing for tidy places – picture postcard perfect, and no trash or rubbish please – we got you.
Seriously. We know you’re nodding your head in disbelief and wondering – can there be such a thing as the least littered/rubbish places to visit? Yes of course! Look no further. To begin with, you just have to go through Ireland’s tidiest towns 2022. And then there’s Belfast. It has been ranked among the greenest and most sustainable destinations in the world. Intrigued? We bet you are!
So which place in Ireland takes the top position when it comes to being tidy? It’s dear old Trim!
Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, announced Trim, Co. Meath as Ireland’s Tidiest Town for 2022. How tidy and pretty is Trim? Have a look at the photographs below. We stopped by in Trim while on a vacation to Donegal, and this is what we’d seen in June this year.
So gorgeously pretty and just like a postcard you’d send to a friend, right? Well, Trim is not only the overall winner for 2022, but it also holds so much value for those who like history and heritage.
Few places in Ireland contain more medieval buildings than the heritage town of Trim. Trim Castle is foremost among those buildings. In fact, the castle is the largest Anglo-Norman fortification in Ireland. Hugh de Lacy and his successors took 30 years to build it. Plus, Trim also has the oldest bridge in Ireland -‘The Old Bridge’ over the River Boyne has been and continues to be a working bridge since 1393. We really loved the time we spent there, and if you’re a history buff who also loves nice walks, we think you might too.
Now, coming on to the other winners so that you can get your bucket list just right. Rosscarbery, Co Cork was named as Ireland’s Tidiest Village. You may already have Rosscarbery on your bucket list as it’s a popular tourist destination at the beginning of the Wild Atlantic Way along Ireland’s southern coast. It also boasts of numerous megalithic tombs and stone circles – the most famous of these being the Stone Circle at Drombeg situated about a mile from the town.
And Cahir, Co. Tipperary was named as the overall winner of the Young Persons in Tidy Towns Award and also the overall winner of the SuperValu AsIAm Inclusive Communities Award.
Btw, Cahir Castle also attracts a lot of visitors. Some flock to the castle because of its role as a film and TV location – it has featured in productions like Excalibur and The Tudors. So, if you’re in Cahir, you will have plenty to do apart from admiring how clean and rubbish-free it is.
What about Belfast, you ask. Well, we are coming to that as well.
The annual GDS Index is a world-leading sustainability benchmarking and performance improvement programme for destinations and their visitor economies, announced the 2022 results on this past Wednesday (9th November). It saw the Northern Ireland’s capital climb eleven places since last year to take the 8th spot; placing Belfast as the most sustainable destination in the Island of Ireland.
We have the list, now it’s up to you to plan your trips. And remember, we love pictures and stories. So, if you have anything to share when you tick off your ‘tidiest places to visit bucket list,’ let us know please.