Everyone's a winner taking part in the Tidy Towns competition says councillor

Tidy Towns committees throughout the Lifford-Stranorlar Municipal District were all winners, according to its chairman, Cllr Patrick McGowan.

He was speaking at Thursday's meeting where Paul Gallagher from the council's environmental services section paid tribute to the successful Tidy Towns committees in their district.

He pointed out that the committee in Raphoe was awarded a bronze medal and another in Castlefin was one of four national award winners in relation to conservation efforts. He praised all the groups in the county that had improved their results in this year's competition.

Cllr Martin Harley also paid tribute to all the voluntary committees in their area for all their hard work.

"It's great for all the groups to know that they are improving. We as a council work with them as well by helping to upgrade footpaths that help make our towns better places to live in and visit."

Cllr McGowan also joined in the congratulations adding it wasn't all about winning.

He revealed he knew a number of new towns and villages would be joining the Tidy Towns competition next year including Killygordon-Crossroads and Convoy.

"This is a better outcome for our whole area and our environment. You don't do it for the rest of the country, you do it so local people can take pride in their own wee villages, they are all winners at the end of the day and that's the real prize," he said.