Randalstown scoops best kept town title

Randalstown has been named as the overall Best Kept Town in Northern Ireland at the 2016 Open + Direct Best Kept City, Town, Village & Housing Awards
Doreen Muskett, MBE, President, NIAC, with Helen Boyd from Tidy Randalstown, winner of the Community Achiever Award for 2016Doreen Muskett, MBE, President, NIAC, with Helen Boyd from Tidy Randalstown, winner of the Community Achiever Award for 2016
Doreen Muskett, MBE, President, NIAC, with Helen Boyd from Tidy Randalstown, winner of the Community Achiever Award for 2016

Randalstown’s clinch of the overall ‘Best of the Best’ award is a great achievement for the town, who were praised by judges for their community approach to keeping the environment at a high standard.

But Best of the Best wasn’t the only award for Randalstown at this year’s awards, as the Community Achiever Award was presented to Helen Boyd of Tidy Randalstown. This award is given to exemplary members of the community who prove themselves devoted to the town’s general appearance.

Helen said: “Winning this award is such as amazing privilege and it has been a wonderful journey. I’m so excited at the changes we have been able to make in Randalstown and the happiness of the people because of what has been achieved.”

Councillor John Scott, Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, is joined by Jane McTaggart and Helen Boyd as he celebrates Randalstownâ¬"s clinch of the overall Best of the Best title at the 2016 Open + Direct Best Kept Awards on Tuesday, October 18th.Councillor John Scott, Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, is joined by Jane McTaggart and Helen Boyd as he celebrates Randalstownâ¬"s clinch of the overall Best of the Best title at the 2016 Open + Direct Best Kept Awards on Tuesday, October 18th.
Councillor John Scott, Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, is joined by Jane McTaggart and Helen Boyd as he celebrates Randalstownâ¬"s clinch of the overall Best of the Best title at the 2016 Open + Direct Best Kept Awards on Tuesday, October 18th.

Councillor John Scott, Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, said: “The community work that has gone into achieving this award is very special. When you have a great community there – the residents, the businesses, everyone – this is what can happen!

Doreen Muskett MBE, President, NIAC, said: “Every year it is a pleasure to reward those who have taken great pride in maintaining or creating beautiful settings. Entries for 2016 were of a high standard and judges had great difficulty in selecting the eventual winners, however Randalstown stood out as the very best.

“The town exuded civic pride from the moment the judges arrived and it was clear that both residents and businesses alike worked together to make sure the atmosphere stayed attractive, clean and tidy. Congratulations to everyone in Randalstown who contributed to winning this award, including Helen Boyd of Tidy Randalstown who has been deservedly recognised this year through our Community Achiever Award.”

John Laverty of sponsor Open + Direct, now part of Abbey Insurance Brokers, shared his enthusiasm saying: “A well-kept living area makes for a happier, healthier society. Congratulations not only to all of the winners, but to Randalstown, who went above and beyond in proving that they are the best kept.”

Randalstown in Co. Antrim has been named as the overall Best Kept Town in Northern Ireland at the 2016 Open + Direct Best Kept City, Town, Village & Housing AwardsRandalstown in Co. Antrim has been named as the overall Best Kept Town in Northern Ireland at the 2016 Open + Direct Best Kept City, Town, Village & Housing Awards
Randalstown in Co. Antrim has been named as the overall Best Kept Town in Northern Ireland at the 2016 Open + Direct Best Kept City, Town, Village & Housing Awards

Speaking at the event, David Small, CEO, Northern Ireland Environment Agency, said: “It is wonderful to see so many of our communities participating in the Best Kept Towns Awards. I would like to congratulate all of today’s winners and to acknowledge the hard work undertaken by the individual committees across the province. I would also like to extend a special word of thanks to all the judges and to the Northern Ireland Amenity Council (NIAC) for their hard work throughout the year.”