Blooming Ballincollig Prepares to Represent Ireland in Prestigious International Competition
16/06/2026
Countdown is on as Cork City Council and Tidy Town Ballincollig prepare to bloom for major international competition
Cork City Council and national tidy town winner, Ballincollig in Cork City, are working together to ensure the town is in full bloom when it represents Ireland in the prestigious Communities in Bloom (CiB) International Challenge next week.
Ballincollig Tidy Towns was formally recommended for the global competition by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (Tidy Towns Section) following the group’s success in winning the SuperValu National Tidy Towns Award in 2024.
Cork City Council endorsed the proposal, recognising the exceptional work carried out by the local community and volunteers in enhancing the town’s environment, heritage, and quality of life, and it is now working with Ballincollig Tidy Towns volunteers to prepare for the arrival of CiB judges in the town on June 25 and 26.
The judges place strong emphasis on community participation and engagement across all the categories they consider, with marks awarded in each area contributing to an overall international “bloom rating”.
The CiB International Challenge brings together award-winning towns and cities from across the globe, including participants from Britain in Bloom, America in Bloom, Japan in Bloom, Comuni Fioriti (Italy), and several European nations to compete against each other.
Ballincollig will be showcased on the world stage when CiB judges visit the town for an informal welcome dinner on Thursday, June 25, followed by a full day of judging and site visits across the town on Friday, June 26.
The judges will assess municipal, residential, commercial, and institutional spaces, highlighting the collective effort behind Ballincollig’s success, and will assess the town across six key criteria including:
- Community appearance
- Environmental action
- Heritage conservation
- Tree management
- Landscape
- Plant and floral displays
The judging itinerary will showcase a diverse cross-section of the town, including Main Street, Barrack Square, the town’s beautiful Regional Park, a local housing estate and some community facilities.
The judges will visit the Ballincollig Tidy Towns allotment and the City Council allotments, a local primary school engaging in the Green Schools programme, they will enjoy lunch in The White Horse which will showcase local food producers, they will visit Westgate Foundation, the support service provider for older people, the town’s biodiversity hub, its GAA club, and the Rosenalee Care Centre.
The visit will conclude with a formal dinner attended by the Lord Mayor, Cork City Council representatives, Ballincollig Tidy Towns volunteers, and other key community stakeholders.
Preparation for the international event has involved close collaboration between Cork City Council staff and Ballincollig Tidy Towns volunteers.
“We are delighted to support Ballincollig Tidy Towns in representing Ireland at the Communities in Bloom International Challenge,” a spokesperson for Cork City Council said.
“This is a testament to the dedication, pride, and collaboration within the local community.
“It is a fantastic opportunity to share Ballincollig’s achievements internationally while learning from other leading communities worldwide.”
Tom Butler, Chairperson of Ballincollig Tidy Towns, said they are delighted to be involved in the Communities in Bloom competition.
“We feel very privileged to represent our community, our city and our country in this international competition,” Mr Butler said.
“It’s not often that a community group gets to represent their country on an international stage, and for us, this is a great honour.
“It will be nice to bring the judges in to what is a very special community, and hopefully, the people of Ballincollig will be out in force to welcome them.
“A huge amount of work and effort has gone into this, and all that work, which is being done in conjunction with Cork City Council, will culminate at the end of June.
“Our volunteer hours have increased dramatically but this is ultimately, a community event, and so we’d like to thank the businesses, and all the different organisations for getting involved, and the local authority for its support.
“This is the result of everyone pulling together, and Ballincollig, as a whole, will be all the better for it.”