Newcastle, Co. Down has been named the overall winner (June 22) in the 2009 Ireland’s Best Kept Town Awards. Loughgall, Co. Armagh also won its category, Best Kept Village, in this year's competition, which brought together the top Northern Ireland towns from last years SuperValu Best Kept Awards and their counterparts from the Tidy Towns competition in the South.

Newcastle clinched their category award, Best Kept Large Town, before going on to take the top title. Ennis, Co. Clare won the Best Kept Large Urban Centre award and Glenties in Donegal took the Small Town award.

SuperValu have been sponsors of the Ireland’s Best Kept Towns competition since its inception and are sponsors of the North’s Best Kept Awards and Tidy Towns in the South. SuperValu Customer Manager for Northern Ireland Conor McCann said; “SuperValu north and south of the border is very proud to sponsor these Best Kept Awards schemes. These partnerships are in keeping with our ethos of supporting the local communities in which SuperValu retailers trade. There are now more than 200 independently owned SuperValu outlets across Ireland, based at the heart of local towns and villages, with the individual store owners and their staff making a major contribution to the quality of life in the communities they serve. Support of and participation in Ireland’s Best Kept Towns has made and will continue to make, a real difference to the environment and local communities throughout the island.”