Gorey Ranked Among Ireland's Cleanest Towns in Latest IBAL Survey

Gorey has been ranked among the cleanest towns in Ireland in the latest Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) Anti-Litter League, securing joint fifth place out of 40 towns and cities surveyed nationwide.

The County Wexford town was awarded the prestigious "Cleaner than European Norms" classification, placing it alongside Ballinasloe and Carrick-on-Shannon and behind only Sligo, Monaghan, Leixlip and Waterford City.

The survey, carried out independently by An Taisce on behalf of IBAL, praised several locations in Gorey for their high standards of cleanliness. Among the top-ranking sites were Main Street, The Mill Retail Park, Gorey Civic Centre and Gorey Town and District Park.

Inspectors were particularly impressed by Gorey Town and District Park, describing it as more than just a park and highlighting its role as a community gathering space, complete with a café and a book swap initiative.

However, the report did identify one significant problem area. A site at the junction of Wexford Road and Railway Road was described as heavily littered, with surveyors noting that the location had not reached its condition overnight and questioning where responsibility for its upkeep lies.

Nationally, Sligo once again topped the rankings, while Limerick City Centre was the only area classified as "littered". No town or city fell into the more severe categories of "seriously littered" or "litter blackspot".

According to IBAL, overall litter levels across the country remain similar to last year, with 27 of the 40 locations surveyed deemed clean. The organisation said Ireland now has fewer littered areas than at any point in the past 25 years.

Commenting on the findings, IBAL spokesperson Conor Horgan said local authorities appear to have improved their efforts in tackling persistent litter problems and illegal dumping.

The report also highlighted several national litter concerns. Despite the introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme, plastic bottles and cans continue to be found on streets across the country, with litter levels for both reaching their highest point since the scheme was introduced.

Coffee cup litter was also identified as a growing issue, reaching its highest level since 2023. IBAL said disposable coffee cups remain one of the most common forms of litter found on Irish streets, while cigarette butt litter has also increased significantly.

The latest result represents another strong performance for Gorey and reinforces its reputation as one of Ireland's cleanest towns. However, the report suggests that addressing the issues at the Wexford Road and Railway Road site could help the town climb even higher in future rankings.