Bray has once again proven itself as one of Ireland’s leading coastal towns, proudly achieving a Gold Medal Award in the 2025 SuperValu Tidy Towns Competition, along with a remarkable 19-point increase in its adjudication score — rising from 366 in 2024 to 385 in 2025.
This prestigious recognition celebrates Bray’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, community pride, and environmental excellence.
A Remarkable Achievement for the Community
The SuperValu Tidy Towns competition, now in its 67th year, continues to highlight the power of local collaboration and environmental stewardship. Bray’s success is a reflection of the dedication of the Bray Tidy Towns Committee, the Bray Municipal District, and the many volunteers, residents, businesses, and schools who play an active role in keeping the town vibrant and welcoming.
In the official adjudication, the judges commended Bray for its:
🌳 Biodiversity Action Plan, which has introduced a clear roadmap for protecting and enhancing local wildlife habitats.
🌱 Tree-planting initiatives, including over 1,500 native trees planted in partnership with local students.
☀️ Sustainability projects, from solar-powered “Big Belly” bins to the decarbonisation of municipal buildings, reducing energy consumption by up to 60%.
🌺 Beautiful public spaces, such as the River Walk and Seafront Promenade, are praised for their careful maintenance and vibrant planting.
🚮 Outstanding litter control and cleanliness, with very little litter observed on adjudication day — a testament to year-round volunteer dedication.
The judges described Bray as “a lovely town with much to offer… a cleaner, greener, and more inclusive place that continues to evolve positively each year.”
Congratulations to everyone who played a part in this outstanding success!
Read the full 2025 Adjudication Report here.
Building on 2024’s Success
This year’s Gold Medal marks a significant milestone in Bray’s journey through the Tidy Towns competition. The town’s consistent progress — up 19 points from last year — demonstrates how local collaboration and forward-thinking environmental planning continue to yield outstanding results.
2024 saw the completion of the town’s Biodiversity Action Plan and several greening initiatives, which have now matured into impactful, measurable outcomes in 2025. The adjudicators’ recognition underscores the community’s sustained effort to enhance sustainability, promote biodiversity, and foster civic pride.
Read the complete 2025 SuperValu Tidy Towns Results Booklet here.
About Tidy Towns Competition
The Tidy Towns Competition was first launched in 1958 by Bord Fáilte (now Fáilte Ireland), as part of a nationwide festival called ‘Tostal,’ which celebrated Irish heritage and culture. It evolved from the National Spring Clean Campaign, which ran from 1953 to 1957, and soon developed its own unique identity. Today, Tidy Towns is Ireland’s most well-known and widely celebrated local environmental initiative, with communities nationwide taking pride in participating each year.
The competition is organised by the Department of Rural and Community Development and sponsored by SuperValu who have sponsored the competition since 1991.
You can read more about the competition at tidytowns.ie.
About Bray
Bray is a coastal town in County Wicklow and is situated about 20 km south of Dublin city centre on the east coast. According to the 2022 census, it is the tenth-largest urban area within the Republic of Ireland. Bray is a resort town, making it a destination for tourists and day-trippers, with a great social scene, bustling town centre, and thriving industry.
Bray is home to…
Ireland’s oldest film studios, Ardmore Studios, the award-winning Bray Air Display, Bray Central – an impressive leisure, dining and retail development located in the heart of the thriving town of Bray, Bray Emmets GAA Club which was founded in 1885, Bray Wanderers Football Club with its home matches played at the Carlisle Grounds, East Coast FM – Wicklow’s Favourite Radio Station and Mermaid Arts Centre – a leading space where ideas, creativity, imagination and artistic expression find a natural home.
Bray Town has won numerous awards…
- bray.ie won ‘Best Connected Council‘ at the All-Ireland Community & Council Awards in 2017. Read more here.
- Bray Air Display was crowned ‘Best Event’ at The Irish Tourism Awards 2017. Read more here.
- Bray was runners-up at the Bank of Ireland National Enterprise Town Awards 2018. Read more here.
- The ‘Brave Maeve Children’s Myth & Art Trail’ won ‘Best Use of Creativity in the Community’ Award at the Business to Arts Awards 2018. Read more here.
- The Bray Air Display and the ‘Summer in Bray’ tourism initiative won Silver at The All Ireland Community and Council Awards in 2019. Read more here.
- River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme was a winner at the Engineers Ireland Excellence Awards 2018. Read more here.