Here is a selection of towns that entered the National Enterprise Town Awards in 2017 and why they made the final judging process.
A question that is often asked about the National Enterprise Town Awards is what type of towns enter the awards and what qualifies a town to enter?
Below are some examples of town entries from last year (2017).
Please note, these are randomly selected examples from the four provinces and are meant simply to serve as an illustration as to what types of towns enter and why they enter. Over 70 towns and villages entered the awards in 2017. In 2018, over 90 entered.
The National Enterprise Town Awards showcase how communities around Ireland embrace business and enterprise to help their towns thrive. One of the key pillars of the awards is how a town can demonstrate a collaboration between businesses and community groups that have helped it prosper.
Cootehill
This Ulster town is located in the north of County Cavan on the border with County Monaghan. The population is circa 1,853.
Collaboration between businesses and community groups
The Town Team initiative was introduced in three towns in County Cavan in 2016, including Cootehill. It aims to help the people of County Cavan to create towns they can be proud of with town centres that are prosperous and vibrant.
Membership of the Town Teams is open to all over 18 years of age who live or work in the town and its environs.
The Town Team initiative was founded to create an environment that will support job creation, and encourage businesses, the local community and other relevant stakeholders to work together to energise and reinvigorate their towns in collaboration with public authorities and other service providers.
Stand out and original achievements
As part of the Town Team action plan, a SWOT analysis was carried out which identified town strengths
