Buncrana improves in litter rankings with Swan Park highlighted as ‘a superb amenity’

Buncrana has improved nine places in the Irish Business Against Litter rankings for 2025.

The town, the only one in Donegal in the survey, was positioned 18 out of 40, up from 27 last year, improving from “moderately littered” to “clean to European norms”.

The improvement comes on the back of Buncrana being named Donegal’s tidiest town for the third year in a row at the SuperValu Tidy Towns Awards in November.

Naas finished on top of the rankings for the third time in four years, ahead of five-time victor Kilkenny and Monaghan town.

The An Taisce report for Buncrana described the result as “a very good” one for Buncrana, with six top-ranking sites and no heavily littered ones. Swan Park was highlighted as “a superb waterside amenity which has been exceptionally well presented and maintained, sensitive to the local environment”.

Festival Park was also highlighted, described as “spotless throughout” and a credit to the users and those responsible for its maintenance.

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The town received six A grades - the top litter grade - 2 B+ and a B.The R238 Clonmany Road area received a grade A for being a "freshly presented route with attractive low-lying planting beside the pavement”.

The Festival Park received grade A and was described as a beautifully located park with play equipment, basketball court and grass area all in very good condition.

An Taisce said Swan Park was not just excellent with regards to litter, but all aspects were in excellent order including signage, seating, litter bins and picnic tables etc.

The recycle bank at SuperValu also received a grade A due to “a virtual absence of litter”.

The residential area of Castle Park was also graded A with “all aspects were in very good order and there was an absence of litter throughout”.

Buncrana Court House, which features on the Buncrana Heritage Trail, was graded A, although the report said the building needs some attention.

The Illies Road was awarded a Grade B+ for being a “welcoming and generally well-tended approach to Buncrana”. It missed out on the top litter grade as there were too many small food-related items and cigarette butts.

The L1641 road also received a B+ as “a well-presented and tended route” that had too many scattered items of food related litter for the top litter grade.

Milltown Business Park was awarded a grade B+ and was described as “a generally freshly presented and maintained business environment” which will not require much effort to receive a top litter grade.The town’s main street received a grade B with the report praising the paving, litter bins, tree planting, seating colourful hanging baskets at a few premises. There were, however, too many loose litter items and dog fouling for the top litter grade.