Galway Bay fm newsroom - Galway has been deemed lreland's cleanest city in the latest litter league survey.
The city is ranked at number 10 as 'cleaner than European norms' in the final litter survey of 2019 by business group Irish Business Against Litter - IBAL.
Ballinasloe claimed 'clean' status in 26th place, while Ballybane just missed out with a 'moderately littered' grade.
Overall litter levels in Ireland's towns were up on a year ago, but all city centres were clean.
The An Taisce report for Galway city centre stated there were no heavily littered sites.
Sites commended for their presentation and maintenance included the grounds of Merlin Hospital, City Hall, Spanish Arch, William Street and Liam Mellows GAA Club.
In Ballinasloe, top ranked sites included the residential area of St. Grellan's Terrace / St. Anne's Park, Ballinasloe GAA Club and the grounds of the Church of Ireland.
Judges stated the Main Street was again heavily littered, as was the Car Park at the Hospital.
The report for Ballybane stated the top ranking sites were Ballybane Road, Ballybane Shopping Centre, Old Ballybrit Road / R339 Junction and the Library.
Judges noted the most heavily littered site in the area was Ballybane Village where heavy levels of litter were persistent throughout.
Kilkenny topped the IBAL litter rankings for a record 4th time, having last won in 2014.
The past decade has brought a 13% reduction in litter levels in our city centres, while litter in towns has remained constant over the same period.
