The town of Kenmare in Co Kerry has been awarded the title of Ireland’s Best Kept Small Town.

The prestigious award was presented to a group from the town at Farmleigh House in Dublin by Michael Ring, the Government’s new Minister for Rural and Community Affairs.

“After more than two decades, this all-Ireland competition continues to be a strong recognition of the great pride people have in their own communities, and how local volunteers take ownership of their surroundings and work to improve them, both for now and into the future,” Ring said.

Kenmare Town

Kenmare Town

Kenmare has a population of just over 2,000 people and sits on both the well-known Ring of Kerry and the equally picturesque Ring of Beara - making it a popular destination for tourists from all over the world.

Read more: Ireland’s Travel Secrets: Beara Peninsula

Slán le Ciarraí • • • #sunset #sea #nature #RingofKerry #WildAtlanticWay #instaireland

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On their way home from winning the award, the delighted delegation called in on a man who had been instrumental to helping them win - Fr Murphy.

Fr Murphy “was the man who put Kenmare on the right track for winning the tidy towns competition,” local councillor Patrick Connor-Scarteen told Radio Kerry.

Kenmare stone circle.

Kenmare stone circle.

Read more: Killarney named among top places in the world to retire

“Before that he did it with [nearby] Sneem and… he did it with Killarney. They want to show him the award first before they come back to Kenmare.”

The sights from Kenmare town.

The sights from Kenmare town.

Killarney was an overall winner of the competition in 2011 and Sneem won in 1987.

H/T: Radio Kerry