Winning day for borough as Antrim, Randalstown and Ballynure scoop awards

Ballynure has been crowned ‘Best of the Best’ at the 2026 Best Kept City, Town, Village and Housing Area awards after winning in the ‘Best Kept Small Village’ category.

Antrim Town also took the title of ‘Best Kept Large Town’ as well as Randalstown taking the Best Kept Small Town award to make a winning day all round for Antrim & Newtownabbey Council Area

The awards, organised by the Northern Ireland Amenity Council (NIAC) took place at the Ardhowen Theatre in Enniskillen on the 14th October 2026 where over 100 representatives from Towns and Villages across the Province congregated for the ceremony.

The awards commend the dedication and hard work of volunteers, improvement groups and councils who have made outstanding contributions to improving their local environment.

The coveted Best Kept City award went to Belfast while Magherafelt secured the Best Kept Medium Town award, and Hillsborough securing the Large Village category.

Now in its 69th year, the Best Kept campaign attracted participants from all corners of Northern Ireland. NIAC Chairman Doreen Muskett MBE, said: “We are delighted to recognise the superb environmental work being done throughout Northern Ireland and celebrate all those who work tirelessly throughout the year to improve the areas in which they live or work.

“Ballynure and indeed all this year's winners truly embody the spirit of the Best Kept Awards, showcasing their dedication to enhancing the quality of life for residents and preserving the natural beauty of the region. The volunteer contribution to the work of Ballynure is the envy of many community groups throughout Northern Ireland and is exemplary”.

The awards ceremony featured several categories, including Best Kept City, Towns and Villages, Best Kept Housing Areas, and Best Kept Community Hero, among others. These categories recognised not only the aesthetic appeal of the nominated areas but also the efforts to promote sustainability, biodiversity, and community engagement.

Annadale Community Garden, Belfast won The Presidents Trophy in recognition of their first year as a Community Garden, it is a welcoming space for all to enjoy and share tips and advice on gardening with its vast array of flowers, plants, fruit and vegetables.

Speaking at the event Joe Mahon, Patron of the Northern Ireland Said “it is wonderful to see so many people coming together to serve their communities, giving up their time so freely to make our Cities, Town, Villages and Housing areas greener and cleaner, I congratulate all the winners here today”.

The Northern Ireland Amenity Council is a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting environmental awareness and community engagement in Northern Ireland. NIAC is committed to recognising and celebrating the efforts of individuals and groups who contribute to the enhancement of their local communities and the preservation of the natural environment.