Kilkenny has topped the list of the cleanest towns and cities in Ireland.

The latest Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) survey ranks the city top out of 42 surveyed in the country.

IBAL says 4-out-of-5 towns and cities were clean or cleaner than the European average but ranked north inner-city Dublin as the dirtiest spot in Ireland.

Dublin Airport and its approach roads were singled out for praise as it has now been ranked as "Clean to European Norms" which is an improvement on previous years.

'Great attention to detail'

Chairman of IBAL is Dr. Tom Cavanagh.

He says the winner, Kilkenny, had "great attention to detail" which set it apart from the rest of the country.

Kilkenny approach roads were deemed in good order and the footpath and road surface along the High Street have been "very attractively paved".

IBAL also said the area along the riverbank which had previously been problematic has improved and graffiti has been erased.

Kilkenny will receive 10 copper beach trees to mark its success.

See the final league table below:

Ranking Town / City Status

• 1 Kilkenny Cleaner than European Norms
• 2 Cavan Cleaner than European Norms
• 3 Killarney Cleaner than European Norms
• 4 Ballina Cleaner than European Norms
• 5 Castlebar Cleaner than European Norms
• 6 Trim Cleaner than European Norms
• 7 Longford Cleaner than European Norms
• 8 Buncrana Cleaner than European Norms
• 9 Fermoy Cleaner than European Norms
• 10 Clonmel Cleaner than European Norms
• 11 Dun Laoghaire Cleaner than European Norms
• 12 Tramore Cleaner than European Norms
• 13 Wexford Cleaner than European Norms
• 14 Drogheda Cleaner than European Norms
• 15 Galway City Cleaner than European Norms
• 16 Youghal Cleaner than European Norms
• 17 Swords Cleaner than European Norms
• 18 Tullamore Cleaner than European Norms
• 19 Bray Cleaner than European Norms
• 20 Waterford City Cleaner than European Norms
• 21 Naas Cleaner than European Norms
• 22 Cobh Cleaner than European Norms
• 23 Mullingar Clean to European Norms
• 24 Sligo Clean to European Norms
• 25 Kildare Clean to European Norms
• 26 Athlone Clean to European Norms
• 27 Ennis Clean to European Norms
• 28 Dublin Airport Environs Clean to European Norms
• 29 Roscommon Clean to European Norms
• 30 Tallaght Clean to European Norms
• 31 Monaghan Clean to European Norms
• 32 Portlaoise Clean to European Norms
• 33 Navan Clean to European Norms
• 34 Tralee Clean to European Norms
• 35 Tipperary Clean to European Norms
• 36 Cork City Moderately Littered
• 37 Dundalk Moderately Littered
• 38 Limerick City Moderately Littered
• 39 Carlow Moderately Littered
• 40 Dublin City Moderately Littered
• 41 Maynooth Moderately Littered
• ~ N/A Littered
• ~ N/A Seriously Littered
• 42 North Inner City Dublin Litter Blackspot