A RETIRED priest credited with winning Tidy Towns titles for three
different towns has been given an honour of his own.Archdeacon Michael Murphy, or Fr Tidy as he is affectionately known, helped win titles in the national competition over three decades when he served at different Kerry parishes.
His first success was in 1987 when Sneem was named Ireland's tidiest town.
This was followed by Kenmare, which won the title in 2004.
But the popular priest scored a hat trick in 2011 when Killarney took the title.
Now Fr Murphy has received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Kerry County Council in recognition of his contribution to tidy towns efforts in the county.
His motto has always been "keep at it".
And although he turns 88 in January, he has no intention of retiring yet from the second job he has dedicated much of his life to.
He's still an active member of Killarney Tidy Towns committee and can regularly be seen picking up papers at the side of the road.