The search for Ireland’s best public toilet has officially been launched, as a nationwide competition returns to celebrate what is usually one of the most overlooked parts of everyday life.
Drainage company Dyno-Rod is once again running its SuperLoo campaign, inviting businesses across the country to enter their public bathrooms into a contest that will ultimately crown one as Ireland’s top publicly accessible loo.
The idea is simple enough, even if the subject matter is not glamorous: find the cleanest, most comfortable and best-maintained public toilet in the country and give it a bit of recognition.
The competition was first run in the early 1990s, with the original title going to the Slieve Russell Hotel in Cavan. Now, more than three decades later, it has been revived in a bid to once again highlight the places that take pride in something most customers only think about when things go wrong.
Dyno-Rod, which has been operating in Ireland for over 50 years, says the aim is to highlight the importance of well-maintained facilities in shaping customer experience. However, even the organisers admit the concept tends to raise a few eyebrows.
As part of the launch, businesses from cafés and hotels to garages, libraries and entertainment venues are being encouraged to nominate their toilets for consideration. Entries will be judged on a range of criteria, including cleanliness, accessibility, comfort, hygiene standards and overall customer experience.
Other factors include slightly more specific details such as ventilation, hand-drying facilities, toilet paper quality and even the positioning of holders and dispensers.
Once applications close, adjudicators will shortlist ten finalists before a public vote decides which venue will take home the 2026 SuperLoo title.
The competition will run until 17 July 2026, with organisers saying they expect entries from right across the country, from small independent businesses to larger hospitality venues.
While the idea may seem unusual, the original version of the competition attracted significant attention in the 1990s, becoming something of a talking point for businesses keen to showcase their standards.
At the time, the final award went to the Slieve Russell Hotel, which reportedly marked its win in fairly memorable fashion.
Now, with the return of SuperLoo, organisers say they are hoping to bring a bit of fun and recognition to something that quietly matters more than most people admit.
And while it might not be the most traditional national title up for grabs this summer, there is no doubt plenty of businesses will be keeping a close eye on the race to be crowned Ireland’s best public loo.
