Ogonnelloe Exchange and Clare Bus today (Tuesday) underwent judging in the 2016 IPB Pride of Place Competition.
Nominated by Clare County Council, the projects are hoping to replicate the numerous local successes in the competition during recent years, including Doonbeg Community Development’s first place award in 2015, Killaloe and Tuamgraney’s runner-Up finishes in 2014 and Miltown Malbay’s first place award in 2013.
Run by Co-Operation Ireland in conjunction with local authorities north and south of the border, the Pride of Place competition aims to recognise and celebrate the vital contributions that communities make to society.
Pride of Place Judges Donal Connolly and William Beattie visited Clare Bus in Feakle and Ogonnelloe to discover more about the projects during Tuesday.
Clare Bus is a registered business name of Clare Accessible Transport. It began operating in 2003 with one easy access bus operating in East Clare. Steady progress has led to a network of flexible services throughout Clare and parts of South Galway operated by nine low floor buses. The entire fleet has been secured through funding from private sources and the HSE.
Ogonnelloe Exchange is a local community development organisation established in 2015.
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.