Clare’s longstanding record of success in the IPB Pride of Place competition has continued this year with the announcement that Tourism East Clare and the Rekindle Festival of Lost Skills in Ennistymon have been named winners at an awards ceremony held in the Armagh City Hotel.
Three Clare community projects were bidding for national glory in the all-island competition, which is organised by peacebuilding charity Co-operation Ireland and sponsored by IPB Insurance, to showcase and celebrate exceptional community development efforts.
Nominated by Clare County Council, Tourism East Clare was named overall winner in Community Tourism Initiative category for its efforts to promote sustainable tourism development in the region by fostering relationships among local providers and offering unique tourism products and packages.
The Common Knowledge project “Rekindle Festival of Lost Skills” received a Special Award in recognition of its dedication to empowering individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary for joyful and sustainable living.
Meanwhile, Ennis Men’s Shed was named as runner-up of the Community Wellbeing Category in recognition of the proactive approach by volunteers to address mental health issues by establishing a state-of-the-art community facility.
Each of the projects were assessed by judges from IPB Pride of Place during August when group representatives made a formal presentation to adjudicators before hosting tours that highlighted the elements of the community and volunteer efforts of which they are most proud.
“Every corner of the island of Ireland has been represented in this competition, each having their own unique story and having been deserving of their nomination due to the huge amounts of time, energy and thought invested in their respective projects,” said Leas Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Gabriel Keating (FG).
“For Clare to record yet more wins is a huge source of pride for the local authority and every community and voluntary organisation across County Clare.”
Clare has enjoyed considerable success in the competition during recent years with wins for Loop Head in 2022, Clare Youth Action in 2020 and Shannon in 2018.
“This competition is all about pride of place and engendering a sense that one small deed or gesture of community spirit can have long-lasting, positive effects for an entire community,” said Pat Dowling, Chief Executive of Clare County Council.
“Volunteers from the three nominated projects have each demonstrated a clear vision for making their respective communities a more inclusive, welcoming and successful place in which to work and live.
“I particularly want to congratulate everyone associated with Common Knowledge and Tourism East Clare on their award wins and for giving freely of their time and energy to make a difference in their own community.”
Reacting to the award win, Christine O’Brien of Clare Tourism East thanked everyone who supported the group this year.
“We are overjoyed to achieve national success for our project and for having the honour of representing our county in this prestigious competition. We wish to thank Clare County Council for nominating us and for its support during the adjudication stage of the competition,” she said.
Harrison Gardner of Common Knowledge in Ennistymon paid tribute to all the local volunteers who made their work possible.
“I would like to acknowledge the many volunteers and community representatives that have supported our project, with whom we share this award win,” he said.
Tourism East Clare is a voluntary group which aims to promote sustainable tourism development in the region by fostering relationships among local providers and offering unique tourism products and packages.
Knowledge is dedicated to empowering individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary for joyful and sustainable living. Their “Rekindle Festival of Lost Skills” is an intergenerational celebration that revitalises traditional skills for a more sustainable future. From traditional craft demonstrations to workshops on weaving and spinning, the festival is a testament to the wisdom of past generations.
Ennis Men’s Shed has taken a proactive approach to address mental health issues by establishing a state-of-the-art community facility. With determination and innovation, the group has created a space that encourages social interaction, holistic activities, and upskilling in a fun and inclusive environment. This initiative has not only improved mental wellbeing but also strengthened community bonds.
Andrew Hamilton is a journalist, investigative reporter and blogger who has been working in the media in Ireland for the past 20 years. His areas of special interest include the environment, mental health and politics.