Communities show Pride Of Place

Two Clare community projects will be hoping to emulate the success of local charity Clare Crusaders in last year’s Pride of Place competition when competition judges visit the county this week.

Clare County Council has selected Clare Sports Partnership and Cuimhneamh an Chláir as the county’s representatives in Pride of Place 2012, which is run by Co-operation Ireland in conjunction with local authorities north and south of the border.
In late 2011, Clare Crusaders received a special award in the Community Health Initiative category. The county’s other entrant, Loop Head Tourism, was short-listed in the All-Ireland competition, which recognises contributions that community groups make to society.
Cuimhneamh an Chláir, the Clare Oral History and Folklore Group (Single Issue – Cultural Tourism) and Clare Sports Partnership (Single Issue – Active Elderly) are busily preparing for the judging stage of the 2012 competition, which takes place this Friday.
Cuimhneamh an Chláir is a voluntary and independent group, established in 2009 in an attempt to record the memories of Clare’s oldest citizens. The group has trained and mobilised over 30 volunteers, known as cuairteoirí, across Clare who visit with and record the county’s older people.
Earlier this month, the group launched a new website to help promote the folklore and oral history of County Clare. www.clarememories.ie features over 330 interviews with people aged between 65 and 106.
As part of its strategy for the older adult, Clare Sports Partnership has been running the Physical Activity Leaders (PALS) training over the past number of years. The programme has been developed by Go For Life nationally. At present, over 60 members of various elderly groups across Clare have been trained as PALS.
Speaking ahead of the judging stage, Mayor of Clare Councillor Pat Daly said, “This competition focuses on local communities, both north and south of the border, coming together to shape, change and enjoy all that is good about their area. It also highlights the commitment of local authorities to supporting groups who undertake initiatives to improve their communities.”
Nicola Cullinan, co-ordinator, Pride of Place, Clare County Council added, “The Pride of Place competition differs from other similar projects in that they specifically recognise the involvement of the local community in all aspects of rural and urban regeneration, including promoting social cohesion, involvement in planning, the promotion of heritage and environmental awareness.
“Local communities that have participated in the competition in recent years have benefited greatly from their experiences.”
Judging in this year’s competition takes place on Friday in Clare Education Centre (Cuimhneamh and Chláir) at 10am and Ennistymon Community Hall (Clare Sports Partnership) at 2.30pm.
The awards ceremony for Pride of Place will be held at Thomond Park in Limerick on November 3.