Council honours work of communities and residents

COMMUNITIES across the county were honoured this week at the annual Housing, Social and Cultural Services Directorate Awards ceremony, held at Áras Contae an Chláir.

Two sets of awards were presented for entries in the Clare in Bloom and the Best Kept Local Authority Estate competitions. The awards are a mark of Clare County Council’s programme of sustaining positive and co-operative working relationships with local groups.
The overall award in the Clare in Bloom competition for 2011 and a cheque for €1,200 was awarded to St Mary’s Community Development, Lissycasey.
The overall winner in the Best Kept Local Authority Estate competition was Millstream, Killaloe, which was awarded an engraved limestone plaque, a cheque for €1,100 and the Mary Hennessy Memorial Award.
Mayor of Clare Pat Hayes said the awards were a celebration of all that is good about County Clare. He acknowledged the work being done by community groups and residents’ associations behind the scenes and thanked them for their valuable contribution to their communities.
Clare in Bloom encourages local groups at village and town level throughout the county to enhance their communities by means of flower, tree and shrub-planting schemes. In this year’s competition, particular attention was given to entrants who had implemented litter control measures, waste prevention and energy initiatives. Entry categories are based on population size with a first, second and third prize in each category of €800, €400 and €200 respectively, in addition to special endeavour awards of €100 each

Category 1 (population in excess of 700)
1. Kilrush Tidy Towns Committee; 2. Kilmurry McMahon/Knock Community Group; 3. Obair Environmental Services, Newmarket-on-Fergus.
Special endeavour awards in this category went to Lisdoonvarna Community Council, Shannon Tidy Towns, Bunratty Business Association/Environmental Group, Scariff Community Council, Scariff Community Gardens and Feakle Tidy Village Committee.
Category 2 (population of 300-700)
1. Kildysart Tidy Towns; 2. Quin Tidy Towns; 3. Kilmihil Tidy Towns. Special endeavour awards in this category went to Whitegate Community Council and Meitheal Doora.
Category 3 (population less than 300)
1. Ballynacally Development Association; 2. Bridgetown Tidy Towns; 3. Labasheeda Community Pride.
Special endeavour awards in this category went to Ballyvaughan Tidy Towns, Killanena Action Group, O’Briensbridge Community Group, Mullagh Tidy Village, Cranny Tidy Towns, Querrin Community Association, Barefield Tidy Village Committee and Carrigaholt Tidy Towns.

The Mayor’s Environmental Award, together with the perpetual trophy for 2011 and a cheque for €800 was awarded to Tuamgraney Development Association.
Mayor Pat Hayes acknowledged the support of ESB  Moneypoint,  Shannon Development and Roche Ireland, which enabled the council to award prizes recognising the effort shown by applicants.
Twenty-six groups were honoured in the Best Kept Local Authority Estate Competition.
Councillor Patricia McCarthy, cathaoirleach of the Housing, Social and Cultural Services Strategic Policy Committee, commended the 2011 participants for their achievements. “It is important to reward residents in our estates for their involvement in improving their environment and for adding to the quality of life within their estates. The dedication and commitment of these residents’ groups cannot be underestimated,” she said.
Councillor McCarthy also referred to the recently launched Age Friendly County Initiative and noted the importance of individuals, both the young and the not so young, working together to enhance their environments and communities, with everyone being included. 
There are three entry categories, based on the size of the local authority estate.
Entrants were marked against adjudication criteria that included
resident participation; litter control/litter awareness projects/recycling initiatives; general environmental and special projects; presentation and appearance of dwellings and open spaces.

Category 1 (1-30 houses)
1. Lower Main St, Tulla; joint 2. St Joseph’s Ballyvaughan and Cluain Chormaic, Kildysart; joint 3. Fairgreen/Main Street Broadford and Finnuremore Park, Mullagh.
Category 2 (31-50 houses)
1. Millstream, Killaloe; joint 2. Station Road, Lahinch and Riverview, Tuamgraney; joint 3. Plunkett Drive, Kilkishen and Connaught Road, Scariff.
Category 3 (51+ houses)
1. Cappa Lodge, Sixmilebridge; 2. Ballard Road, Miltown Malbay;  joint 3. Rooska, Lisdoonvarna and Marian Estate, Kilkee.

Individual awards were also presented to: Lus na Si, Miltown Malbay for Best New Entrant; Riverview, Tuamgraney – Most Improved Estate; Cul na Gréine, Shannon – Judges’ Special Award; Ballard Road, Miltown Malbay – Youth Involvement Award. Ten other prizes were also awarded to local authority resident associations throughout the county. The total prize fund for the competition was €7,700.