Tag Archives: Pride of Place

Clare communities, project groups and housing estates have once again an opportunity to demonstrate how best they can enhance their surroundings Such groups have until Friday of next week (March 27) to express their interest in participating in the 2015 IPB Pride of Place competition. For the second year in a row, the national finals will be hosted by Clare County Council in Ennis in November. Nominated Clare communities will be hoping to emulate the local successes of recent years, including Miltown Malbay’s first place award in 2013 and Killaloe and Tuamgraney’s runner-up finishes in 2014. Last year, Clare County Council also won a special award for its contribution to the competition since it was first established in 2003. Clare County Council may nominate one group per category, providing the total number nominated does not exceed five. Judging for Pride of Place 2015 takes place between June and August. Further information on the competition is available at www.prideofplace.ie

CLARE County Council was rewarded for promoting community endeavour with a national award, which was presented at the end of the Pride of Place gala ceremony. The local authority received the Council Community Engagement Award at the function that they hosted in conjunction with Cooperation Ireland, which runs the competition north and south of the border. In their citation, the judges noted that the council has been to the forefront of Pride of Place since the beginning and has been a driver of the awards, recognising the great value they are in motivating communities to work together. “In addition, this year despite managing the most significant changes ever in the history of local government and the extensive workload that entailed, the council still managed to organise with great attention to detail what I am sure you will all agree is one of the finest award ceremonies ever hosted,” the judges stated. The awards recognise cities, towns and communities that show …

THE enterprise and vision that transformed unused farmland into a state-of-the-art €2 million recreational park in Killaloe has been officially recognised with a national award. Clarisford Limited scooped a runner-up award in the national Pride of Place Community Innovation category at a function in Treacy’s West County Hotel, Ennis on Saturday night. Members of the group from Killaloe and Ballina were presented with a statuette and a €500 cheque for displaying great community innovation. Spearheaded by former Lions and Irish rugby star, Keith Wood, Clarisford Park was set up to provide a home for Lough Derg FC, Killaloe Ballina RFC and the local scouts group. The dream of providing a new recreational area for the local community became a reality due to funding from the Keith Wood Foundation, Clare LEADER, sports capital grants and the three anchor tenants clubs, who contributed about 10% of the overall cost. In fact, it has totally exceeded initial plans and expectations, with more than …

MILTOWN Malbay Tidy Towns Committee took top prize in the annual IPB All-Island Pride of Place Awards announced at a ceremony in The Venue, Derry on Saturday night. They received their award in Category 3, which is for population size of between 500 and 1,000 people. County Clare also received a Livcom nomination. Speaking about the committee, the judges said, “Social supports and linkages, formal and informal, are important for coping with stressors and improving the quality of life. This community has this down to a fine art and has developed strong linkages and co-operation between diverse agencies. The town has maximised the full potential of an annual festival, which has gone from strength to strength. “A disused school premises has been transformed into a vibrant community resource. The private sector has shown courage and vision in developing a sizable supermarket together with other community facilities. This is a town very much on the move.” Minister for the Environment, Community …

THREE Clare voluntary groups will be hoping to emulate the success of organisations like The Clare Crusaders, Kilnaboy Youth Club, Tuamgraney and other Clare communities in previous years by being named a category winner at the IPB Pride of Place awards ceremony in Derry on Saturday. Clare County Council has this year selected An Sean Dún Housing Estate in Roslevan, Mountshannon Community Council and Miltown Malbay Tidy Towns to participate in the annual All-Ireland competition, which aims to recognise and celebrate the vital contributions that community groups make to society. In July, representatives of the three groups made presentations to the competition judges, Blaise Tracey and Declan Nelson. Speaking ahead of Saturday’s awards ceremony, Mayor of Clare Councillor Joe Arkins said, “The council’s decision to nominate each of the three participating groups is recognition of the hard work they have undertaken for the good of their communities. The communities of An Sean Dún, Mountshannon and Miltown Malbay can be justifiably …