2017 IPB Pride of Place Awards Winners Announced
Mayo takes top spot in “villages less than 300 people” category and Enniscrone claim runner-up spot in “Category 1000 – 2000 people” in the Pride of Place Awards.
The winners of the IPB Pride of Place Awards in association with Co-operation Ireland were announced on Friday 2nd December at a gala awards ceremony in Letterkenny. The awards acknowledge the achievements and the invaluable work undertaken by volunteers and those involved in local community development.
Attymass, Mayo, achieved the top position in Category one, which is for villages with a population of less than 300 people. In their remarks the judges said:
“This amazing small rural community immediately impressed the judges with a fantastic welcome in a wonderful centre that is essential to the life of the community. The judges regarded the presentation on the day as one of the best they had ever witnessed. The sense of pride demonstrated in every aspect of community life – history, heritage, culture, international connections, excellent high quality amenities emanating from the extraordinary efforts of the community left the judges very clear that this community had indeed Pride in their Place.”
During the ceremony 49 Pride of Place Awards were announced in the main competition, the cities competition and special awards, ranging from groups supporting small rural communities to those involved in large inner city housing estates. Donegal County Council hosted the evening and celebrated Irish musicians Donal Lunney and Paddy Glackin entertained the audience before the winners were announced. RTE presenter Aengus MacGrianna was MC for the ceremony, which was attended by over 800 people.
Sponsorship
Sponsored by IPB Insurance, the Pride of Place competition was initiated 15 years ago through a Co-operation Ireland programme to acknowledge the invaluable work undertaken by communities and groups across the island of Ireland. It has grown into the largest competition recognising community development achievements.
Presentation
The winners were presented with their awards by Minister Joe McHugh TD, Government Chief Whip & Minister of State for Gaeilge, An Ghaeltacht and the Islands, Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr Gerry McMonagle, Dr Christopher Moran, Chairman Co-operation Ireland, Michael McGreal, Vice Chair IPB Insurance and Tom Dowling, Chairperson, Pride of Place Committee.
Tom Dowling, Chairperson of IPB Pride of Place Competition said:
“This unique competition is about showing respect and inclusion for every sector in our communities, young, old, rich or poor and creating communities to which the people are proud to say they belong”. He added that he was delighted that this year’s gala ceremony was being held in Donegal.
Peter Sheridan, Chief Executive of Co-operation Ireland said
“The Pride of Place Awards ceremony is an ideal opportunity for organisations to come together and learn from each other. This will be important as we prepare for the inevitable changes Brexit will bring to the island of Ireland. This evening, we have witnessed some of the finest examples of people working together to create a positive future and we all must continue to build on this so that Irish society as a whole can benefit. I congratulate everyone who was nominated but I extend special congratulations to those groups who were triumphant this evening”.
Support of the Competition
Michael Garvey, Chief Executive Officer of title sponsor IPB Insurance, reaffirmed his company’s support for the Pride of Place Awards competition, he said.
“The IPB Pride of Place awards is an ideal platform to recognise the positive social impacts being made in communities across the island of Ireland. I would like to take this opportunity to commend all the communities involved for their spirit of collaboration and camaraderie in making it to the finals. It is also important to recognise the role of local authorities across the island of Ireland who work closely with their communities to support inspiring voluntary initiatives. These awards serve as one of the important ways that we can recognise those involved in working to make a difference in society”.
Cathaoirleach Cllr. Gerry McMonagle said “I am delighted that Donegal has been chosen to host of this prestigious awards ceremony and that we welcomed over 800 people to celebrate and recognise the wonderful contribution that community groups make to life in their own local areas all across the island of Ireland. This has been a great opportunity to showcase what Donegal has to offer and I hope all our visitors have had a wonderful experience and that they bring home with them fond memories of their trip to Donegal”.
The Attymass community recently celebrated the community’s achievement with a party in the Father Peyton Memorial Centre and look forward to building on their great success in the months and years to come.
Full list of Pride of Place Awards Winners and Runners up
Main Competition
Category One – Population Category 0-300
Winner – Attymass, Co. Mayo
Runner up – Bornacoola, Co. Leitrim
Runner up – Glenbeigh, Co. Kerry
Category Two – Population Category 300 – 1000
Winner -Latton & Bawn, Co. Monaghan
Runner up – Ballymacoda / Ladysbridge, Co. Cork
Runner up – Victoria Bridge Village, Co. Tyrone
Category Three – Population Category 1000 – 2000
Winner – Slane, Co. Meath
Runner up – Enniscrone, Co. Sligo
Runner up – Portlaw, Co. Waterford
Category Four – Population Category 2000 – 5000
Winner – Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork
Runner up – Dunleer, Co. Louth
Category Five – Population Category over 5000
Winner – Clonakilty, Co. Cork
Runner up -Trim, Co. Meath
Category Six – Community Based Youth Initiative
Winner – Galway County Comhairle na nÓg
Runner up – The Attic Youth Café, Longford Town
Runner up – Oasis Youth Club, Portadown
Category Seven – Creative Place Initiative
Winner – Comharchumann Forbartha Gaoth Dobhair,
(Gweedore Co-operative), Co. Donegal
Runner up – Birr Theatre & Arts Centre, Co. Offaly
Runner up – Tallaght Community Arts, South Dublin County Council Area
Category Eight – Community Reaching Out Initiative
Winner – Maria Goretti Foundation, Co. Louth
Runner up – Kerry Social Farming Project
Runner up – Letterkenny Youth & Family Services, Co. Donegal
Category Nine – Housing Estates
Winner – Kiln Lane, Mountrath, Co. Laois
Runner up – Brawny Housing Estate, Athlone, Co. Westmeath
Runner up – St. Patrick’s Villas, Castleconnell, Co. Limerick
Category Ten – Islands and Coastal Communities
Winner– Lady’s Island Village, Co. Wexford
Runner up – Tory Island, Co. Donegal
Category Eleven – Urban Neighbourhoods
Winner –Newpark Close, Kilkenny City
Runner up – Ballyroan, South Dublin County Council Area
Runner up – Lisnamult, Roscommon Town
Cities Competition
Category One – Urban Neighbourhoods / Villages with a population under 1000
Winner – Lower Oldpark, Belfast
Runner up – The Courts, Ballymun, Dublin City
Category Two – Urban Neighbourhoods / Villages with a population of 1000 – 2000
Winner – Grange Woodbine, Raheny, Dublin City
Runner up – Blarney Street, Cork City
Category Three – Urban Neighbourhoods / Villages with a population over 2000
Winner – The Village Salthill, Galway City
Runner up – Seymour Hill and Conway, Lisburn, Co. Antrim
Category Four – Community Environmental Initiative
Winner – Bonfire Night Community Volunteers, Cork City
Runner up – Let’s Get Galway Growing, Galway City
Category Five – Community Based Youth Initiative
Winner – Upper Springfield Youth Team, Belfast
Runner up – Dreamscheme Northern Ireland
Category Six – Social Inclusion and Equality Initiative
Winner – Back of the Pipes Residents Association/
Flanagan’s Fields Community Garden, Dublin City
Runner up – Newry Rainbow Community
Council Community Engagement Award
Winner – Fingal County Council
Special Awards
Fore, Co. Westmeath
Erica’s Fairy Forest, Cootehill, Co Cavan
Seamus Ennis Arts Centre, the Naul, Fingal Council Area
Ballykeeffe Amphitheatre, Co. Kilkenny
CLG Cuar an Chláir Health & Wellbeing Team, Co. Clare
Barretstown Children’s Charity, Co. Kildare
