National Recognition For County Limerick In Annual Pride Of Place Competition

More than 500 community representatives from the 32 counties attended the annual award’s ceremony in Cappoquin, Co Waterford on Saturday night. The event was hosted by Michael Ryan of RTE Nationwide fame, and the main address was given by Her Excellency Mrs Mary McAleese Uachtaráin na hÉireann.

President McAleese presented the Cappamore Development Association with an exclusive crystal decorative memento and a cheque for EUR2,000 after the town was named overall winner of Category 4, catering for population centres of 1000-2000 people.

Three other local organisations participated in the All Ireland competition, which aims to recognise and celebrate the vital contributions that community groups make to society.

Dawn Court Day Care Centre, Athlacca was named runner up in its category (Single Issue entry – Care of the Elderly) for what judges described as making a valuable contribution to improving community life.

Meanwhile, Askeaton Pool and Leisure Centre was entered in the "Single Issue - Community Facility" category while Broadford village was shortlisted in category 2, which featured population centres of between 200-500 people.

Congratulating County Limerick’s participants, Cllr. John Gallahue, Cathaoirleach of Limerick County Council, stated: "The performance of Limerick’s participants in this year’s competition is evidence of the depth and breadth of voluntary activity underway in communities across the County. Limerick County Council is pleased to have worked closely with this year’s entrants, and congratulates them on achieving national recognition for their respective communities. This year’s successes are a wonderful example of what can be achieved when the Local Authority and the local community work together."

Commenting on the benefits of taking part in Pride of Place, the Cathaoirleach 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. Groups have the opportunity to network, exchange ideas and learn from others and further promote their activities. There is no doubt that County Limerick’s four participating communities have benefited greatly from their experiences in this year’s competition. It has provided them with an excellent opportunity to highlight the elements of their areas that they have civic pride in, and gave them a platform to showcase the work they are doing on a continual basis."

Having finished a creditable second in the 2006 and 2007 Pride of Place competitions, the village of Cappamore had hoped to go one step further this year. The recently developed Children’s Playground, the Community Sports Centre, the Day Care Centre, and the 8 unit residential housing scheme, which were completed in 2007, were among the sites that impressed the adjudicating panel this year.

Cllr. Noel Gleeson, Treasurer of Cappamore Development Association stated: "We are honoured that the Association’s voluntary efforts over the past 35 years have been recognised in Pride of Place. It is testament to the community spirit that exists in Cappamore that we have succeeded in winning our category, having been runners-up in the previous two years."

Another notable success for County Limerick was the runner up performance of the Dawn Court Day Care Centre in Athlacca, located between Ballingarry and Croom.

The Dawn Court facility contains 20 Housing Units and a Day Care Centre at the former creamery site at Athlacca. The judges were impressed by the facility, which they visited in July. The judges noted the range of services that are provided to residents and on an outreach basis to the community centre.

According to Alice McAuliffe, Secretary of the Dawn Court Day Care Centre Ltd: "We are delighted that our innovative project has been recognised nationally. It is a great achievement for Athlacca and for Dawn Court. We accept this award as a showcase, and see our approach as the best way forward for communities looking after their own elderly and vulnerable in the community. Dawn Court is an example of how voluntary effort can work with statutory bodies to deliver necessary services. There should be a facility like this in each town and village in the country."

Pride of Place, first piloted in the summer of 2003, came from the Local Authority All-Island Steering Forum - a forum that encourages strategic, sustainable approaches to cross border co-operation.

Among the County Limerick communities that have taken part in the competition to date are Galbally, Athlacca, Askeaton, Dromcollogher, Cappamore, Newcastle West and Broadford.

-ENDS-

Mark Dunphy
Dunphy Public Relations
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media@dunphypr.com
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