National Pride Of Place Award For Tuamgraney

At a weekend award ceremony held in Cappoquin in Waterford, the East Clare village was named overall winner of Category 2, catering for population centres of 200-500 people. The Tuamgraney Development Association accepted a Waterford Crystal trophy and a cash prize of EUR2,000.

Four other local organisations were shortlisted in the All Ireland competition, which aims to recognise and celebrate the vital contributions that community groups make to society. Gleann an Óir, Tullyvarraga, Shannon; The Burren Centre, Kilfenora; Obair Afterschool Project, Newmarket on Fergus; and Seanoirí Iaichtín Naofa, West Clare Resource Centre, Miltown Malbay, were all first time participants in the competition.

Mayor of Clare, Cllr. Madeleine Taylor Quinn congratulated the Tuamgraney Development Association on achieving national success in the competition.

The Mayor described the Association as a wonderful example of what could be achieved by adopting a partnership approach to improving community life.

Commenting on the Pride of Place competition, the Mayor stated, "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."

According to Mary Cassidy, Secretary of the Tuamgraney Development Association, "The Pride of Place award is a tribute to everyone who has contributed to the Association’s success, including those who helped out during the Pride of Place presentation in July. We would particularly like to thank Clare County Council and the local Engineer in Scarriff for their valuable contributions. Special mention should also be made of the fifteen local community organisations who pledged their support, including sporting and recreational groups, along with residents associations and schools."

Ms. Cassidy explained that the immense civic pride in Tuamgraney resurfaced with the formation of Tuamgraney Development Association twelve years ago, and the Association together with the community had made significant progress in that time.

"Tuamgraney Development Association was formed following a public meeting in response to concern about the decline of the area. The goal of the Association is to continue to seek enhancement and promotion of Tuamgraney in order to make it a better place to live, work, play and visit. The challenge now is to build on our Pride of Place 2008 success. Our overall aim shares its name with our current plan ‘Towards A Better Tuamgraney’", she added.

After its inception in 1996 the Tuamgraney Development Association drew up an Environmental Improvement Plan 1996-2001, and a subsequent plan 2002-05. The scope of the current plan 2006-09 mirrors the aims of the Association itself, firstly to carry out and facilitate further environmental and amenity improvements in Tuamgraney, and secondly to promote Tuamgraney, and also to raise funds to carry out the necessary works.

The village and the Association have won numerous awards in recent years, including Clare In Bloom and a Regional landscape award in the Tidy Towns competition, as well as increasing substantially year on year marks and performance in the Tidy Towns competition. The Association works closely with the community, public representatives, local businesses, Clare County Council and other bodies.

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. Since 2003, the following communities in Clare have taken part: Kilrush, Kilkee, Newmarket on Fergus, Ennis, Labasheeda, Shannon, Tuamgraney, Miltown Malbay, Sixmilebridge, Ballynacally, Scariff, Kilfenora and O’Briensbridge/Montpelier.

-ENDS-

Mark Dunphy
Dunphy Public Relations
www.dunphypr.com
media@dunphypr.com
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