Canal Heritage Group wins overall prize at Cathaoirleach’s Awards

The grounds of Belvedere House looked splendid on Friday evening as guests arrived for the 16th annual Cathaoirleach Awards ceremony, its sweeping meadows and majestic trees providing the perfect backdrop for the event.

As the nominees and their supporters made their way in through an arch in the Jealous Wall, a band of traditional musicians greeted them as they enjoyed pre-prandial drinks.

Annette Barr-Jordan from the community section of Westmeath County Council compèred the show. She spoke of the “massive work carried out” by community volunteers who give their time to support all members of society. “This is your night,” she told the audience.

The cathaoirleach of the county council, Cllr Frankie Keena, welcomed all present to this, “one of the finest tourist attractions in Ireland” to celebrate the people who give their time, energy and wisdom for the good of the community.

Cllr Keena said that if it were not for volunteers “this country would come to a standstill”. He spoke of how volunteers support the Ukrainian refugees, opening their hearts and homes to people who were suffering because of the “horrific” war in their country.

He paid tribute to the community section of the council, particularly Pat Murtagh, Anne Marie Nash, Margaret Egan, Ursula Harper, Bridget Geoghegan, Enda Fletcher, Olive Manning and Linda McGuinness, and offered special thanks to Ms Barr-Jordan. These people are doing massive work behind the scenes, particularly through the PPN, a way for the council to link in with communities, he said.

Cllr Keena congratulated the people of Ballinahown Tidy Towns Committee, led by Helen and Owen Connelly and Cllr John Dolan, on being selected to represent Ireland in the Entente Florale international competition.

He thanked Ms Barr-Jordan and Ms Nash for the effort they put in to organising the awards ceremony, those who provided the food and decorated the hall, and all others involved. He assured all present that they were all winners, who give their best to their communities and families.

Vibrant community involvement makes a visible difference to towns and villages in Westmeath, remarked deputy chief executive of the county council, Barry Kehoe, in his remarks. He assured those present of the council’s support. “We can’t do everything, but it makes a difference when there is a community prepared to put their shoulders to the wheel,” he said.

Winners

The overall winner of this year’s Cathaoirleach Awards was Athlone Canal Heritage Group, while category awards and certificates of recognition went to groups and individuals from several parts of the county.

The awards were presented at a ceremony in Belvedere House and Gardens on Friday evening last.

The Project of the Year awards went to Rochfortbridge Community Hall Group, who were allocated €7,000, and Athlone Family Resource Centre, who received €3,000.

Pride of Place awards went to Mullingar Tidy Towns, Clonmellon Tidy Towns and Community Garden, and Grange Community Group, all of whom will represent Westmeath in the national competition.

The Age Friendly Recognition award, presented by Rosaleen Madden of the Westmeath Older Persons Council and Anne Marie Nash, went to Mount Temple Active Retirement Group, who provide a “state of the art” community centre in their area.

Other award winners were: Detty Cornally, nominated by Mullingar Shamrocks GAA Club, who won the sports and recreation award; and Athlone Access Awareness, who won the Equality and Social Inclusion award; the Active Elderly award went to Vera Hynes and Estie Higgins of Mount Temple Active Age.

Clarissa Dowdall, nominated by Rochfortbridge Tidy Towns, won the Community Involvement category, and Priscilla Macari, nominated by Kinnegad Action Group, won the Youth and Children award.

Joe Connaire of the Mullingar fleadh Committee, guest speaker at the awards, presented the prizes to the preschool winners of the environment competition. In the community preschools category Loughegar playgroup came first and Laughs and Giggles, Springfield, Mullingar, came second. In the private crèches category, Giggles preschool and childcare, Streamstown, came first and Little Friends, Castlepollard, came second.

The eco-schools environment awards were presented by John Jackson, environment officer with the county council. In the primary schools section Moyvore NS came first and St Michael’s NS, Castletown Geoghegan were second. In the post-primary section, Moate Community School were first and Mercy Secondary School, Kilbeggan, second.

The county Tidy Towns awards were presented by Cllr Frank McDermott. The winners in the Moate Athlone Municipal District were Ballinahown in first place (€5,000) and Tyrrellspass second (€2,500). In the Mullingar Kinnegad area, Multyfarnham came first and received €4,000 and Castlepollard, in second, got €2,500. The endeavour award for increasing their points in the competition went to Moate and Clonmellon, both of which received €2,000.

STEM awards for the promotion of science, technology, maths and engineering, were presented by Cllr John Dolan, on behalf of Cllr John Shaw, chairman of the Economic, Enterprise and Tourism SPC.

Prize winners were Killucan Men’s Shed, Dalystown NS, Fore Heritage and Amenity Group, Athlone District Girl Guides, Cara Phort Family Resource Centre in Ballynacargy, Rahanine Trail Blazers, Midlands Science, and Mullingar Shamrocks Healthy Clubs.

There were 22 nominations for the awards, all of whom received certificates of recognition. They were: Bun Daire Residents Association, Cathryn Whelehan of Rahanine Trail Blazers, Rose Wiltshire of Forever Friends Active Retirement Club, Shay Murtagh of Ashcroft Village Close Raharney Residents Group, Priscilla Macari of Kinnegad Action Group, Clarissa Dowdall of Rochfortbridge Tidy Towns, Athlone Family Resource Centre, Independent People with Disabilities, Athlone Canal Heritage Group, Mona Joyce of ATK Community Centre Limited, Johnny Doran and Moate Men’s Shed, Vera Hynes and Estie Higgins of Mount Temple Active Age, Athlone Access Awareness, Fr Jimmy Murray of Moate Action Group, Joe Evans of Moate Tidy Towns, Mount Carmel Drive Residents Association, Ave Maria Park Residents Association, John Bawle of Mullingar Tidy Towns, Detty Cornally, Mullingar Shamrocks GAA, Jim Dalton, Milltown GAA and SWEETS, Kilbeggan.