Pride of Place judging completed in Dysart

Judging for this year’s Pride of Place Competition took place last Thursday. This year Roscommon County Council has nominated two community groups, namely the Dysart Community and Development Association in category one of the competition for communities with a population up to 500 persons.

Castlerea Town Team have also been nominated in category seven of the competition in respect of Community Wellbeing Initiatives. Both communities were accessed on the day by the judging panel who visited both communities.

This year’s competition judges are John Briggs, former Chief Executive in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Councils and Tim Caffrey former Chief Executive with Longford County Council who met representatives of both communities during their visit to the county.

Speaking in Dysart, Mr Caffrey said the idea behind the competition was to illustrate the capacity of communities to work together, across the island of Ireland. He said the competition, now in its 21st year, was born amid the early years of the Northern Ireland peace process, clearly demonstrating its value in that time.

Mr Caffrey said the initiative was a collaborative one between local authorities across the island of Ireland, Irish Public Bodies and Cooperation Ireland. Mr. Briggs said the competition also illustrated the collaborative approach between local authorities and the communities they serve.

Following the judging process, the adjudicators will conclude their deliberations before the award winners are announced at a Gala Dinner in Armagh city on Friday, November 10