Local groups take home silverware at Pride of Place awards

By Rebekah O'Reilly

Local groups came highly awarded at this year’s IPB Pride of Place Awards, which took place on Friday, November 7, at the Limerick Strand Hotel.

Now in its 23rd year, the IPB Pride of Place Awards honour the selfless efforts of people who make their local neighbourhoods better places to live, work, and socialise.

Communities are nominated by their respective local authorities and entered into the competition, with Pride of Place judges visiting every nominated community to adjudicate their projects. The awards have grown to become Ireland’s largest event for recognising community volunteerism.

One local award winner was Clonfanlough Hall, located just outside of Athlone, which received a special award at the IPB Pride of Place Awards for their work in recent years to progress the hall and ensure it is truly at the centre of the community.

Roscommon winners included the Abbey Housing Estate, Cloontuskert was awarded for the remarkable efforts by residents to restore, revitalise and protect the 70-year-old Bord na Móna estate in Mid-Roscommon. The group took home the overall award for the ‘Urban Neighbourhoods & Housing Estates’ category.

Roscommon Women’s Network’s social enterprise CycleUp also took home a special award for its pioneering work in climate action, skills training and inclusive employment.

Other Roscommon nominees included Curraghboy National School, Roscommon Mens Choir, and Roscommon Sub Aqua Club.

In Westmeath, two groups were nominated for awards, including Milltownpass in the under the 0 to 300 population category, and the “Live Longer & Prosper” project by Westmeath Community Development in the Age Friendly Communities category.