Community groups pick up Pride of Place Awards
By Aideen O'Flaherty
TWO local community groups, one from Tallaght and one from Clondalkin, scooped up awards at this year’s IPB Pride of Place Awards, which were held in Cork.
The gala awards ceremony, which is now in its 16th year and is held in association with Cooperation Ireland, recognises the work done by communities around the country who have been nominated by their local authority.
Munitir Chrónáin secured the overall winner in the Creative Place Initiative category
South Dublin County Council nominated community groups in four of the award categories, with Clondalkin’s Muintir Chrónáin – Áras Chrónáin Irish Cultural Centre securing the Overall Winner Award in the Creative Place Initiative, while St Mark’s Youth Club in Tallaght won the Runner Up Award in the Urban Neighbourhoods Award category.
St Mark's Youth Club
Áras Chrónáin received the award as when the awards’ judges visited the centre last year “it became almost immediately clear that this group engages with and enjoys the wide support of the local people.”
Further explaining why the centre won the award, the awards’ judges said: “Apart from pursuing a cultural mission statement, the group is actively involved in many local activities.
“This is achieved through the hard work and dedication of a large number of local volunteers.”
The centre won the award “for their unstinting work in promoting the Irish language and culture and being such a vibrant, active part of daily living in the community.”
Ballyboden’s WEB Project, which organises activities, events, classes and groups for adults, teens, and children with disabilities, was nominated in the Community Wellbeing Initiative Category, and the Clondalkin Round Tower Heritage Project was nominated for Community Tourism Initiative.
A spokesperson for South Dublin County Council said: “South Dublin County Council would like to thank and congratulate all four community projects that represented the county in this year’s competition, their efforts and achievements done both their local communities and the entire county proud.”
