Drumhowan and Killanny Honoured at Pride of Place Awards 2018

Last Saturday night, 17th November 2018, representatives from Drumhowan Community and Killanny CPR Group, accompanied by Monaghan County Council’s Leas Cathaoirleach, Cllr. Colm Carthy and Development Officer, Carol Lambe, made their way to Cork City Hall to join over eight hundred of Ireland’s brightest and best community leaders at the Gala Awards for the All Ireland IPB Pride of Place competition.

The competition acknowledges the work that communities are doing all over the island of Ireland, and seeks to recognise the voluntary effort that often goes unrewarded, but which is so essential to making a community a great place to live. The competition focus is about people coming together to shape, change and improve daily lives in their communities. Communities are nominated to represent their local authority area by their local Council.  There are a number of categories, with communities of similar size competing in five population-based categories, followed by a number of theme-based categories, covering issues which make a difference to the quality of life in an area, such as ‘Wellbeing Initiative’, ‘Creative Place Initiative’, and ‘Community Tourism Initiative’.

Drumhowan represented Co. Monaghan in the 300-1000 population category, while Killanny CPR group proudly competed in the Community Wellbeing Initiative category. Adjudication took place back in September, when two judges spent three hours in each of the communities, visiting the area and talking both to the committee to gain an understanding of the work that had been achieved, and to the people of the area to hear the impact the work of the group is having.

The two categories the Co. Monaghan entries were competing in saw the largest entries in the competition, and were hotly contested, with the Co. Monaghan entrants losing out on this occasion.  The winner in Drumhowan’s category was Balla, Co. Mayo, of which the judges said “It is rarely that the judges visit a place where virtually everybody encountered is on cue regarding sustained co-operative effort and what it takes to maintain a sustainable community” – high praise indeed. The winner in the Community Wellbeing Initiative category was the Gary Kelly Cancer Support Centre in Drogheda.

Speaking at the awards last Saturday, Cllr. Colm Carthy was high in his praise of the community sector in Co. Monaghan.  “We are very lucky in Co. Monaghan to be blessed with a strong tradition of volunteering and community development. You only need to look around the county and see the quality of the community centres and GAA pitches to appreciate the level of commitment and the calibre of volunteers which stand behind those amenities.”  Cllr Carthy continued, “Co. Monaghan may have come away empty handed from tonight’s proceedings, but these groups are winners in our eyes, and in the eyes of their communities.  The people of Co. Monaghan are also winners, benefiting every day from the extraordinary work that volunteers do all over the county. Monaghan County Council is proud to support Drumhowan Community Group and Killanny CPR, and to support the community sector throughout the county.”

Carol Lambe, Community Development Officer with Monaghan County Council, travelled to Cork as liaison for the competition. She said; “Monaghan County Council is so proud of every single community group and the work that they do. There can’t be a safer community in Ireland to have a heart attack in than Killanny, thanks to JB and his team; over 50% of the homes in the parish have at least one person trained in CPR, a phenomenal feat, especially when the statistics tell us that you are most likely to use your CPR skills on a family member or someone you know.   And surely there can’t be a happier place on earth than Drumhowan! I hear that a recent home buyer in the area was ecstatic to learn that their official address was in Drumhowan, as they’d heard so much about the community before they made the decision to move there.  We are delighted to be involved in Pride of Place again this year, and hope to do so for many years to come.”

2018 was the 16th year of this annual competition, described as the ‘Oscars of the Community Sector’, which celebrates the often unsung work of community groups that selflessly work to make local neighbourhoods a better place to live in, work in or visit. Organised by Co-Operation Ireland and sponsored by IPB Insurance, the Pride of Place awards sees the country’s local authorities, on both sides of the border, nominate outstanding projects that contribute to civic pride.

Speaking at the awards last Saturday, Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Mick Finn said: “Cork has a strong tradition of volunteerism and community action and we are delighted to be partners in the Pride of Place competition.   The Gala Awards evening is a unique opportunity to celebrate the best in community development and recognises the invaluable efforts of those who glue our communities together”.

Tom Dowling, Chairperson of Pride of Place, expressed his delight “that after 16 years the competition continues to embed itself in the very heart of the Island of Ireland’s communities and gives them the opportunity to highlight the proud and amazing achievements of their place directly to the judges. I wish them continued success and we are all looking forward to meeting all the nominated groups for a great night in the wonderful exciting city of Cork”.

Peter Sheridan, Chief Executive of Co-operation Ireland said: “Pride of Place deserves its position as one of the most prestigious community awards on the island of Ireland and Co-operation Ireland is delighted that it continues to go from strength to strength.

“From Donegal through Northern Ireland and in counties all the way to Cork, communities have been reaping the rewards of the hard work carried out by the community groups who make Pride of Place what it is.”

Chairman of IPB Insurance, George Jones said: “Pride of Place is an important platform as it recognises those who give freely of their time to make where they come from a better place to live and work. It is clear that working together and getting things done increases people’s pride in where they live and in turn helps build vibrant sustainable communities.”

More information:

www.prideofplace.ie

Picture below are the Co. Monaghan entrants at Pride of Place Awards, Cork City Hall, 17^th November 2018 

Back row l to r  Killanny CPR Delegates John Byrne, Noeleen Byrne, Aoife Byrne,  Cllr Colm Carthy

Front row l to r  Drumhowan Delegates Margaret Duffy, Mary Duffy, Bernard McGinnity, Una McGinnity, Tommy McArdle, Gerry Finnegan

Stand Up Awareness Week is taking place from November 12th-16th, 2018.

As part of Stand Up Week, Monaghan Comhairle na nÓg are inviting all second-level schools in County Monaghan to join them and take a stand against homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying. This year, the youth council have implemented a number of initiatives to show support to their LGBT friends in their schools and communities. The latest is the launch of their short video “The Real Me” which took place at their AGM in the Four Seasons Hotel on the 25^th October.

Stand Up week is an opportunity for schools to look at how they can make them safe and supportive places for LGBTI+ students. It is unacceptable that one in five young LGBTI+ people face bullying, and that 70% of young LGBTI+ students feel unsafe at school. BeLonG To are working hard to educate and train the entire school community around supporting LGBTI+ young people. Monaghan Comhairle na nÓg are happy to be showing their support for this national initiative during Stand Up Awareness Week.

 

Public Consultation Event ULSTER CANAL GREENWAY PHASE 2

The third of our Public Information evenings will be held this Thursday (18^th October 2018) in Smithborough for communities along the proposed route of the Ulster Canal Greenway, Phase 2 between Smithborough Co Monaghan and Middletown Co Armagh.  Landowners, local communities and the general public are invited to find out more about the project. The drop-in session will be held in;

Smithborough Community Hall, Thursday 18^th October from 4:00pm -8:00pm

 This project is supported by the European Union’s INTERREG VA Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

 

Monaghan County Council will shortly appoint a design team for Phase 2 of the Ulster Canal Greenway.

This project will see the existing Monaghan Town Greenway extended west to Smithborough and east to Middletown, Co. Armagh. A spur of the Greenway is also proposed along the route of the Monaghan Town Bypass. This 22km project will follow the route of the Ulster Canal wherever possible.

The project is supported by the European Union’s INTERREG VA Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). The Special EU Programmes Body is a North/South Implementation Body sponsored by the Department of Finance and Personnel in Northern Ireland and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in Ireland. It is responsible for managing two EU Structural Funds Programmes, PEACE IV and INTERREG VA which are designed to enhance cross-border cooperation, promote reconciliation and create a more peaceful and prosperous society.

Over the coming months the design team will be required to identify potential route options and identify a preferred route corridor. Planning approval will then be applied for before the lands are acquired and construction commences.

During the design stage of the project there will be opportunities for landowners, stakeholders and the general public to have input and give feedback. Before the design stage actively commences a series of community information evenings are being held to let people know about what to expect during the design phase. Landowners, members of the communities along the route and any interested parties are invited to find out more by dropping in to any of these 3 information events being held between 4pm and 8pm in Tyholland Community Centre on Tuesday 2nd October 2018, Middletown Community Parish Hall on Wednesday 10th October and Smithborough Community Hall on Thursday 18th October 2018. 

Waterways Ireland is the lead partner on this INTERREG VA funded project, which is being delivered in partnership with Monaghan County Council, Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council and East Border Region Ltd.