Five nominees from the Donegal Pride of Place Awards for 2007 have been chosen to represent the county in a nationwide competition.
Carrigart Development Association, Castlefin Partnership Initiative Ltd, Cashel na Cor Disability Association Ltd, Letterkenny Community Development Project and the Finn Valley Athletic Centre have all been chosen to battle it out on the national platform of Ireland’s pride of place.
At a ceremony on Tuesday evening in the Ramada Encore hotel in Letterkenny, Senior Executive Officer for the Donegal County Council, Garry Martin said that the adjudicating panel were of the opinion that all ten entrants to the competition from the county were of a very high standard.
Twenty-six applications were received for the competition, ten of which were streamlined. Five of these were chosen for the nationwide competition.
In his welcoming speech, the Mayor of Donegal, Cllr. Enda Bonner, stated that “Showing a pride of place where you live and where you work and where you socialise is so important to the development of any community. Unfortunately there are many places where people do not care and this can lead to the decline of an area.
These are areas where rubbish is dumped, where burnt out cars are not uncommon, where houses are boarded up, forcing people to leave their communities and find somewhere else to live. It is only when people like yourselves come together with a purpose, that this very important issue is addressed”, he said.
Garry Martin commended those present for the work they had done in their respective communities: “The focus is on people to shape, change and enjoy all that is good about their area. This competition is unique in that it recognises and rewards people for their contribution to their local area,” he said.
In his keynote speech, County Manager Michael McLoone outlined the importance that these groups have in communities. “This award is about people, who create social networks that focus on social aspects of the environment,” he said.
He outlined the importance that these groups have on communities and the interest it generates in their area. He said that there is a good working relationship established between public representatives and the groups in their communities.
The Ramelton Community Action Group Ltd, Cumann Forbartha an Duchoraidh, Tuath – Donegal Community and Local Development Centre, Coiste Forbartha Dhobhair and Nairn, Portnoo, Rossbeg Community Co-operative Society Ltd also received awards for the immense work they have done to date.