Castlefin Partnership Initiative Ltd, Crossroads and Killygordon Enterprise Ltd. and Coiste Forbartha Dhobhair will this year represent Donegal in the All Island Pride of Place competition.
At a ceremony on Thursday evening in the Ramada Encore hotel in Letterkenny, Director of Service for Donegal County Council, Michael Ó hEanaigh commended those present for the work they had done in their respective communities: “We are very pleased with the quality of responses we received from our call to community groups and organisations to participate in this year’s competition. The depth and breath of voluntary activity underway in communities across Donegal was very evident in the applications received.”
Donegal County Council launched the first Donegal Pride of Place initiative in 2007 in order to publicly and formally acknowledge local community and voluntary groups in County Donegal for their contribution to creating civic pride in their communities and demonstrates that their efforts have not gone unnoticed.
Commenting on the entries received to the 2008 Donegal Pride of Place competition, Councillor John Boyle, Mayor of Donegal County Council, in his welcoming speech stated that “Pride of Place is a very prestigious award and recognises the great work of people in our community who very often do not seek recognition for the fruits of their labour. These awards, are a great source of motivation for many communities and can give a boost and inspiration to others who wish to achieve something similar”.
In his key note speech, Councillor Francis Conaghan, Chairperson of Donegal County Development Board, stated that the Pride of Place initiative fits closely with Donegal County Council’s strong emphasis on Community Development and the development of community capacity, activity and infrastructure. This type of initiative can compliment, consolidate and add value to our involvement and engagement with the broad community sector in Donegal and it recognises the importance of the Community Development sector for Donegal County Council and the Donegal County Development Board. Community members give great time and commitment to advancing local initiatives and working in their local area. It is only right that they should be given some recognition.”
Lough Eske Community Development Association, Ard Kilbride Residents Association, Barnesmore Community Development Association and Saimer Community Childcare Group, also received awards for the immense work they have done to date
Judging for ‘Pride of Place 2008’, will take place during August. The awards ceremony will be held in November 2008 in Waterford. The winners in each category will receive an exclusive crystal decorative memento, along with a cheque for €2,000. These groups have now been nominated to compete in the Co-operation All Ireland Pride of Place, judging season is due to commence in August.
For further information, please contact Breid Neely, Community & Enterprise, Donegal County Council at 074 91 72573 or email bneely@donegalcoco.ie
Standing from left to right: Breid Neely, Community Development Officer, Donegal County Council, Cllr John Boyle, Mayor of County Donegal, Cllr Francis Conaghan, Chairperson of Donegal County Development Board and John Henry McLaughlin, Chairperson of Donegal County Community Forum. Seated: also included is representatives from Barnesmore Community Development Association Ltd
Standing from left to right: Breid Neely, Community Development Officer, Donegal County Council, A representative for Saimer Community Childcare Group, Cllr John Boyle, Mayor of County Donegal, John Henry McLaughlin, Chairperson of Donegal County Community Forum and Cllr Francis Conaghan, Chairperson of Donegal County Development Board. Seated: also included is representatives from Saimer Community Childcare Group
Standing from left to right: Breid Neely, Community Development Officer, Donegal County Council, Cllr John Boyle, Mayor of County Donegal, John Henry McLaughlin, Chairperson of Donegal County Community Forum and Cllr Francis Conaghan, Chairperson of Donegal County Development Board. Seated: also included is representatives from Coiste Forbartha Dhobhair
Standing from left to right: Cllr John Boyle, Mayor of County Donegal, Breid Neely, Community Development Officer, Donegal County Council, John Henry McLaughlin, Chairperson of Donegal County Community Forum and Cllr Francis Conaghan, Chairperson of Donegal County Development Board. Seated: also included is representatives from Lough Eske Community Development Association.
Standing from left to right: Cllr John Boyle, Mayor of County Donegal, Breid Neely, Community Development Officer, Donegal County Council, John Henry McLaughlin, Chairperson of Donegal County Community Forum and Cllr Francis Conaghan, Chairperson of Donegal County Development Board. Seated: also included is representatives from Ard Kilbride Residents Association
Standing from left to right: Cllr Patrick MacGowan, Donegal County Council, Breid Neely, Community Development Officer, Donegal County Council, Cllr John Boyle, Mayor of County Donegal, John Henry McLaughlin, Chairperson of Donegal County Community Forum and Cllr Francis Conaghan, Chairperson of Donegal County Development Board. Seated: also included is representatives from Castlefin Partnership Initiative Ltd.
Standing from left to right: Breid Neely, Community Development Officer, Donegal County Council, Cllr John Boyle, Mayor of County Donegal, John Henry McLaughlin, Chairperson of Donegal County Community Forum and Cllr Francis Conaghan, Chairperson of Donegal County Development Board. Seated: also included is representatives from Crossroads and Killygordon Enterprise Ltd (CAKE).