Pride Of Place judges to visit three Clare communities

CONNOLLY, Ireland - July 15, 2013 - PRLog -- Clare County Council has this year selected community groups in Ennis, Miltown Malbay and Mountshannon to participate in the All-Ireland competition, which aims to recognise and celebrate the vital contributions that community groups make to society.  

Judging takes place at An Sean Dún Housing Estate in Roslevan (10am) and in Mountshannon (2.30pm) on Tuesday 23rd July and in Miltown Malbay (10am) on Wednesday 24th July.  This year’s judges are Blaise Tracey and Declan Nelson and each community will each make a two-and-a-half hour presentation. The 2013 Pride of Place competition awards ceremony takes place in November.

Mayor of Clare Councillor Joe Arkins congratulated the participating communities for their efforts as judging day draws near.

“The performance of Clare’s Pride of Place participants in previous years is evidence of the depth and breadth of voluntary activity underway in communities across the county. Judging day is a special occasion and represents an ideal opportunity for the people of Roslevan, Mountshannon and Miltown Malbay to show pride in their respective areas by supporting organised events”, added Cllr. Arkins.

Nicola Cullinan, Clare Pride of Place Coordinator said: “Ahead of the judging stage of the competition, County Clare’s three participating communities are busily preparing itineraries and presentations, outlining achievements and pride initiatives.  Clare County Council is pleased to have worked closely with this year’s entrants, and wishes them the best of luck in achieving national recognition for their respective communities.”

Mountshannon Community Council is participating in Category 1 for population centres of up to 200 people, Miltown Malbay Tidy Towns has been entered into Category 3 for population centres of between 500 and 1,000 people, while An Sean Dún Residents Association is participating in the Housing Estate Category.

Pride of Place, first piloted in the summer of 2003, came from the Local Authority All-Island Steering Forum - a forum that encourages strategic, sustainable approaches to cross border co-operation. Clare was represented in last year’s Pride of Place by the Clare Sports Partnership and Cuimhneamh and Chláir. The County’s most recent national success in the competition came in 2011 when the Clare Crusaders Children's Clinic received an award under the Community Health Initiative category.