County Galway has continued its history of success in the IPB Pride of Place competition with Creggs Rural Development Group being named winner in its category at an awards ceremony held in the Armagh City Hotel tonight (10 November 2023).
Organised by peacebuilding charity Co-operation Ireland and sponsored by IPB Insurance, the Pride of Place awards showcase and celebrate exceptional community development efforts. This year marked the 21st anniversary of the awards, and the event was hosted by the UTV’s Pamela Ballantine.
Nominated by Galway County Council, Creggs Rural Development Group was named overall winner of Climate Action & Biodiversity category in recognition of its commitment to promote, educate, raise awareness, and enhance biodiversity within the north Galway village. The community joins Lawrencetown (2022), Inis Méain (2018), Clonbur Community Council (2016) and Clifden (2012) as an overall winner of the prestigious annual competition.
County Galway’s other participant in this year’s competition Gort River Walk Group was nominated in the Community Wellbeing category in recognition of their continued development of a 3km looped walk that encompasses biodiversity, rest areas, and a new footbridge in the south Galway town.
The communities of Creggs and Gort in County Galway were visited by judges from IPB Pride of Place during August when representatives of both groups made a formal presentation to adjudicators before hosting tours that highlighted the elements of the community and volunteer efforts of which they are most proud.
Dr. Evelyn Parsons, Leas Chathaoirleach of Galway County Council commented, “This award win is a wonderful example of what can be achieved when people come together for the benefit of their local community. It is an enormous achievement for the community of Creggs Rural Development Group to receive official recognition for their work in front of the 800 people from communities across the island of Ireland that gathered for the award ceremony. I also wish to congratulate the County Galway’s other entrant in this year’s competition, Gort River Walk Group.”
Liam Conneally, Chief Executive of Galway County Council stated “County Galway has always performed well in this competition which is an acknowledgement of the valuable and often unseen work carried out by our communities. Galway County Council is proud to be able to support communities like Creggs and Gort and to recognise the unique value and contributions made at community level by voluntary and community groups across the County.”
Alan Farrell, Director of Community & Rural Development and Corporate Services, Galway County Council, stated, “There are many examples in County Galway of hard-working community groups and organisations who give freely of their time due to a sense of devotion to their community and those around them. In nominating Gort River Walk Group and Creggs Rural Development Group this year, Galway County Council found two ideal examples of projects that best demonstrate the true spirit of pride of place and how a strong community spirit can have long-lasting, positive effects for communities.”
Andrew Mc Bride, Galway County Council’s Liaison Officer for the competition commented, “Pride of Place, described as the ‘Oscars of the Community Sector’, celebrates the often-unsung work of community groups that selflessly strive to make local neighbourhoods a better place to live, work and visit.”
“Gort River Walk Group and Creggs Rural Development Group were nominated to participate in this year’s Pride of Place due to the immeasurable impact of their work on community wellbeing, the overall quality of life in their localities and, ultimately, the pride of place instilled in local people by their work. They flew the Galway flag on behalf of the county’s very active community and voluntary sector,” he added.
Visit www.prideofplace.ie for more information.
