Communities across County Clare were honoured at the 2010 Housing, Social and Cultural Services Directorate Awards ceremony which was held at Aras Contae an Chláir in Ennis last night.
Two sets of awards were presented for entries in the “Clare in Bloom” and the “Best Kept Local Authority Estate” competitions.
The awards are a mark of Clare County Council’s programme of sustaining positive and co-operative working relationships with local groups.
Mayor Christy Curtin said “It is great to reward residents associations and community groups for their work in their neighbourhoods and towns and villages. This was the 1st year the two awards were presented in the same ceremony. Tidy neighbourhoods lead to tidy towns and villages so it’s easy to see that these two awards of the Council are complementary and both competitions have the overall aim of enhancing the physical, environmental and community fabric of County Clare.”
The “Clare in Bloom” competition is a motivational mechanism for local groups at village and town level throughout the county to enhance the visual impact of their towns and villages by means of flower, tree and shrub planting schemes. This year’s competition also attracted marks towards litter control, waste prevention, and energy initiatives. Entry categories are based on population size with a first, second and third prize in each category of €1,000, €400 €200 respectively.
Category 1
1st Kilrush Tidy Towns Committee,
2nd Quin Development Committee (2nd) and
3rd Lisdoonvarna Community Council (3rd).
Category 2
1st Kildysart Tidy Towns
2nd Kilmihil Tidy Towns and
3rd Whitegate Community Council
Category 3
1st Bridge Town Tidy Towns
2nd Labasheeda Community Pride
3rd Ballyvaughan
Special Endeavour Awards went to Shannon Tidy Towns, Meitheal Doora, Kilmurry McMahon Community Group, Killanena Action Group and Carrigaholt Tidy Towns.
The Mayor’s Environmental Award, together with the perpetual trophy for 2010 and a cheque for €1,000, was awarded to Ballynacally Development Association.
The overall award in the Clare in Bloom Competition for 2010, and a cheque of €1,500 went to Tuamgraney Development Association.
Bernadette Kinsella, Director of Service with Clare County Council acknowledged the generous contributions received from the sponsors of the awards. She commented: “I would like to thank ESB Moneypoint, Shannon Development and Roche Ireland whose continuing support enables Clare County Council to award prizes recognising the effort shown by applicants.”
Meanwhile, 26 local authority residents associations were honoured in the Best Kept Local Authority Estate Competition awards ceremony.
Councillor Patricia McCarthy, Cathaoirleach of the Housing, Social and Cultural Services Strategic Policy Committee, commended the 2010 participants for their achievements.
She added: “This is the 8th year of the estates competition and Clare County Council is extremely pleased that there are three new entrants again this year. We are also delighted with the excellent standards achieved. It is important to reward residents in our estates for their involvement in improving their environment and for adding to the quality of life within their estates”.
Cllr. McCarthy continued: “The awards ceremony is about celebrating and honouring community development, tenant action and good estate management practices in housing estates in County Clare”.
The Kept Local Authority Estate Competition comprises three entry categories, based on the size of the local authority estate. Entrants were marked against adjudication criteria that included resident involvement, litter control/litter awareness projects/recycling initiatives, general environmental and special projects, and general appearance and presentation of dwellings and open spaces.
1st prize for estates with up to 30 houses went to St Josephs Road, Ballyvaughan. 1st prize for estates with up to 50 houses went to Millstream, Killaloe. 1st prize for estates with over 51 houses went to Cappa Lodge, Sixmilebridge, which also won the overall award.
An engraved limestone plaque, a voucher to the value of €1,100 and the Mary Hennessy Memorial Award was presented to Cappa Lodge residents for their achievement.
Individual awards were also awarded to;
• Creag Bhriain, Corofin for Best New Entrant
• Millstream, Killaloe for Most Improved
• Ballard Road, Miltown Malbay for Judges Special Award, and
• Ardnaculla, Ennistymon for Best Youth Involvement.
19 other prizes were also awarded to local authority resident associations throughout the County.
In summing up, Bernadette Kinsella congratulated all winners and emphasised the Council’s goal is to promote sustainable communities and quality of life for residents.
“The good work being done by residents themselves and the community spirit generated by their work is the best means by which this goal can be delivered”, she concluded.
Two sets of awards were presented for entries in the “Clare in Bloom” and the “Best Kept Local Authority Estate” competitions.
The awards are a mark of Clare County Council’s programme of sustaining positive and co-operative working relationships with local groups.
Mayor Christy Curtin said “It is great to reward residents associations and community groups for their work in their neighbourhoods and towns and villages. This was the 1st year the two awards were presented in the same ceremony. Tidy neighbourhoods lead to tidy towns and villages so it’s easy to see that these two awards of the Council are complementary and both competitions have the overall aim of enhancing the physical, environmental and community fabric of County Clare.”
The “Clare in Bloom” competition is a motivational mechanism for local groups at village and town level throughout the county to enhance the visual impact of their towns and villages by means of flower, tree and shrub planting schemes. This year’s competition also attracted marks towards litter control, waste prevention, and energy initiatives. Entry categories are based on population size with a first, second and third prize in each category of €1,000, €400 €200 respectively.
Category 1
1st Kilrush Tidy Towns Committee,
2nd Quin Development Committee (2nd) and
3rd Lisdoonvarna Community Council (3rd).
Category 2
1st Kildysart Tidy Towns
2nd Kilmihil Tidy Towns and
3rd Whitegate Community Council
Category 3
1st Bridge Town Tidy Towns
2nd Labasheeda Community Pride
3rd Ballyvaughan
Special Endeavour Awards went to Shannon Tidy Towns, Meitheal Doora, Kilmurry McMahon Community Group, Killanena Action Group and Carrigaholt Tidy Towns.
The Mayor’s Environmental Award, together with the perpetual trophy for 2010 and a cheque for €1,000, was awarded to Ballynacally Development Association.
The overall award in the Clare in Bloom Competition for 2010, and a cheque of €1,500 went to Tuamgraney Development Association.
Bernadette Kinsella, Director of Service with Clare County Council acknowledged the generous contributions received from the sponsors of the awards. She commented: “I would like to thank ESB Moneypoint, Shannon Development and Roche Ireland whose continuing support enables Clare County Council to award prizes recognising the effort shown by applicants.”
Meanwhile, 26 local authority residents associations were honoured in the Best Kept Local Authority Estate Competition awards ceremony.
Councillor Patricia McCarthy, Cathaoirleach of the Housing, Social and Cultural Services Strategic Policy Committee, commended the 2010 participants for their achievements.
She added: “This is the 8th year of the estates competition and Clare County Council is extremely pleased that there are three new entrants again this year. We are also delighted with the excellent standards achieved. It is important to reward residents in our estates for their involvement in improving their environment and for adding to the quality of life within their estates”.
Cllr. McCarthy continued: “The awards ceremony is about celebrating and honouring community development, tenant action and good estate management practices in housing estates in County Clare”.
The Kept Local Authority Estate Competition comprises three entry categories, based on the size of the local authority estate. Entrants were marked against adjudication criteria that included resident involvement, litter control/litter awareness projects/recycling initiatives, general environmental and special projects, and general appearance and presentation of dwellings and open spaces.
1st prize for estates with up to 30 houses went to St Josephs Road, Ballyvaughan. 1st prize for estates with up to 50 houses went to Millstream, Killaloe. 1st prize for estates with over 51 houses went to Cappa Lodge, Sixmilebridge, which also won the overall award.
An engraved limestone plaque, a voucher to the value of €1,100 and the Mary Hennessy Memorial Award was presented to Cappa Lodge residents for their achievement.
Individual awards were also awarded to;
• Creag Bhriain, Corofin for Best New Entrant
• Millstream, Killaloe for Most Improved
• Ballard Road, Miltown Malbay for Judges Special Award, and
• Ardnaculla, Ennistymon for Best Youth Involvement.
19 other prizes were also awarded to local authority resident associations throughout the County.
In summing up, Bernadette Kinsella congratulated all winners and emphasised the Council’s goal is to promote sustainable communities and quality of life for residents.
“The good work being done by residents themselves and the community spirit generated by their work is the best means by which this goal can be delivered”, she concluded.
