Pictures: Community groups honoured at Pride of Place awards night

A NUMBER of Cork community groups, organisations, and initiatives were recently honoured at the IBP Pride Of Place Awards .

This year marked the 21st anniversary of the awards, which were held in the Armagh City Hotel and hosted by UTV’s Pamela Ballen.

Organised by peacebuilding charity Co-operation Ireland, and sponsored by IPB Insurance, the Pride of Place awards showcase and celebrate exceptional community development efforts.

It has grown into the largest competition recognising community development achievements on the island of Ireland.

President Michael D Higgins, who is a joint patron of Co-operation Ireland, said: “The Pride of Place awards are a most important initiative, reminding us that creating societies that are ethical and inclusive is a task for all of our citizens, of all ages and circumstances.”

Four Cork city-based groups went home with prizes on the night, with four county groups also honoured for their work in the community.

Ballyphehane Tidy Towns came first in the Pride of Place Urban Neighbourhood/Village 3000+ population category, while Togher Community Garden also won first place in its category, Climate Action & Biodiversity.

Cork Community Artlink and Cork City Missing Persons Search and Recovery were runners -p in the Creative Place Initiative and Community Wellbeing Initiative, respectively.

Outside of the city, Banteer Community Groups were the winner of the Community Wellbeing Initiative: Hollistic, and Cork County Council took the Council Community Engagement Award.

Special awards were presented to Rylane Community Park Association and Le Chéile Community Garden, and Bennetts Mill Field, in Clonakilty, was runner up in the Climate Action and Biodiversity award category.

Pride of Place founder and chairman Tom Dowling said at the ceremony: “These awards are now even more important as communities face ever increasing challenges, and are responding to them with energy, positivity, and commitment.

“The communities deserve their well-earned recognition and all participants are truly winners.”

Chairman of Co-operation Ireland Julian King said: “Co-operation Ireland has no other programme that embodies the charity’s ethos better than Pride of Place.

“The impact the awards have had in towns and villages across the island since they started two decades ago cannot be underestimated, and the continuing success of the awards is down to the dedicated volunteers and their love of where they live.”

IPB Insurance chairman John Hogan added: “Volunteerism is a cornerstone of community resilience.

“[It] exemplifies the very spirit of mutual support and care that these awards have championed throughout our long-standing partnership.

“By supporting these awards, we not only celebrate the remarkable individuals and groups who go above and beyond for their communities, but also aim to inspire others to join in this noble pursuit of creating better, more liveable places for all,” Mr Hogan added.