Two local groups have had success at the annual Pride of Place Awards which took place on Monday 16 May. At a special Gala Dinner and awards ceremony in Killarney, Queenspark Women’s Group were announced as winners of the Housing Estates category with Muckamore Parish Development Association runners up in the population 2,000-5,000 category.
The Pride of Place awards is an annual competition organised by peacebuilding charity Co-operation Ireland and sponsored by IPB Insurance. Established to promote and celebrate the best in community development, the awards recognise the selfless efforts of people in making their local neighbourhoods better places to live, work and socialise.
The Council nominated five groups to the 2021 awards across a range of categories:
- Muckamore Parish Development Association (Population 2,000-5,000)
- Oasis Caring in Action (Community Wellbeing Initiative)
- Newtownabbey Arts and Cultural Network (Community Resilience)
- Community Relations Forum (Population 5,000+)
- Queenspark Women’s Group (Housing Estates)
Following nomination an assessment visit or online interview, by the Pride of Place Judges took place where nominees had to demonstrate pride in their place by oral presentation, exhibition of community activities and culture and a tour of the area highlighting the aspects of which they are particularly proud. During this visit the community had to demonstrate real partnership with their Council and show that all sectors of the community are included.
The Mayor and Mayoress Councillor Billy Webb and Mrs Pat Webb attended the Awards Ceremony along with representatives of all five nominated groups.
The Mayor congratulated both groups on their success, he said;
“I am delighted to see the efforts of Queens Park Women’s Group and Muckamore Parish Development Association recognised as a winner and runner up respectively at the Pride of Place Awards. The Council values the amazing efforts that our community groups make to life in our Borough. I would personally like to congratulate Queens Park Women’s Group on their well-deserved success as overall winners and Muckamore Parish Development Association on a very worthy runner up position. I hope these results in the 2021 Pride of Place Awards encourage many more of our community groups to strive for similar success and I pay tribute to all who work tirelessly across our Borough to benefit their local communities.”
