*Pictured at the IPB Pride of Place gala awards ceremony in the Hillgrove Hotel, Monaghan are community representatives of Kinvara Tidy Towns, officials and Elected Members of Galway County Councill, and representatives of IPB Insurance and Cooperation Ireland. Photo Rory Geary.
KINVARA TIDY TOWNS and Williamstown have been named runners-up in their respective categories at the IRB Pride of Place competition.
Organised by peacebuilding charity Co-operation Ireland and sponsored by IPB Insurance, Pride of Place showcases and celebrates exceptional community development efforts across the island of Ireland. This year’s gala ceremony was hosted by broadcaster Brendan McArdle.
Having been nominated to participate in this year’s competition, the Williamstown and Kinvara communities were visited by IPB Pride of Place judges in early September when group representatives made formal presentations before hosting tours that highlighted the elements of the community and volunteer efforts of which they are most proud.
Kinvara was competing in the ‘Climate Action & Biodiversity’ category of the 22nd annual competition. During the visit by Pride of Place adjudicators to Kinvara in September, local representatives outlined how the collaborative efforts of the wider community towards climate action and biodiversity have culminated in the development of the Biodiversity Action Plan 2021-2024, which was developed in partnership with Burrenbeo and the Kinvara Ballinderreen Tree Gang. The Plan has so far led to the planting of more than 9,000 native trees by local families, landowners, schools and community groups. The successful Community Climate Action grant application submitted on behalf of eight local groups will facilitate the rollout of many biodiversity and climate actions throughout the community.
Further work highlighted during the judges’ visit included the development of a new Biodiversity and Heritage Plan for 2024-2027 and collaborative projects with Kinvara Hockey, Kinvara GAA, Kinvara Community Council, residents, schools and businesses to develop habitat mapping, a biodiversity trail, and a series of wildlife and biodiversity citizen science exploration projects with the local schools in conjunction with local Ecologists and Galway County Council. Sustainability initiatives by Kinvara Plastic Free and Kinvara Tidy Towns were also outlined, including plastic-free awareness campaigns in schools and to communities first public realm water filling station to permanently reduce consumption of single-use plastic in the community. All local groups are members of the Kinvara & District Sustainable Energy Group, which has completed a Master Energy Audit of the village to underpin large energy upgrades of community facilities.
Williamstown was nominated by Galway County Council in the ‘0 – 300 Population’ category of the competition in recognition of its continued development and restoration of Williamstown Mill and Millers Cottage and the delivery by Williamstown Development Company of a looped 3.3km walkway with accompanying boards and biodiversity signage on the Bog Road, as well as a safe walkway linking the primary school to the GAA grounds. Williamstown Tidy Town works in strong partnership with the local primary school in developing biodiversity and environmental initiatives, as well as the community’s focus on inclusion through the hosting of childcare and active retirement activities in the Community Centre.
Congratulating County Galway’s participants, Cllr. Ollie Turner (FG), Leas Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council said, “In their decision to name Kinvara as a runner-up, the Pride of Place judges noted how a small rural community can lead the way promoting and delivering on climate action and biodiversity. Meanwhile, Williamstown was praised for the community’s efforts in developing a hugely valued local amenity and for truly embodying the spirit of pride and place. The excellent performance of our participants in Pride of Place demonstrates what can be achieved when people come together for the benefit of their local community”.
“Kinvara Tidy Towns and Williamstown were nominated to participate in this year’s Pride of Place due to the significant, positive impact of their work on community wellbeing, improving the overall quality of life in their localities and, ultimately, instilling a sense of pride of place in local people,” explained Liam Conneally, Chief Executive of Galway County Council.
He continued, “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 Kinvara and Williamstown and to recognise the unique value and contributions made at community level by voluntary and community groups across the County.”
Jacqueline Carroll, Director of Rural & Community Development, Integration and Environment 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 Kinvara Tidy Towns and Williamstown this year, Galway County Council found two communities that have demonstrated dedication and hard work to making a positive difference in their local areas.”
Pride of Place was first piloted in the summer of 2003 and came from Co-operation Ireland, a forum that encourages strategic and sustainable approaches to cross border co-operation. Visit www.prideofplace.ie for more information.
